888888888888

As soon as he got into his room, he quickly dialed the number to Jo's dorm room. The dorm has a phone that all four of the roommates share. It rang three times before someone picked it up.

"Hello?" said a woman with a distinct upper-class accent.

"Hey, is that you, Blair?"

"Yes, it is. Is this Willis Drummond?"

"Yeah, it's me, can I speak to Jo?"

"Sure." Blair then called Jo over, who was in her bed, reading Hot Motorcycles.

"Jo, Willis is on the phone. He wants to talk to you."

"Really? He must wanna shoot some hoops today?"

"I don't know. I didn't ask." Blair said as she held the corded phone towards Jo.

Jo got up from the bed and answered the phone. "Heya Will, what's up?"

Steaming on the other end, Willis responded, "Not too good. I gotta ask you a question, do you know anyone by the name of Mikhael Soborovsky? Kim told me that he's on the Bates basketball team."

Jo replied, "oh yeah, I know Mick very well. Kim's right. He's on the basketball team and he's the star small forward. They call him 'Larry Birdsky' here. Man, you should see his 3-point shooting skills, it's off the charts! In one game, he broke the conference record, makin' seven threes! I mean…"

During the conversation, someone who was well within Jo's personal space was distracting her.

"Blair, not now!" Jo got back on the phone with Willis. "Besides, why did ya ask?"

"Because I think he's cheating with my girlfriend, Dorisha."

"Dorisha? Doesn't ring a bell." Jo paused for a bit before she continued. "Hey, wait a minute. Isn't your girlfriend Charlene."

"Yeah, but…"

Before he could explain, Blair spoke up, she was close enough to hear the conversation the entire time.

"You don't remember Dorisha, Jo? She was hanging with Mick the other day, and when he introduced her to us, she thought your name was Jo Ponychick!"

The realization finally came into Jo's face. "Oh yeah, I remember her…" She was shaking her head in disbelief, as her experience with Dorisha was less than pleasant. She thought that Dorisha was loud. Then she got back on the phone.

"Yeah. Blair told me that she was with him the other day."

"I knew it!" Willis said loudly through his gritted teeth.

"But Willis, what about Charlene?" Jo asked.

"Don't worry 'bout Charlene. Just tell me the next time that I can meet up with him."

Jo rolled her eyes. "Okay… I'll do that."

"Thanks."

After they hung up, Blair said to Jo. "Why is Willis so caught up with Dorisha cheating on him? Isn't he doing the same thing?"

"Yeah, Blair. Hypocrisies all around here."

888888888888

It wasn't until the following Wednesday that Willis got a call back from Jo. During that time, Willis called Dorisha a few times, but she never picked up. He called her parents a few times, and they told her that she was away. It was clear to him that Dorisha was avoiding him. Well, at least Jo will get him closer to solving the 'MIk' mystery.

"Hey Willis, I got some info for ya!"

Willis quickly got excited. "Really? Is it about that mofo Mick?"

"Yeah. He said he will be at the West Bronx Recreation Center later on today."

Willis was surprised to hear that. "West Bronx? Isn't that in the ghetto?"

"Yeah, it is. My good friend, Kelly Donovan, lived there for a while. Trust me, I had a few encounters when I visited her there."

A puzzled look appeared on his face. "Then what's he doing there?"

"I dunno. He's just there to play ball, I guess," she responded with a shrug.

A smile formed on Willis' face. "No matter. I'll surely be there."

"Cool, me an' Blair will be there as well."

A surprised look appeared on Willis' face. "Say what? You tellin' me Ms. Park Avenue will be there? Ain't she afraid of us 'lower-class Neanderthals?'"

"You mean 'former' lower-class Neanderthals." Jo joked. "Besides, she goes wherever I go, which is a lot better than my boyfriend would ever do. Anyhow, take care."

For the rest of the time, all Willis could think about was punching Mick in the face.

88888888888888

Later during the day, as he was about to go to the West Bronx rec center, Kimberly got him some more news.

"Michelle just told me she remembered seeing Mikhail talking to a girl who fits Dorisha's description at Bates gym."

That piqued his interest. "Really, so he was talking to her?"

