All That Matters by Paulette Jones

One
     
    ‘John let’s look at the facts here at nine years in the league Case is still looking like day one fresh off the draft…heck if not even better.’
    ‘I agree the two broken fingers last year were shaky but he came back strong this season.’
    ‘So now who do you think will prevail, we are down to game six Chicago verses Boston and this matchup between Magid and Case has been true entertainment.’
    ‘Like kids on a playground…still Boston has a slight upper hand with Chicago fighting two injuries from their bench.’
    ‘That’s true not to mention how tonight’s matchup may cause a little family up roar no matter which way it goes though.’
    ‘Maybe Case will take it a little easy on his younger cousin since officially six are under his belt at this point.’
    ‘Yeah but you have to admit Magid is not backing down from the challenge.’
    ‘Hey we will see how this goes down tonight.’
     
    {Two Months Later}
    After entering the league at the end of his sophomore year at Michigan State Sedric Magid officially put his own stamp on the game. Leading his team to two straight playoff berths after a six year drought, and now with the new team making it to the conference finals he was a presence felt throughout the entire league right along with his idol slash older cousin. It had taken him a long time to come to the conclusion that entering the league before graduation was what he truly wanted to do, and was best for him at the time.
    The biggest challenge he faced now was the most obvious that his every move was compared to his older cousin Brandon Case who had been in the league for a while and a major part of six championship teams. At this point every match up between the two of them was a major event and covered on all the major networks, compared every way possible. The two men where never at odds about their nonexistent on the court battle and simply enjoyed the challenge of every face off.
    After the series ended with the upper hand going to Brandon, then them taking the loss in the finals run their family was set to gather to celebrate their matriarch, who was officially celebrating her eighty first birthday.
    The celebration was part bittersweet for the Case family because they were missing their half but they were set to gather and celebrate all they had. There had been amazing growth in their family and all the many branches that had sprung up from the roots that had been humbly planted so long ago. After life became more constant and settled for Brandon and his family he was drawn to his roots more and more. Happiness was what surrounded them when he was home and now with his own family seeming to have grown so quickly overnight he was more than happy for a little escape time. Adventure was what had been in Ashley’s blood for so long  that once she found her way in life it was almost second nature to take on the adventure of getting to know her family and where most of her roots truly began.
    After the struggles of getting through some of her own personal demons she found peace in being able to kick back with her family and give that experience to her kids.  For Sedric Magid going home to Trinidad was full force retreat time for him. He loved the game and had loved it his entire life he felt like, but the lime light bought along another world that he wasn’t so fond of. So going home felt like turning it off and being able to enjoy life. And now with his family becoming closer than they had been in so long it was well worth leaving behind a few headaches.
    ‘Hey stranger…what’s going on?’
    ‘I think you are the one that’s the stranger…and nothing I’m waiting on my mother to come for my nephew then I have a shift at Levis’
    Sedric from day one was completely in love with Ayida she knew him better than any other person. But most important she cared only about him, not his skills on the court or his fame and fortune just what made him happy and what was best for him. Outside