The Adventures of Max and Leo: Celebration of an undefeated season
The team gathered in the locker room after winning their last game of the season. Leo stood in the middle of the gathering and started talking:
"Well, guys, we did it . . . and it wasn't easy at all. We actually went through the whole season without a loss. Some of the teams were tough and some of the teams made us fight for our victory, but we prevailed. We worked together, we persevered, and we gave it all we got, practice or game. Our team effort has paid off."
"Well, we couldn't have done it without you, Coach Leo," Marv said. "It seems like you had these strategies planned months in advance."
"I did," Leo said. "It's never too early to prepare. That's what I always say. But, seriously, guys, you all really worked well together. You all really did a great job, playing great offense and defense alike. Even when some of you were tired, you all still worked diligently."
Leo saw that Max had lied back on the floor and had dozed off.
"Speaking of tired, it looks like Max has given out," Leo said.
"Yeah, I could tell Max was running out of energy," Marv said. "I came close to seeing if you could sub him out so he could rest."
"Yeah, you really did look out for him this season," Leo said. "That's another reason why I loved coaching this team. You all treated each other like family."
"Yeah . . . I wonder if I should go ahead and take his shoes off," Marv said.
"Yeah, you might as well," Leo said. "He can just go home in his swimming suit if he wishes."
"I'm sure he'd be happy to hear that," Marv said.
Marv went to Max's feet and began untying Max's shoes.
"But, anyway, since you all worked so hard during this season, we're going to go to my house and celebrate," Leo said.
The team cheered.
"I still need to get some snacks together, but I got the sodas and I've got the living room and my bedroom all set up so we can play some video games," Leo said. "So, who's ready to party?"
The team cheered again.
"Awesome, well, let's get changed so we can go," Leo said.
The team cheered one more time before Leo left the team alone to begin changing so he could change in his office. Marv finished untying Max's shoes, took Max's shoes and socks off and laid them aside. Marv then took Max's uniform off, unveiling Max's Super Swimmer swimming suit. Marv noticed that with all the noise and with the removal of Max's uniform, Max stayed asleep.
"Wow, he must be really tired," Marv said.
Marv got up and started changing into his regular clothes with the rest of the team. Once the team got changed, some of them went outside while some of them noticed Max was lying down asleep on the floor.
"So, are we gonna carry Max out?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, I think we're gonna have to," Marv said. "Let's get him out."
Harry, Marv and the team members that stayed in the locker room gathered around Max to pick him up and carried him to the locker room door. When they carried him to the door, Leo said from outside, "Are you guys doing alright?"
"We are, we just need you to open the door for us," Marv said.
"Are you carrying Max out again?" Leo asked.
"Yeah, we are," Marv said.
"Alright," Leo said and then opened the door for the team members to carry Max out. Leo noticed that Max was still asleep and said, "Wow, I guess he can lay down on the back row of my dad's car."
"Alright, well, lead us there," Marv said.
"Okay then," Leo said. "But, first let me get Max's uniform."
Leo went back in the locker room to get Max's uniform and then the team followed Leo down the hall and out of the complex . . .
Once everybody got to Leo's house, some of the team members got to Leo's dad's car and got Max out of the car and followed Leo through the house to the backyard where the pool was. Leo got the float and put it on the pool and the team members laid Max on the pool. Leo then allowed the float to drift freely on the pool while Max continued to sleep on the float. The team members and Leo regrouped with the rest of the team in the living room.
"Alright, some of you can play video games in here and some of you can play video or computer games in my living room," Leo said. "I've got to finish making some snacks for you guys."
Leo went in the kitchen to get some snacks made for the team. While he was making the snacks, he looked out the back window and saw that Marv was sitting on a bench watching Max rest on the float. Leo finished making the snacks and got the kitchen table and dining room set up with snacks and sodas before he went into the living room and said, "Snacks and sodas are ready for you." Leo made the same announcement in the bedroom and then went outside the backyard where Marv was still on the bench watching Max rest.
"Hey, Marv, you okay?" Leo asked.
"I guess so," Marv said.
"Are you worried about Max?" Leo asked.
"Yeah, I am," Marv said.
"Is it because he sometimes gets really tired after the games?" Leo asked.
"Well, that's one of the reasons," Marv said. "I don't think he's ever been in this deep in sleep in a long time."
"I don't think he has, either . . . he did have a busy week," Leo said. "But, that being said, why else are you worried about Max?"
"His dad never came to any of the games," Marv said. "Harry and I looked for him."
"I did, too," Leo said. "I guess you know that Max gets upset and sad sometimes when his dad doesn't come."