"Yep, and rumor has it that they're going steady."

That made Willis even madder. "Great! I'll put an end to that!" He quickly went to get dressed.

Kimberly shook her head and realized that she better get dressed as well. As she was about to head out of the door, Arnold came.

"Hey, where y'all goin'?"

"To the West Bronx Recreation Center, to see someone." Willis responded as he was putting on his coat.

"Can I come?"

"No, this is between me an' that Russian fool."

"Russian fool? When did she become interested in Communism?" Arnold asked.

"No, Arnold. We are going to see Mikhail Soborovsky, who is rumored to be seeing Dorisha."

That surprised him. "What?! That's a surprise. I guess the US ran out of men for her."

"And for that, you're staying here!" Willis barked back at his brother. He really wasn't happy with his statement.

Arnold started to whine. "Ah, come on, Willis? I don't wanna be bored in my house watching Leave It to Beaver."

"Yeah, let Arnold come. You could use all the company you can get." Kim suggested.

Willis rolled his eyes, but he gave in. "Ah okay, why not." He reluctantly responded. "So put on your coat, and let's get going."

"Great," Arnold said as he headed out the door.

"And you better not say anything bad about Dorisha. Got it?"

"Yeah, got it."

88888888888888

It was already dark when they finally got to the rec center. It was a good distance from the subway, the weather was terribly cold, at 26 degrees Fahrenheit (-3.3 degrees Celsius), and it was in the ghetto; a lot of negatives going against them. They were cold, and except for Willis, scared. The coats did little to keep them warm.

"Man, I can't believe I agree to go out here with you!" Arnold said, as he was shivering from the cold and the fear. Kimberly was no better.

"Arnold, did you forget your Harlem roots already? You be aight'. Don't know 'bout Kim though." Willis said jokingly.

Kim clearly felt out of place and frightened as she saw a sea of brown faces looking at her. "Maybe this was a bad idea, Willis. I really feel out of place here."

"Not to worry, Kim. If Mick can get here without any scratches, then you should be fine."

"But Mick is a man, I'm a woman!"

They entered the rec center and saw how run-downed it was. The walls looked grimy, some of the plastic seats were busted and dirty, and one of the doors was missing a doorknob.

"Darn, it reminds me of the rec center in our neighborhood back in Harlem." Willis noted out loud.

A middle-aged man with short Jheri-curls approached the trio.

"Are y'all looking for someone?"

"Yeah, we're looking for the gym to shoot some hoops." Willis asked.

"Oh yeah, straight down the hallway, then turn right."

"Thanks, bro."

The man simply nodded, and the trio headed their way.

Finally, when they got in the gym, they easily spotted Mick. He was 6' 5'', 220 pounds, with a blond mullet. It wasn't too hard to spot him, since he was the only white person on the court. He looked like a teenage Dolph Lundgren, and he was playing one-on-one on the court, easily crushing his opponent. Some of Willis' crew from Harlem were there, including T-Bone. On his way to the subway, Willis called them up on a pay phone, telling them to meet him there. Also, there was Jo and Blair, with Blair holding onto Jo for dear life…

Willis immediately spotted him and pointed it out to his siblings.

"Wow, your friends got here real fast!" Kimberly asked..

"Yeah, that's why I can always rely on them." Willis smiled. Then he spotted Mick. "That must be him over there," Willis said through gritted teeth.

"Mmm hmm," Kim simply responded.

Willis seethed some more. "I'm gonna get him."

Before he could get to him, his friend T-Bone called him out.

"Yo, Willis, what's up homeboy!"

Willis nod in acknowledgment and replied. "What's up y'all!" He quickly went to the stands and gave his friends some fives along with some hugs. "Man, it's been a while. You gotta give a brutha sum love!"

"You know how it is, bro. I always give my homeboys some love!" Then immediately, Willis' attitude turned to sour as he looked at Mikhail shooting hoops. "Now it's time for me to take care of that Commie mofo dude!"

"Bro, that white boy looks good! He be shootin' them threes like they were jump-shots. No wonder why they be callin' him 'Larry Birdsky'!"

"Who told you about that?"

