Early one August morning, Chicago Blackhawks forward and GAP Kids model Patrick Kane caught a cab home with his cousin Jimmy.

The night had been memorable. On the way to a Jonas Brothers Show, Patrick's mother let them listen to the rap station in the backseat of her Winstar. Once there, they received double butter popcorn from a hockey fan working the concession, and Jimmy kissed a girl ON THE MOUTH during the teen sensations' encore. In fact, the evening would have been perfect had it not been for a meddling cabbie.

Patrick's mom had given the pair $15.00 and his sister's emergency cell phone with strict instructions to call her before they left the concert and to get EXACT change from the cab driver. Patrick had played fast and loose with her change before and lost, and was punished with a two month revocation of his allowance. He wasn't about to test her again.

They pulled up to Patrick's house, his hockey net perched against the shed at the end of the driveway.

"That'll be $13.80," growled the cab driver, crystal meth and anger on his breath.

"Certainly, Mister!" chirped Patrick, handing him his $15.00.

The cabbie grabbed the money from him covetously and turned his back, reaching into the bag full of crystal meth on the passenger seat for another handful.

"Uh, boy mister, it sure would be swell if we could get some change," stammered Patrick, shooting a nervous glance at Jimmy, who was picking at the seat cushion in front of him, his brow furrowed with worry.

"Wha-?" began the cabbie, turning around to stare menacingly at the boy. "Go on, git outta here, ya' little jerk...before I knock yer block off."

Patrick flinched.

"Mister, I ain't trying to cause no ruckus here. It's just, well, my mom - she's a real swell lady and all - but she get's awful sore when she doesn-"

Suddenly, the cabbie's grubby claw swung in a wide arc at Patrick, a jaw-shattering blow narrowly missing his prepubescent face.

Patrick had no choice. The boy's lives were in peril. So, in perfectly legal, text-book self defense, Patrick and Jimmy summoned their courage, put on their bravery hats, and beat the living shit out of the cabbie, taking their money back before calling an adult.

---an excerpt from My Side of the Story, by Patrick Kane