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![Mother - [FBA Story] Firestarter Series](http://t.furaffinity.net/14392281@600-1409274489.jpg "Click to change the View")
Mother - [FBA Story] Firestarter Series
(A story about my FBA character Jake Turner, You can read more about Jake here: http://furrybasketball.com/wiki/ind.....e=Jake_Turner)
Jake Turner put his head down into his paws, closed his eyes, and began to block out the world.
He left the hardwood floor immediately after the final whistle had blown without saying a word to anyone. There were calls for the young prospect to attend post-game interviews with many of the General Managers and scouts in attendance but the vulpine passed, unable to face an audience.
The towering big fur came into the FBA rookie showcase game with high hopes, and even higher expectations. Many had assumed the lofty athletic center to take over and show a dominant performance. However, what the world saw, was anything but.
Jake Turner had failed.
Right from the opening tipoff, something was off as Jake struggled to find his positioning and get into a groove. The lanky center looked awkward and at times, out of place- clearly nothing like ‘The most FBA ready player in the draft’ that many reporters had proclaimed him to be. Minute after minute passed and the red fox could not break through. At one point, Jake tripped over his own giant feet and almost fell into the crowd. This was nothing at all like the “second coming of FBA Hall of Famer Vicki Turner.” that everyone was expecting.
It wasn’t long until the rest of Jake’s team began to shuffle into the locker room. Though no one faulted him or spoke ill, the fact that their friend had underperformed and was clearly affected by it made tonight’s game bittersweet. Many sympathetic muzzles took the time to share their well wishes and simple words of encouragement;
"You did your best. It’s just one game.”
"You didn't get any play time; don’t let it get to you too much."
"It was a shooter's game. Don’t let that psyche you out Jake“
None of this seemed to get through to the fox. The massive vulpine could only bury head into his murky game towel and wish the world away.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. After all those years of practicing, all those countless nights in the gym alone, forgoing friendship and fun for his one goal: to prove them all wrong. Prove to them that he was going to be as good as her.
Jake's fractured mind wouldn’t let it go and the events of tonight’s game looped over and over in his head, playing out scenarios of what ifs and what could have beens. He attempted to reason with what he did wrong, imagining different moves and actions where he had failed before; less power on a shot, more effort and speed on a breakaway, a quicker stride, a better pivot. It was something his mother had taught him from a young age, that if you make every shot you’ll never get better.
These alternatives played like a silent movie in his head but after a while it only made him more sad. In the end, none of this mattered because the outcome never changed because he takes that final shot of the second game and misses. The ball falls out, clatters against the hardwood and time expires. This was not how Jake Turner was supposed to play.
Fear and disappointment began to turn to worry and anxiety and he could hear the whispers and scratches of pen on paper as scouts and potential teams wrote him off. He could recall every catcall, every word of horror that he’d never be good enough and now it seemed as though they’d been redeemed. These dancing images filled him with doubt and fear as Jake had lived his entire life with everyone around him telling him would never be as good as his mother, and now he couldn’t overcome the feeling that they were right.
Jake…?”
Jake had known that voice, that sound, all his life. The red fox’s lip began to quiver and his tail swung back and forth, full of nerves and worry. He didn’t want to be seen like this, not now, not by the GM of Seattle Summit. The last thing he wanted now, in either of those worlds, was to be comforted by his mother.
A few tense seconds passed and it wasn't until Vicki Turner cleared her throat that her son realized that she wasn't going away. It now became a game of stubbornness, a classic game of chess between members of the Turner clan and like all good games, mother's tended to beat their sons.
For the first time in over a half of an hour, Jake lifted his muzzle to reveal red, puffy eyes and soaked facial fur. His nose as he took sight of his mom above him and a sad, shamed expression covered his face. Jake’s whiskers pinned flat against his cheeks and fresh tears began to well up within his eyes. He said nothing, as the simple act of meeting her eyes hurt him.
Like a sad child that knows he's done something wrong, he turned his vision downward, analyzing a smudge of dirt on his shoes that didn’t exist. Staring at his oversized size 24 sneakers, it dawned on him that as large as they were, they would never be big enough to follow in her footsteps.
After another long, belated sigh, the younger fox spoke.
"I guess I really let you down..."
Vicki twisted her whiskers, contorting them flat against her cheek. The mother in her wanted to hold and comfort her son but the professional FBA General Manager within her remained steadfast and said nothing. If there was a bright side to any of this, Jake’s teammates and coaches had already showered up and left, leaving the pair alone.
