The Adventures of Max and Leo: Max and Leo go to California

Max and Leo were in Leo's office. Max was lying awake on Leo's couch and Leo was working at his desk.

"Well, Leo, today's the last day before spring break," Max said.

"Sure is," Leo said. "Are you looking forward to spending the whole break with me?"

"I sure am," Max said. "We're going to play games, listen to music, and work together . . . and of course, I'll be in the pool."

"I know you will," Leo said. "That reminds me, how long has it been since I showed you the progress I made on the game I am making of us?"

"It's been a few weeks at least," Max said.

"Alright, well, I came to a good stopping point last night, so I'll let you check it out when we get home," Leo said.

"Sounds fantastic," Max said.

Leo then heard the phone ringing. Leo picked up.

"Hello? You're talking to him! What can I do for you? Yeah, I coached the basketball team here. How did you know about us? Wait, really? So, that interviewer that interviewed me interviewed me for a national paper? So, my team and I made national news? Wow. So, what did you wanted us to do? You wanted us to come and play your team? Okay. Cool. That is a really creative idea, to have the best middle school team from another school to come over to play a best of three spring break tournament against you. It's amazing that you've been able to do that every year for the past ten years. I appreciate the opportunity. My team will be excited to hear this. Thanks for calling. Bye."

Leo hung up.

"What was that about?" Max asked.

"There's a middle school in Sacramento that read a newspaper article about our basketball team," Leo said. "Now, get this, every year for spring break, they pick a middle school basketball team to have a best of three spring break tournament with and they decided to pick our team."

"That is awesome," Max said. "We've got to tell the team then."

"Yeah, I'm getting ready to ask the principle to make the announcement," Leo said.

"Sounds awesome," Max said. "I'm sure they'll be excited to hear this as well."

Leo made the call to the principal, telling him to announce to the middle school basketball team that Leo wants to meet with them in his office after school. Sure enough, the team gathered in Leo's office to await Leo's announcement.

"I've got you some exciting news," Leo said. "About a couple of hours ago, I just got a call from a middle school basketball coach in Sacramento, California. For the last ten years, they pick a middle school basketball team to do a best of three spring break tournament. Well, this year, they found out about this team and the fact that I coached it. Come to find out, the interview I did a week after our last game was for a national paper and this team read about it and wanted to play against us in this year's tournament."

"Wow, that is awesome," Marv said. "We'll be playing a team from another state."

"Yeah, that sounds like an honor," Harry said.

"It sure is," Leo said. "But, anyway, they have given me an overview concerning how it's all going to work out. We will fly to Sacramento on Monday, first class. We'll practice on Tuesday and then play games on Wednesday, Thursday and if necessary, Friday and fly back Saturday. But, if we win in two games, we'll have Friday to enjoy the city."

"Awesome," Marv said. "Are we going to stay at a hotel?"

"Yes, we will stay at a hotel about two miles from the school," Leo said. "There will be a bus that will escort us to where we need to go."

"That is awesome," Harry said.

"Yeah, so we'll be meeting at the Portland airport on Monday Afternoon where we will fly to Sacramento," Leo said.

"Wonderful," Marv said. "I hope you and Max get to stay in a room together."

"I hope so, too," Leo said. "That would be kind of nice."

"Either way, this is really exciting," Max said.

"It sure is," Leo said. "So, I know some of you have been practicing in the off season, so keep at it and we'll see you Monday."

The team did a one, two, three chant for old times' sake and left Leo and Max alone in the office . . .

On Monday Afternoon, the team gathered at the Portland airport to get ready to board the plane. They were able to get their tickets taken care of, their luggage in the plane and they boarded the first class part of the plane. When Max and Leo came in, the flight attendant went to where Max and Leo were.

"Hey, guys, you two get the first class suite," the flight attendant said.

"Yeah, the coach told me that he was going to get us the best treatment," Leo said. "He said he wanted to treat me well and I told him I'd only take it if Max could enjoy the treatment with me."

"Aw, you two must be best friends," the flight attendant said.

"Yeah, we are, have been since Kindergarten," Leo said.

"I'm sure there are a lot of happy memories between you two," the flight attendant said.

"Yeah, there are," Max said. "Leo's even making a game about us to capture those memories."

"Yeah, I am," Leo said. "I found a good stopping point on Thursday so I can work on it some more when we get back. I stopped at where Max got a high score at the Frogger game at the Just Fun and Games arcade place where we work."

"That's really cool," the flight attendant said. "Well, let me show you both where your suite is at so you two can add to your happy memories."

"Sounds great," Leo said.

The flight attendant led Leo and Max to their first class suite, which had a bed and a chair, a side table drawer, a couple of treys to eat on and a TV with a VHS player built-in to it.

"Wow, this is so cool," Leo said. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome, enjoy," the flight attendant said and left Max and Leo alone in their suite.

"Wow, this is amazing," Max said. "I don't even know where to start."

"Yeah, I know," Leo said. "I think I'm gonna sit down and see what's on the TV."

Leo sat down on the chair and turned on the TV to see what was on. Leo found something he wanted to watch and Max and Leo started watching it. While they were watching TV, the flight attendant came back in and said, "We're getting ready to leave the terminal, so be sure to strap up. One of you can strap up in the chair while the other can strap up on the bed."

