When my son, Paul, was beginning middle school one of his best friends became my hero. The two plus, my daughter Anna being three years younger and still in elementary school, played basket ball on the short court of our driveway. Alex, the friend would occasionally pass the ball to Anna or, if she’d gotten hold of it within his reach, didn’t always grab it away.
Kids are always thrilled to play with older ones and the big kids generally don’t appreciate it. I was impressed. I carved Alex into the stone of my memory. He held even a higher place in my heart because the nearest basketball hoop was miles away so the high school aged boy next door and his friend often asked to join the game. Paul and Al were thrilled and duly challenged by their ruthless play as one of them soon became a Blazer, our Portland Oregon’s professional team. These kids didn’t hold back. I was impressed with Alex needed all his focus to try to impress the older kids, let alone just keep up with the play. But even then Alex passed a few balls to Anna.   nancymauerman.com