From their earliest days, Vicki had seen the raw talent her son had for the game of basketball and when he began to show an interest she started to push Jake harder than she had ever imagined she could push anyone. She noticed that after a while, nothing was ever good enough for her son. He would stay out late and practice until he could longer see the backboard and rim. As Jake grew, Vicki marveled at his tenacity, that same never say die drive and intensity to success that she had shown in her early career. That desire to succeed above all else. Vicki knew that urge all too well and out of all of the talents and strengths birth had given to her son, she often cited that Jake’s spark to be great was her favorite.
Maybe it was too much. If Vicki Turner had known for a moment that her love for the game would turn into his obsession, she would never of had him pick up a ball at all. All she wanted was her son to be happy.
"Jake..."
Jake dotted away fresh tears rolling down his cheeks and looked up to his mother with bated breath, hoping that whatever she would say next would make everything right.
“Kiddo, you have talent, I can see it, if you really WANT to play Basketball, you need to work at it, not just play it as a game.”
Jake sighed, letting his towel fall from his hands and onto the floor.
"Really… I'm proud of you kiddo.. "
There was another long pause and the tears began come for Jake again.
Vicki took a deep breath and exhaled. This was hard for her, as both a General Manager and a Mother. He would be alright she thought…. Everything would be alright.
"No..."
Vicki's ears twitched high and her eyebrows lifted. Her gaze narrowed, taken aback at her son’s reply.
"No...!” Jake snapped again, his voice quivering with emotion.
“You don't get to tell me it is okay or….or t-that you’re proud of me."
The red fox stood to his full height, the enormous teenager utterly towering over his mother.
"After all of that. After everything you've put me through… You do NOT get to tell me that was... Th-that was okay!"
Jake curled his hands into gigantic fists. His chest rising and falling rapidly, like a pot ready to overflow.
"After years of working my tail off, thousands of hours and countless drills. After the entire world telling me I'll never be as good as... as YOU...”
The young kit’s muzzle contorted in pain and the boy dropped like a rag dog. His’ huge body landing with an ominous thud to the old wooden locker room bench. Jake’s hands went to his head again, trying to control the stress of the world on his shoulders.
Vicki stared on with horror for a moment, then stepped forward and closed in around her son, arms embracing him tight as she could. As far as she had pushed her son, as hard and as strong as it had made him, this felt wrong. Jake felt the simple kiss from his mother’s lips on his forehead, her fingers rubbing his ears just like she had done when he was small. Through fresh tears of her own, Vicki closed her eyes.
“I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”
"Mother" is copyright Wendingo 2014
Jake Turner + Vicki Turner are copyright
Wendingo and 
kitana
The FBA is copyright
BuckHopper
Art is by
Foxena
A special thanks to my beloved Althea and everyone that reviewed this with me. Too much of my soul went into this.
Jake Turner put his head down into his paws, closed his eyes, and began to block out the world.
He left the hardwood floor immediately after the final whistle had blown without saying a word to anyone. There were calls for the young prospect to attend post-game interviews with many of the General Managers and scouts in attendance but the vulpine passed, unable to face an audience.
The towering big fur came into the FBA rookie showcase game with high hopes, and even higher expectations. Many had assumed the lofty athletic center to take over and show a dominant performance. However, what the world saw, was anything but.
Jake Turner had failed.
Right from the opening tipoff, something was off as Jake struggled to find his positioning and get into a groove. The lanky center looked awkward and at times, out of place- clearly nothing like ‘The most FBA ready player in the draft’ that many reporters had proclaimed him to be. Minute after minute passed and the red fox could not break through. At one point, Jake tripped over his own giant feet and almost fell into the crowd. This was nothing at all like the “second coming of FBA Hall of Famer Vicki Turner.” that everyone was expecting.
It wasn’t long until the rest of Jake’s team began to shuffle into the locker room. Though no one faulted him or spoke ill, the fact that their friend had underperformed and was clearly affected by it made tonight’s game bittersweet. Many sympathetic muzzles took the time to share their well wishes and simple words of encouragement;
"You did your best. It’s just one game.”
"You didn't get any play time; don’t let it get to you too much."
"It was a shooter's game. Don’t let that psyche you out Jake“
None of this seemed to get through to the fox. The massive vulpine could only bury head into his murky game towel and wish the world away.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. After all those years of practicing, all those countless nights in the gym alone, forgoing friendship and fun for his one goal: to prove them all wrong. Prove to them that he was going to be as good as her.