"Well, if you want, Max, you can strap on the bed," Leo said. "I can strap up here on the chair."

"Really, thanks," Max said.

"Plus, you can rest while we fly," the flight attendant said. "And Leo, in terms of the TV, once we get off the ground, we've got movies in here if you want to watch any of them."

"Okay, cool," Leo said. "Max, want me to take your shoes off?"

"Sure," Max said and then sat down on the bed. Leo went to Max's feet, untied his shoes, took his shoes and socks off and laid them on the floor. Max then lied down on the bed and strapped up. Leo placed the blankets over Max.

"Thanks, Leo," Max said.

"Sure thing," Leo said. "You think Max's shoes will be okay on the floor?"

"They should be," the flight attendant said.

"Alright, I'll strap up then," Leo said and then sat down on the chair and strapped up.

"Alright, once we get off the ground real good, I'll let you know so you can get the TV set up to watch movies," the flight attendant said.

"Yeah, I imagine I'm gonna lose signal of the TV stations once we get too far off the ground," Leo said.

"Yeah, you will," the flight attendant said. "Alright, I'll be back."

The flight attendant left Leo and Max alone in the suite.

"You comfortable, Max," Leo asked.

"I sure am," Max said. "So, you're gonna watch movies while I rest?"

"I sure am," Leo said. "If you do fall asleep, I hope you rest well."

"Thanks, Leo," Max said. "I might just do that."

"You can," Leo said. "If need be, either the flight attendant or myself will wake you when we get to Sacramento."

"Sounds great," Max said.

Max closed his eyes and went to sleep while Leo waited for the plane to take off so he could watch a movie . . .

When the plane got to Sacramento . . .

"Max, Leo, we're here," the flight attendant said, waking Max up.

"Alright, great," Leo said.

"Did you enjoy the suite?" the flight attendant said.

"Max and I sure did," Leo said. "It felt good to watch Clue again. That's a really cool movie."

"It is a plane favorite for anybody that gets the suite," the flight attendant said. "Max, did you rest well on the bed?"

"I sure did," Max said. "It felt so good to get a nap in."

"Well, thanks for letting us have the place," Leo said. "It's really nice."

"Sure thing you both have a good day," the flight attendant said.

"You, too," Leo said.

Leo and Max unstrapped themselves. Leo gave Max his shoes and socks to put on. Once Max put his socks and shoes on and tied his shoes, he followed Leo out of the first class suite and out of the plane. They met up with the rest of the team outside the plane and went to get their luggage and things before they boarded the bus that drove them to the hotel. Sure enough, Leo got another thing he requested for: A room for himself and Max. Once they got in the room, they laid their luggage on the floor and sat down on the bed.

"Well, we're here," Leo said. "By the way, just in case you didn't hear my conversation with the hotel manager, I asked if there was a pool here and come to find out, this hotel has a pool, hot tub and lazy river."

"That is so cool," Max said. "So, I guess my feet are coming back out?"

"They sure are," Leo said. "Want me to get them back out so you can be your superhero?"

"I sure do," Max said.

Leo got up and knelt down at Max's feet to take his shoes and socks back off. Max then got up to take his shirt and shorts off, unveiling the swimming suit.

"Well, the Super Swimmer is back," Max said.

"Alright, have fun," Leo said. "I'm gonna unpack, but once I do, I might come down there."

"Sounds awesome," Max said.

Max left the hotel room and took the elevator back to the ground floor. He then went to the pool room where the pool, hot tub and lazy river were. Max got in the pool and started swimming . . .

A couple of hours later, Leo came in the pool room wearing his swimming suit. When Max saw Leo come in, he swam to the edge of the pool closest to Leo.

"Hey, Leo," Max said.

"Hey, Max, how do you like the pool?" Leo asked.

"I love it," Max said. "I can still practice my swimming while we're here in Sacramento."

"You sure can," Leo said. "I'm glad you're listening to the swimming coach when he told you he wanted you to stay up to par with your swimming skills during spring break."

"Yeah . . . it's actually been really fun being in the swimming team," Max said.

"Yeah, you've done really great," Leo said. "I'm sure he just wanted you to keep it up."

"I'm sure he did, too," Max said. "So, now that you're here, what are you gonna do?"

"Well, if you've been swimming since you came in here, you've swam for over two hours," Leo said. "So, I figured we could go in the hot tub for a little bit."

"Cool, let's go," Max said.

Max got out of the pool and followed Leo to the hot tub. The two got in, sat down and relaxed.

"Wow, this hot tub feels so good," Leo said.

"Yeah, it does," Max said. "Definitely a good place to rest your body after a swim"

"And it's a good place for me to rest mine because I've had a busy year so far," Leo said.

"I know you did, between coaching the basketball team, working and school stuff, I know you probably need this," Max said.

"You did, too, Max," Leo said. "You've been working hard with the swimming team, the school work, work, skateboarding and yet still managing to spend time with your best friend."

"You think I need this, too?" Max asked.

"Yeah, you do," Leo said. "That's why I let you take the bed at the first class suite."

"Thanks, Leo," Max said.

"Sure thing," Leo said. "Relax, Max . . . we've got several big days waiting for us."

Max and Leo relaxed in the hot tub to the point of falling asleep.