The Adventures of Max and Leo: On Tuesday, we leave for the court
Max and Leo were having lunch at a restaurant in Sacramento.
"Well, after lunch, we're going to the gym to practice, are you excited, Leo?" Max asked.
"I sure am, I miss coaching these great people," Leo said. "So, it'll be great to get back in the grind, even if it's just for a couple of days."
"Yeah . . . it's gonna feel weird playing a standing and running sport again," Max said.
"I'm sure it is," Leo said. "You've been zeroed in on your swimming skills."
"Yeah, I have," Max said.
"But, I'm sure you'll get used to this sport again," Leo said.
"I'm sure I will, too," Max said. "This lunch is so good. Do we have a restaurant that serves food this good?"
"That's a good question," Leo said. "It's like these people serve food with the extra ingredient of love."
"They sure do," Max said. "They should make a TV show about someone that serves food with love."
"They sure should," Leo said. "It'll make for a really nice cartoon."
"It sure would," Max said. "And the cook would love his job and serve with a smile."
"That would be really cool," Leo said. "And he'd have a best friend and would basically even love the people that hate him. He would be the epitome of a good person."
"Well, let's finish up and head to the court," Max said.
"Alright," Leo said.
Leo and Max finished eating and then went to the school where the gym was at. Leo and Max met up with the coach when they got in the school.
"Hey, there," Leo said. "How's everything going?"
"Going great," the coach said. "So, I take it you two are gonna practice here."
"We sure are," Leo said. "Are you excited to play us?"
"We sure are," the coach said. "I'll show you the gym."
"Alright, awesome," Leo said.
Leo and Max followed the coach to the gym.
"Whoa, this place is awesome," Max said.
"It sure is," the coach said. "Well, get all the practice you need and the cafeteria is gonna serve you all for dinner."
"Sounds awesome," Leo said.
"Well, where is the rest of the team, Leo?" Max asked.
"They'll be here soon, the bus that took us to the hotel will take them here," Leo said.
"Awesome," Max said. "I'm glad you thought to take us to that restaurant."
"Yeah, me, too," Leo said. "I knew it wasn't on the schedule, but I figured I could treat us to some places while we're here."
"Sounds awesome," Max said. "I guess we can warm up while we wait for them."
"We sure can," Leo said.
Max and Leo warmed up and played some one on one ball while they wanted for the rest of the team to join them. Once they came in the court, Leo and Max regrouped with them to do some stretches.
"I'm so excited about these next couple of days," Marv said. "It'll be great to have Leo lead us to victory again for old times' sake."
"It sure will be," Max said. "I'm sure Leo kept his coaching book just in case."
"I did," Leo said. "It's in my bag."
"Awesome, so we'll be getting back in the grind for sure," Marv said.
"We sure will," Leo said. "It's just a matter of you all having good muscle memory."
"Well, I still played basketball at a park from time to time," Marv said.
"Yeah, I've seen you out there," Leo said. "You seem to still remember some of the things I've coached you about."
"Yeah, I've played with Marv a couple of times," Harry said. "He really is determined not to be out of practice."
"Wow, that's awesome," Leo said. "That's a mindset he should carry with him to high school if he ever decides to play high school basketball."
"We're already talking about doing it," Harry said.
"Great," Leo said. "Well, let's do some drills then."
The team did some drills of different kinds for an hour before taking their first water break.
"Wow, it's like we never stopped," Max said.
"It sure is," Leo said. "It seems like you all still know what to do."
"Yeah, it's kind of fun to be back together," Marv said.
"It sure is," Max said.
"Well, after we take our water break, we're gonna scrimmage for a little while," Leo said.
"Awesome," Marv said.
"I'm really looking forward to it," Max said.
"Me, too," Harry said. "It'll be like old times."
"It sure will," Marv said. "We'll get to make more memories as a team."
"We sure will," Max said. "Let's finish the water break so we can make those memories."
"Sounds like you all are excited and ready to go," Leo said.