"Your friend Jo did. She told me everything near the restroom while she was waitin' fo' her friend." T-Bone said as he looked up at Jo. Jo noticed and waived at Willis.

"Hey there, Will!" Jo shouted from the bleachers.

"What's up, girl!"

Jo came down with Blair, following her friend like her life depended on it, while Willis and his siblings came up. They met at a midway point.

"What's up!" Jo greeted him with a five, while Blair greeted him with a hug.

"So that's the jerk that's with my girl?"

Jo simply nodded while Blair said, "Yes."

Then T-Bone came and said with a smile, "So you're Blair, huh?"

"Yes," she smiled. "And what is your name, mister?"

"Tyrell, but everybody calls me 'T-Bone."

"Why do they call you T-Bone?"

"Cuz ladies think I'm as juicy as a T-Bone steak!"

Jo, Arnold, and Kim rolled their eyes, while everyone else was laughing, including Willis. Blair simply kept her smile. However, Arnold spoke up.

"Stop lyin'! The reason why they call you T-Bone is because you ate a whole T-Bone steak when you were seven!"

"Hush, bro!" T-Bone said out of annoyance.

While keeping her smiling façade, Blair asked him, "Tell me more about yourself."

"I'm glad to tell you everything about me. I'm a Gemini, and I love good food and good music. I also like to make a lady feel special."

As much as he was trying to sound smooth, Jo wasn't impressed. She quickly stepped in front of Blair and coldly told him "I think you need to go back to your friends."

"But I'm just tryna get ta know her."

"Please." Jo simply stated, with her cold demeanor still intact.

"Aight. I'll bounce." And T-Bone went back to his friends.

"Well, it's time for me to face this fool." Willis said, as he looked at Mick on the court with disdain. He headed to the court and he stepped up to Mick. As he was approached, Mick turned around and saw Willis.

"Are you Mick?" Willis asked with a slight threatening tone.

Mick looked at him like he was crazy. "Yes, why do you care?"

"You were sleeping with my girlfriend!"

Mick was stunned by Willis' accusation. So he responded back in his thick Russian accent. "What? What the heck are you talking about?"

"You know what I'm talking 'bout. I'm talkin' 'bout Dorisha."

Mick was shocked when he heard that name. "Dorisha? Oh, so you must be Willis?"

"Yeah, I'm her man, and you bettah step off, you Commie bastard!"

That ticked Mick off. He instantly got into Willis' space and looked down on him. He was a good six inches taller than Willis. "What did you call me?"

"You heard me, stupid Russian Communist. Red bastard."

Willis was saying it without fear or shame even though Mikhail was only inches away from him. He stared back at Mick, not flinching one bit, but deep inside, he was scared as hell. Nevertheless, both of his hands were balled into a fist. Mick also balled his hands into fists.

Before any fists were about to fly, the middle-aged man Willis met earlier stepped in between the two.

"Hey, you two ain't gonna fight in here. This ain't Rocky!"

Willis looked at the guy and said, "Well, he shouldn't be sleeping with my girlfriend."

"Man, why don't you two take it out, one on one, on the basketball, of course," said the man. "If you wanna settle this out. Settle it out on the basketball court." He handed over the ball to Willis.

"Sure, why not," said Mick. "Let him have the ball first. It will be the last time he'll touch it."

"Oh yeah, well how about a game where the first person who scores 10 points wins? In this one, a regular basket is worth one point, and a three-pointer is worth two. Plus, the person who scores the basket, keeps the ball."

Mick simply shrugged. "No problem."

While they were sitting on the bleachers, Blair asked Jo a question.

"Does Willis have a chance?" Blair asked.

"Nope. Not a chance," Jo said in a realistic tone. Kim and Arnold joined them in the bleachers.

"Thanks for coming," Kim said. "Now I don't have to worry about being the only white female here."

Blair nodded while Jo just looked at her in disbelief.

"Ah come on, besides a few occasions of them hittin' on us, like good ol' T-Bone here", Jo said as Kim and Arnold were giggling while Blair just smiled a little, "they won't do anything else."

