The Adventures of Max and Leo: We celebrate early . . .
Leo's team gathered in the locker room after defeating the Sacramento Middle School basketball team on Wednesday and Thursday in a two game sweep.
"Alright, guys listen up," Leo said. "I am so incredibly proud of you for working so hard. You guys practicing even between seasons has really paid off this week. I know we came to have fun, but you guys have really made this trip worth it. It was like you never stopped playing basketball. I'm so excited right now."
"I can tell," Marv said. "Plus, some of us plan to play high school basketball."
"So, you didn't stop practicing so you could play well on that team," Leo said. "I love the way you think."
"Yeah . . ." Marv said.
"You might want to check on Max, by the way, Marv," Leo said.
Marv looked at Max, whom lied back on the locker room floor.
"I think he's tired, Leo," Marv said. "Did we plan on celebrating?"
"We sure did," Leo said. "How about you go ahead and take Max's shoes off? He can go back to the hotel in his swimming suit if he wishes."
Marv went to Max's feet and began untying Max's shoes.
"So, where are we gonna celebrate at?" Max asked.
"Well, the coach has whipped us something in the cafeteria just in case we won today," Leo said. "How does it feel to get MVP for the tournament, Max?"
"Feels great," Max said.
"You deserved it for sure, Max," Leo said. "I might have to check the statistics, but you actually did a triple-double in today's game."
"Really," Max said.
"Yeah," Leo said. "So, let's get changed so we can go celebrate in the cafeteria."
Leo left the team alone to change into their regular clothes. Marv finished untying Max's shoes, took Max's shoes and socks off and laid them aside before taking off the rest of Max's uniform, unveiling Max's swimming suit.
"Thanks, Marv," Max said.
"Sure thing, Max," Marv said. "I'll change into my regular clothes and then we'll see about carrying you out."
"Sounds awesome," Max said.
The rest of the team finished changing into their regular clothes and then some of the members rallied around Max to pick him up and carry him to the locker room door. One of the members opened the door and the team carried Max out of the locker room and into a hallway where Leo is. Leo was also wearing regular clothes, as he changed in another room.
"Hey, guys," Leo said. "I see you're carrying Max again."
"Yeah, this is why we wanted to play this tournament so we could do this again," Marv said. "We actually missed doing this during the season."
"I'm sure you did," Leo said. "Maybe y'all should come to Max's swimming competitions just so you can carry Max after the competitions."
"We might have to work out to do that," Marv said.
A few members of the Sacramento team came with a huge container full of water and poured it on Leo's head. Both teams shared a laugh and cheer.
"Oh, wow," Leo said. "I can't believe you all did that."
"You should get one to pour on Max," Marv said.
"Oh, they're working on it," one of the Sacramento team members said.
"Awesome," Marv said. "Let's put him down so that the other team can dump a gallon of water on him."
The members of Leo's team that have been carrying Max put Max on the floor where Max could stand up and then stepped back to prepare for Max's turn at getting drenched. Sure enough, a few more members of the Sacramento team came with a huge container full of water to pour on Max's head. Both teams laughed and cheered.
"I'm sure that water felt good, Max," Marv said.
"Sure did," Max said. "I wish they could get some of that for my feet."
"We're on it," one of the Sacramento team members said and took the huge container down the hall with him. All of his teammates that were there followed him.
"Wow, even the other team is happy for you," Leo said.
"Yeah, it seems like they're happy for both of us," Max said. "I wish they poured water on you while you were yet in your jersey."
"They did, this is the second time they poured water on me," Leo said. "Good thing you're just in your swimming suit."
"I know," Max said. "When that team celebrates, they celebrate."
"They sure do," Leo said.
"I wonder if this is something that they do during basketball season," Max said.
"That is a good question," Leo said. "They probably do that for every team that wins."
"Either way, I'm actually glad Max and Leo got drenched," Marv said. "I'm sure that water was refreshing."
"It sure was," Leo said.
"Yeah, I appreciated it for sure," Max said. "Nothing like being drenched in water after a heated basketball game"
"Yeah, you're probably wanting the pool as soon as you can get to it," Marv said.
"Yeah, I do," Max said.
The members of the Sacramento team that drenched Max came back with another huge container full of water. They sat it down near Max and lifted him up and put him in the container.
"Wow, this container is big enough for me to sit in," Max said. "That is so cool. Thanks, guys."
"Sure thing," one of the members of the Sacramento team said. "But, that's not all."