Jake's fractured mind wouldn’t let it go and the events of tonight’s game looped over and over in his head, playing out scenarios of what ifs and what could have beens. He attempted to reason with what he did wrong, imagining different moves and actions where he had failed before; less power on a shot, more effort and speed on a breakaway, a quicker stride, a better pivot. It was something his mother had taught him from a young age, that if you make every shot you’ll never get better.
These alternatives played like a silent movie in his head but after a while it only made him more sad. In the end, none of this mattered because the outcome never changed because he takes that final shot of the second game and misses. The ball falls out, clatters against the hardwood and time expires. This was not how Jake Turner was supposed to play.
Fear and disappointment began to turn to worry and anxiety and he could hear the whispers and scratches of pen on paper as scouts and potential teams wrote him off. He could recall every catcall, every word of horror that he’d never be good enough and now it seemed as though they’d been redeemed. These dancing images filled him with doubt and fear as Jake had lived his entire life with everyone around him telling him would never be as good as his mother, and now he couldn’t overcome the feeling that they were right.
Jake…?”
Jake had known that voice, that sound, all his life. The red fox’s lip began to quiver and his tail swung back and forth, full of nerves and worry. He didn’t want to be seen like this, not now, not by the GM of Seattle Summit. The last thing he wanted now, in either of those worlds, was to be comforted by his mother.
A few tense seconds passed and it wasn't until Vicki Turner cleared her throat that her son realized that she wasn't going away. It now became a game of stubbornness, a classic game of chess between members of the Turner clan and like all good games, mother's tended to beat their sons.
For the first time in over a half of an hour, Jake lifted his muzzle to reveal red, puffy eyes and soaked facial fur. His nose as he took sight of his mom above him and a sad, shamed expression covered his face. Jake’s whiskers pinned flat against his cheeks and fresh tears began to well up within his eyes. He said nothing, as the simple act of meeting her eyes hurt him.
Like a sad child that knows he's done something wrong, he turned his vision downward, analyzing a smudge of dirt on his shoes that didn’t exist. Staring at his oversized size 24 sneakers, it dawned on him that as large as they were, they would never be big enough to follow in her footsteps.
After another long, belated sigh, the younger fox spoke.
"I guess I really let you down..."
Vicki twisted her whiskers, contorting them flat against her cheek. The mother in her wanted to hold and comfort her son but the professional FBA General Manager within her remained steadfast and said nothing. If there was a bright side to any of this, Jake’s teammates and coaches had already showered up and left, leaving the pair alone.
From their earliest days, Vicki had seen the raw talent her son had for the game of basketball and when he began to show an interest she started to push Jake harder than she had ever imagined she could push anyone. She noticed that after a while, nothing was ever good enough for her son. He would stay out late and practice until he could longer see the backboard and rim. As Jake grew, Vicki marveled at his tenacity, that same never say die drive and intensity to success that she had shown in her early career. That desire to succeed above all else. Vicki knew that urge all too well and out of all of the talents and strengths birth had given to her son, she often cited that Jake’s spark to be great was her favorite.
Maybe it was too much. If Vicki Turner had known for a moment that her love for the game would turn into his obsession, she would never of had him pick up a ball at all. All she wanted was her son to be happy.
"Jake..."
Jake dotted away fresh tears rolling down his cheeks and looked up to his mother with bated breath, hoping that whatever she would say next would make everything right.
“Kiddo, you have talent, I can see it, if you really WANT to play Basketball, you need to work at it, not just play it as a game.”
Jake sighed, letting his towel fall from his hands and onto the floor.
"Really… I'm proud of you kiddo.. "
There was another long pause and the tears began come for Jake again.
Vicki took a deep breath and exhaled. This was hard for her, as both a General Manager and a Mother. He would be alright she thought…. Everything would be alright.
"No..."
Vicki's ears twitched high and her eyebrows lifted. Her gaze narrowed, taken aback at her son’s reply.
"No...!” Jake snapped again, his voice quivering with emotion.
“You don't get to tell me it is okay or….or t-that you’re proud of me."
The red fox stood to his full height, the enormous teenager utterly towering over his mother.
"After all of that. After everything you've put me through… You do NOT get to tell me that was... Th-that was okay!"
Jake curled his hands into gigantic fists. His chest rising and falling rapidly, like a pot ready to overflow.
"After years of working my tail off, thousands of hours and countless drills. After the entire world telling me I'll never be as good as... as YOU...”
The young kit’s muzzle contorted in pain and the boy dropped like a rag dog. His’ huge body landing with an ominous thud to the old wooden locker room bench. Jake’s hands went to his head again, trying to control the stress of the world on his shoulders.