The team finished their water break and then started scrimmaging. They scrimmaged for an hour, took a water break and then scrimmaged for another hour. While they were yet scrimmaging, Max bent down as he was feeling his feet hurting. Marv came to where Max is.
"You okay, Max?" Marv asked.
"Yeah . . . I'm just not used to being in shoes so much anymore," Max said.
"Well, that and I'm sure you're not used to playing standing and running sports anymore, either," Marv said.
"Yeah, Leo and I were talking about it just this morning," Max said.
"Need to sit down and rest your feet for a little bit?" Marv asked.
"Yeah, I do," Max said.
"Alright, let's go to the chairs," Marv said.
Marv and Max went to the chairs and sat down.
"Whew, man it feels good to be off my feet for a little while," Max said.
"You probably need to get out of your shoes for a little bit, too," Marv said. "Want me to get them off for you?"
"Sure," Max said and adjusted himself to where he could prop his feet on Marv's lap. Marv untied Max's shoes, pulled them off and laid them on the floor. Max felt an outpouring of relief just from the shoes coming off.
"Wow, I never thought it would feel this good to be out of those shoes," Max said. "Thanks, Marv."
"Sure thing," Marv said. "Now, I'm going to remove the socks."
Marv took Max's socks off and placed them on Max's shoes. Marv then began gently massaging Max's feet. Max laid back on the chairs, feeling relaxed.
"Ah, this feels like heaven," Max said. "Thanks, Marv."
"Sure thing, Max," Marv said.
Marv continued to massage Max while Leo came to where the two were.
"Everything okay," Leo asked.
"Yeah, I think Max's feet were just tired of standing and running while being confined in those shoes," Marv said.
"Oh, okay," Leo said. "Thanks for looking out for him, Marv."
"Sure thing," Marv said. "I heard they're gonna feed us here."
"They are," Leo said. "They will serve us in an hour so that'll give us time to get a little more scrimmage time in and then do some final drills."
"Sounds awesome," Marv said. "So, I guess Max can just take it easy until then?"
"Yeah, he can," Leo said. "Unless I can find a place where he can rest since we're still practicing."
"You might need to do that," Marv said. "I think the massage is relaxing him to sleep."
"Alright, I'll ask the coach, be right back," Leo said.
Leo left Marv alone with Max. Marv kept massaging Max until he knew that Max was massaged asleep. Marv then waited for Leo to return.
"The coach said that Max can rest in his office," Leo said. "He's got a couch in there."
"Awesome, let's get him there," Marv said.
Leo called for a couple of other basketball players to Max's side and they rallied with Marv and Leo to carry Max to the couch in the coach's office to rest . . .
About an hour and a half later, Leo came in to wake up Max.
"Hey, Max, we're getting ready to eat, are you okay?" Leo asked.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Max said. "Thanks for letting me rest for a bit."
"Sure," Leo said. "Don't worry. We're heading to the hotel from the school so you can relax in water for the rest of the evening if you wish."
"Okay, great, I think I could really use some pool time," Max said, getting up. "Should I go ahead and finish the transformation?"
"You might as well," Leo said.
Max took his jersey and shorts off, unveiling his swimming suit and gave the jersey and shorts to Leo.
"Yeah, I'll put this in the bag I put your shoes and socks in," Leo said, taking the jersey and shorts. "Once I do that, let's eat."
Leo put the jersey and shorts in the bag with Max's shoes and socks and then the two joined the rest of the team in the cafeteria for dinner . . .
After dinner, the team took the bus back to the hotel.
"So, I take it you're going to the pool," Marv said.
"I sure am," Max said. "What are you gonna do?"
"I'm gonna go to the arcade and then maybe go to the gym for a bit," Marv said.
"Sounds great, have fun," Max said.
"Max, when you're done, you can come up to the room," Leo said. "I got one of the video game consoles plugged in to the TV so we can play a little Top Gear 2."
"Sounds awesome," Max said. "See you then."
"Alright, you have fun in the pool," Leo said.
Max went in the pool room, got in the pool, feeling the very comfortable water in the process and began swimming in the pool.