A few more members of the Sacramento team came in with another huge container of water and dumped it on Max. The onlookers from both teams laughed and cheered.
"You do realize Max loves being wet, right?" Marv asked.
"Apparently, he does, he's really enjoying the water," one of the Sacramento team members said.
"I am," Max said.
"I tell you what we ought to do," Marv said. "Let's carry the container with Max in it."
"Yeah, is the food in the café ready?" Leo asked.
"It'll be ready in a few minutes," one of the Sacramento team members said. "My aunt happens to be one of the café workers and she's cooking her really good vegetable soup."
"Alright, let's get Max in the café," Marv said.
The team rallied around the container Max was sitting in, picked it up and carried it to the café and sat Max down at a table. The team sat down at that and nearby tables.
"Still enjoying the container full of water, Max?" Leo asked.
"I sure am," Max said. "It's very relaxing after being on the court today."
When the food was ready, Leo fixed himself and Max a plate of food while the rest of the team served themselves. Once everybody was back at the table, the team began enjoying the food. The other team got them some food and sat down at other tables and enjoyed it as well. While the teams were enjoying the food and later on dessert, one of the Sacramento team members came to where Max was.
"Still enjoying your container of water?" the team member asked.
"I sure am," Max said. "The fact that you made it nice and cool was a really nice touch. My body feels so much better."
"Glad to hear it," the team member said. "I'm sure it also feels good to win both of your games and get MVP of the tournament."
"Sure does," Max said. "Although you all seemed to play pretty well and made us work hard to beat you guys."
"Thanks," the team member said. "I noticed you were wearing your swimming suit when we bathed you in water. Do you like to swim?"
"I do," Max said. "I'm even a part of a swimming team at my school."
"Nice, I like to swim, too," the team member said. "This school happens to also have a swimming team and I'm one of the members of that team."
"That's awesome," Max said. "Maybe we'll get to play each other then."
"Maybe so," the team member said. "We're going to be here for a while longer. Some want to play computer games and video games and such and some might shoot some more hoops, but maybe you'd like to swim for a little bit."
"I'd love that," Max said. "I'm Max Reynolds, by the way."
"I'm Cory Booker," Cory said. "Maybe after we finish eating, we can take you to the school pool and let you swim for a little bit."
"Sounds awesome," Max said. "Maybe you'd like to join me."
"I'd love to," Cory said. "I think my swimming practice suit is in my locker room so I'll change into that and join you."
"Awesome," Max said.
The teams finished eating, helped to clean up and then some people from both teams picked the container full of water that Max was in and carried it to the pool room.
"Whoa, you have a nice pool room," Max said. "Well, I hope you have fun playing games and shooting hoops."
"We will," one of the Sacramento team members said. "Are you ready to go in?"
"I sure am," Max said.
The people from both teams sat the container on the ground and helped Max out. The people then took a few steps back and watched as Max took a few steps and ran towards the pool and jumped in, yelling, "Cannonball!" Max emerged from the water and said, "What do you think?"
The people that watched Max cheered.
"Alright, you have fun and Cory will be here soon," one of the Sacramento team members said.
"Alright," Max said.
The people left Max alone to swim in the pool. While Max was swimming, he heard a splash. He looked around and saw Cory emerge from the water.
"Oh, hey, Cory," Max said. "You guys have got a nice pool room."
"Thanks," Cory said. "The builders did a great job with this."
"So, how long have you guys had the swimming team?" Max asked.
"This is our third year," Cory said. "How about you guys?"
"This is our first year," Max said. "We've won every competition except one so far."
"Nice," Cory said. "We've won every competition save two."
"Awesome, we must be a part of good teams then," Max said.
"We sure are," Cory said. "Even with the spring break, I was determined to not lose practice."
"Me, too," Max said. "Even with everything I did here, I spent my evenings in the hotel pool swimming."
"Nice, I did some practice here and some in the pool in my backyard," Cory said.
"Awesome," Max said. "Seems like we're both committed in the sport."
"We sure are," Cory said. "So, how did you practice?"
"I basically swam from one side of the pool to the other as fast as I can," Max said.
"Okay, let's do that," Cory said.
Cory and Max swam to one side of the pool and began swimming from side to side . . .
A couple of hours later, Leo came into the pool room.
"Hey, Max, we're getting ready to head back to the hotel," Leo said.
"Alright," Max said. "Well, Cory, it was fun swimming with you."
"It was fun swimming with you, too, Max," Cory said.
Cory and Max shared a hug and then Max got out of the pool. Leo handed Max a towel and then Max started drying off.