"Yeah, I still remember the bus trip home where Max cried during the whole trip home," Marv said. "I can't get that image out of my head."
"Yeah, neither can I because I have to see that at least once every other week if not more often," Leo said. "Max really wants his dad in his life and has given him many opportunities to be a part of his life, but he hasn't taken any of them. I haven't seen Max's dad but once or twice a year and sometimes, I'll go a whole year without seeing him."
"You must have known about this for a long time," Marv said.
"I met Max in Kindergarten," Leo said. "I could tell when his dad backed out on him because he'd sit on the highest platform of the playground looking down and sometimes, he would cry. So, I talked to him, gave him some comfort and encouragement, some hugs and a few times, even a massage."
"I'm glad you care about Max," Marv said. "I'm sure he's thankful for you."
"He told me he is," Leo said. "And I'm glad you care about Max as well. I've got some snacks ready. Want me to fix you a plate?"
"I'd love that, thanks, Leo," Marv said. "I overheard you mentioned sodas so if you can get me some Ginger Ale, that'd be great."
"I'll get you some then," Leo said.
Leo got up, went in the kitchen to fix Marv's plate and Ginger Ale and then came back out to give it all to Marv.
"Thanks, Leo," Marv said.
"Sure thing," Leo said. "If you want, sunset is in thirty minutes so I'll let you do the honors of calling Max in when it gets too dark."
"Sounds great," Marv said. "Are you gonna set something up for him when it does?"
"Yeah, I'm gonna move the bedroom part of the party into the living room so I can get a mattress set up for Max," Leo said.
"Sounds great," Marv said.
Leo left Marv alone to enjoy his food . . .
Once it got too dark, Marv went to the edge of the pool and pulled the float to the edge of the pool.
"Max? Max?" Marv said.
Max didn't wake up, so Marv shook Max.
"Max?" Marv asked.
After a few moments of shaking, Max finally woke up.
"Everything okay," Max asked.
"Yeah, we got to get you in, it's getting dark," Marv said. "You were deep in sleep. I had to shake you rather violently to get you up."
"Wait, I slept through the whole trip here," Max said.
"Yeah," Marv said. "That's the deepest I've ever seen you sleep. We got you from the locker room to Leo's dad's car and then through Leo's house over here."
"I've only been that tired maybe three or four other times in my life," Max said. "I must have really worked myself to death this week."
"Well, don't worry, it's the weekend so you can catch up on your rest," Marv said. "Leo's got something all set up for you in his bedroom so you can resume your rest there."
Max got out of the float and stood up on dry ground before Marv allowed the float to drift freely on the pool again. Max, still feeling overwhelmed with fatigue, leaned on Marv and the two walked arm to arm to the back door. While they were walking to the back door, Leo opened up the back door.
"Wow, Max is really still tired," Leo said. "I'll see if I can get some people that'll help Max."
"Yeah, please do," Marv said.
Leo held the door open for Marv and Max to get in. Once they got in, Leo followed them, closing the door behind him.
"Guys, Max is still really tired so I think some of you need to carry him to my room," Leo said.
Some of the team stopped what they were doing and went to the kitchen where Marv, Max and Leo were. They worked together to pick Max up and carry him to Leo's bedroom, where Leo had a mattress set up for Max. They laid Max on the mattress and placed the blankets over Max. Max quickly returned to sleep as soon as he was placed on the mattress.
"Wow, Max really is tired," Harry said. "Hopefully, he will get the rest he needs."
"He will," Leo said. "He just had a really busy week full of activities and such. You guys can go back to the party."
The team members that carried Max in left except for Marv and Leo.
"Poor Max," Marv said. "He's really worn out."
"Yeah," Leo said.
"I think I'm gonna stay with Max," Marv said.
"Alright," Leo said. "I'll go hang out with the rest of the team."
Leo left Marv alone with Max. Marv went to where Max was and sat down next to him. Marv watched Max rest for a little while, still worried about Max. Sitting down and watching Max rest eventually turned into lying down and watching Max rest. While watching Max rest, fatigue got a hold of Marv as he closed his eyes and fell asleep himself . . .
About an hour later, Leo came back in to check on Marv and Max. Leo saw that Marv was asleep on the floor next to Max. Leo went to Marv's feet and knelt down to untie Marv's shoes. Once they were untied, Leo took Marv's shoes and socks off and laid them aside. Leo then got up, went into his closet and got a pillow and a blanket. He returned to where Marv was at and put a pillow under Marv's head and a blanket over Marv. Leo then left Marv alone to continue resting with Max in the bedroom.