Vicki stared on with horror for a moment, then stepped forward and closed in around her son, arms embracing him tight as she could. As far as she had pushed her son, as hard and as strong as it had made him, this felt wrong. Jake felt the simple kiss from his mother’s lips on his forehead, her fingers rubbing his ears just like she had done when he was small. Through fresh tears of her own, Vicki closed her eyes.
“I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”
"Mother" is copyright Wendingo 2014
Jake Turner + Vicki Turner are copyright
Wendingo and 
kitanaThe FBA is copyright
BuckHopperArt is by
Foxena A special thanks to my beloved Althea and everyone that reviewed this with me. Too much of my soul went into this.
Category All / All
Species Vulpine (Other)
Size 700 x 700px
File Size 370.3 kB
I would say that seeing your previous story and this, this is a much better written story. Then again, that was a WIP before haha. Anyway, really love how this has a resolution. Mother's high ambitions for her son and therefore, the son having too much to deal with.
You definitely made an awesome characer, Wen. I told you this before that Theo and Jake kinda share a same goal, being the best they could be. Having to play basketball for family reasons. Anyway, point is is that you did an excellent job with Jake. Gives him time to grow and can't wait to see how he performs in the upcoming season.
You definitely made an awesome characer, Wen. I told you this before that Theo and Jake kinda share a same goal, being the best they could be. Having to play basketball for family reasons. Anyway, point is is that you did an excellent job with Jake. Gives him time to grow and can't wait to see how he performs in the upcoming season.
Oh man, this was something.
"Staring at his oversized size 24 sneakers, it dawned on him that as large as they were, they would never be big enough to follow in her footsteps."
That line, that line right there was really something for me. It said so much in so little. He wants to live up to the expectations that have been set for him, whether they were society or self-inflicted is not the issue here. The fact is: "He's got a goal, and tonight was something FAR from what he'd hoped for"
I feel like he saw it as a chance, as a chance to finally show the world what he was made of. But things didn't exactly go as planned. In fact, they went virtually off the rails, and the fact that so many had those high expectations for him (even himself), was devastating.
But it's times like that when you really have to take the advice of others into their highest account. There are more lessons learned through defeat than victory. He has to learn how to deal with failure, you can't win every time, but if you can learn from your losses, then they aren't losses at all.
This was amazing to read, and the picture just makes everything all the more poignant. Beautiful. Simply beautiful.
"Staring at his oversized size 24 sneakers, it dawned on him that as large as they were, they would never be big enough to follow in her footsteps."
That line, that line right there was really something for me. It said so much in so little. He wants to live up to the expectations that have been set for him, whether they were society or self-inflicted is not the issue here. The fact is: "He's got a goal, and tonight was something FAR from what he'd hoped for"
I feel like he saw it as a chance, as a chance to finally show the world what he was made of. But things didn't exactly go as planned. In fact, they went virtually off the rails, and the fact that so many had those high expectations for him (even himself), was devastating.
But it's times like that when you really have to take the advice of others into their highest account. There are more lessons learned through defeat than victory. He has to learn how to deal with failure, you can't win every time, but if you can learn from your losses, then they aren't losses at all.
This was amazing to read, and the picture just makes everything all the more poignant. Beautiful. Simply beautiful.
Loved this piece Wen, heartfelt and really touching! And very grounding and humanizing for Jake. He comes off as this cock sure guy with a happy-go-lucky attitude but he's been in his mother's shadow the whole time. Keeping it in, trying to prove he can be taller, and failing.
Really really enjoyed reading this.
Really really enjoyed reading this.
What I liked most about this is how you did exactly what I always felt what the FBA was for-- creating story out of structure and need. Jake performed in a way we did not expect at the combine, and here you've done a marvelous job building up your character out of that. A lesser contributor would have ignored the results and never done anything with it, frustrated over an event that showed their player as weak. Here you embrace it, accept it, make it part of the fabric of the character.
And that's the best way to do it. This story makes Jake human (...you know what I mean) and identifiable. And now it makes us want him to succeed even more. This is exactly how you build a champion, not out of complaining and whining when you do poorly, but embracing every action and making it all add to who you've made. Great job building up Jake. Will be rooting for him.
And that's the best way to do it. This story makes Jake human (...you know what I mean) and identifiable. And now it makes us want him to succeed even more. This is exactly how you build a champion, not out of complaining and whining when you do poorly, but embracing every action and making it all add to who you've made. Great job building up Jake. Will be rooting for him.
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