Rating: G
Feedback: Comments welcome at [email protected]
The Judge and Mark were engaged in one of their infamous �to the death� basketball games, each pushing, punching, and wrestling with the other. McCormick�s left eye was puffing up from a wild swing Hardcastle had made to block a shot, and the jurist was favoring his right foot, stepped on �accidentally� by the younger man while fighting for control of the ball. Mark spun around out of Hardcastle�s block and sent a three pointer in through the net with an overhand pitch. Passing the rebound to the Judge, he grinned. �Beat that. One handed. Got the gift, huh, Hardcase?�
�Got something, kiddo-can�t say what yet. Probably unprintable.� He dribbled twice then sent a fast shot up from the side. The ball hit and lodged in the space between the rim and the backboard. �Damn!�
McCormick clamped his teeth shut on his lip, but the sounds of giggling came through. �Sorry, Judge�I was wrong. I guess you�ve got the gift too. What do you call that shot�the Hardcastle Hangup?�
Milt glared at him. �Very funny, smart boy. Got any more comments before I throw you up there with it?�
Mark backed off, holding up a hand in protest. �Hey�sorry. Want me to help you get it down?�
�Just stand back, McCormick,� ordered the Judge. �I don�t need your help with this�and I may not need it at all if you keep up this behavior. He reached up as high as he could, but his fingertips were about three inches from the basketball.
�Stretch, Judge,� encouraged the younger man, grinning. �Come on, just a little more.�
The jurist stood on his tiptoes and strained. His index finger brushed the edge of the hoop rim. Jumping didn�t help. �Well don�t just stand there, McCormick,� he groused in exasperation. �Give me a hand!�
Mark obediently put down the towel he had been wiping his face with and clapped. He ducked as Hardcastle�s arm took a hard swing at him.
�Would you like to go for two, kiddo? Get over here and get this damned thing unstuck!�
McCormick strolled over nonchalantly, reached up a long arm, and tipped the ball off the rim to the ground. �I don�t see why you had so much trouble, Judge,� he quipped. Slowly looking down at the older man, he grinned. �Well, maybe��
�Don�t say it, kiddo,� Hardcastle warned.
�What?� Mark put on his most innocent look.
�You know.�
�Now, your honor�I would never make fun of your�uh�shortcomings.�
Hardcastle�s fist jabbed in his gut. �Got any more smart remarks, sonny?�
McCormick took a few deep breaths and straightened up slowly, rubbing his stomach. �Nope. Just ran out.�
Hardcastle picked up the ball. �Good. Replay that point.� He bounced the ball, faked to the right-shoving Mark with his elbow, then threw a high lob which swished through the net. �Two. And game.� He picked up his towel, then threw an arm around Mark�s shoulders. �Come on, kiddo, almost time for lunch. Hit the showers.�
�Hey, Judge?�
�What?�
�Would you like to go to the circus next week?�
�Now why on earth would I want to do that, McCormick? I�ve already got a clown in residence here!�
�I just thought you could borrow one of those stick-things they walk around on-stilts or whatever they call them. Would help you get out of awkward situations during the games.�
�I�ve got an alternative, kiddo,� the jurist grinned. �We can visit the landscape company down the street and use one of their chain-saws to cut you down to size!�
�I never meant anything disrespectful, Judge,� Mark chuckled. �You know I look up to you�even when I hafta look down!�
A towel popped behind him, stinging his bottom. �Ow! Hey, Hardcase-you just pounded me into the ground during the game-trying to injure me for life?�
�Of course not-you�ve got to finish mowing the lawn this afternoon. And after that, you can start cleaning out the front fountain filter.�
�Don�t know about that, Hardcase.� Mark grimaced as he limped toward the Gatehouse. �I may just have to take a prolonged rest, after an extremely long soak in a hot tub, then spend the evening immersed in a good book. Got any good books around here, your honor?�
�There�s always the law texts in the den, kiddo. Got a fascinating case for you to look up-Hardcastle vs. McCormick, California, 1983. I�m following its progress carefully.�
�Does it have a good plot? I like stuff that keeps my attention. Action, excitement, you know-reading for entertainment. How�s it end?�
�Hasn�t got one yet-I�m still working on it. Can�t decide if it�s a horror story or a comedy. It looks like the protagonist is heading for a fall unless he shapes up, though.�
�Square or Triangle shape?�
Hardcastle laughed and pushed McCormick through the door of the Gatehouse. �Get out of here! Lunch in half an hour.�
�I�ll be there. Then I�ve got to lower the basketball hoop. Just what height did they set it at back in 1910?� He smiled sweetly at the Judge, closing the door on the bellow of �McCormmmickkk!�
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