"Can you blame them? They simply can't resist me!" Blair gloated. Kim and Arnold along with Jo just rolled their eyes.

Speaking of T-Bone, he came up to them and asked Blair. "Hey, baby girl, come and sit with the rest of us. Matta fact, all three of y'all can join us!"

All three of them simultaneously said "No!"

"Didn't you just hear me earlier?" Jo said to him.

"Aight, aight, just askin…"

Then the game began. As Willis tried to drive to the lane, Mikhail stripped the ball from him. He steps back to the side, passing the three-point line and shoots. Nothing but net. 2-0 in favor of Mick. Willis knew right away that he would be having a long day…

In the next possession, Willis tried to check Mick, but Mick instead crossed him up and went for an easy layup. 3-0, in favor of Mick. The next possession, Willis decided not to come close to him in checking, so he created a space between him and Mick, but it didn't make much of a difference, as he drove to the hoop. Willis was able to catch up to him, but it probably was a big mistake on his part, as Mick posterized him by slamming the ball right in front of his face, while bumping him off. Everybody was amazed.

"Wow, that white boy got some hops!" Said one of the teens that was watching.

"I shoot threes like Larry Bird and slam dunk like Dr. J." Mick boasted. It was 4-0 and Willis hasn't even touched the ball since the strip...

The score was 6-0, all Mikhail. Since he scored already, it was his ball, but instead he let Willis dribble it out this time, citing he was getting bored. While Willis was dribbling, Mikhail was able to distract him.

"Hey Dorisha, what's up?"

Willis turned his head and Mikhail stole the ball. He went for the easy slam. Score: 7-0.

Willis was thinking in his head, "So he wants to play tricks on me, huh? Well, I got sumthin' for that commie." He looked at his friend, T-Bone and nodded at him. T-Bone nodded back. The plan was now set.

Mikhail had the ball. As he was coming down on the right side of the half-court, T-Bone opened his Soul Glo activator bottle and threw the liquid onto the floor. Mikhail slipped on it and fell just like on the 90's arcade classic, NBA Jam.

"WHOA!"

The ball came loose, and Willis took advantage of it, by scoring a point.

That activator did make a difference, since due to a hurt Mikhail, Willis was able to take advantage of it, and scored the next six points.

It was tied 7-7, when Willis went up for a rebound, they both collided.

"Hey, that was foul!" Willis screamed.

"No, it wasn't. It was a clean bump."

"About as clean as you tryin' to bump my girl!"

Frustrated, Mick asked, "Why do you keep on bringing her up? I didn't even go out with her."

Willis was getting pissed at him and yelled back, "You lyin'!"

"No, not at all. I never did the nasty with her." Willis and everyone else near Mick was surprised to hear him talk like that. "Dorisha told me that I'm not her type of vanilla."

"What vanilla she's into? French?" Arnold asked.

"Nah, she meant she's not into white guys at all. She once told me she liked dark meat." Kim chuckled a bit.

Mikhail continued, "I swear. I didn't even kiss her."

Willis looked at him and saw in his eyes that he wasn't lying. "You know what? I'm ready to squash this. Game's over."

"Wait, you're gonna leave it on a tie?" Kim said.

"Sure, why not."

Then Kim asked Mikhail. "Are you okay with it?"

"Yes I am. I… OUCH!" He said as he felt the pain from his right hip. Luckily the activator slip didn't do any real damage.

As an act of sportsmanship, Willis said, "hey man, you got some good game. How about joining us in Rucker's Park some day?"

Mikhail smiled. "Sure thing. After I recover."

Afterwards, Willis met up with his friends.

"Thanks for coming."

"No doubt, Willis. You know we still got your back no matter what." T-Bone stated.

"Yeah, and I greatly appreciate it."

After a few parting hugs and some fives, the trio was ready to leave, however Blair stopped them before they could leave.

"Hey, can we join you guys?" Blair asked.

"Sure thing, not a problem." Willis responded.

They all walked together until they got to the subway, then Blair and Jo parted back to Peekskill. The trio then went back home, coming up empty-handed on who Mik really is. Willis was fuming all the way back. Arnold and Kim didn't bother him throughout the train trip back home.

88888888