Chapter 260: Jordan's Gym
Friday, January 27th, Evening
They walked into the gym as the evening sun was setting. Kay looked around the four walls, and many memories of playing here flooded back through her mind. Ivy stood next to her in awe, looking over the walls, and her eyes were the size of saucers.
"This is where it started, the Cradle of His Airness," Ivy said.
Kay chuckled, "It's just another gym," she said.
"How can you say that?" Ivy said, "One of the greatest if not greatest basketball players ever played here."
Kay shrugged, "It looks like any other gym; if pressed, I'd say the Tree Hill High School gym looks just like this gym," she said.
"It does not," Ivy said, "This gym is special."
"How do you know? You haven't seen the Tree Hill Gym," Kay said.
"I just know this gym is special. How can you not feel it?" Ivy asked.
"I've played here before, a lot," Kay said.
The sounds of footsteps behind them broke their conversation. Both Kay and Ivy turned to see a tall brown-haired woman around their age walking towards them. The new woman smiled and looked them over.
"It's just another building to a player," Cara Stille said.
Kay smiled, "That it is; how are you, Cara?" she asked.
"Can't complain, well I do, but no one pays attention anyway. I'm just hoping not to get plastered tonight by your dad's squad," Cara said.
"I've heard they are one hell of a team," Kay said.
Cara smiled, "That they are, especially Ash's daughter and Mack's niece," she said and turned to Ivy, "And whom I may say is this lovely lady?"
"I'm sorry, I'm being rude, Cara; this is my girlfriend Ivy Kolawski," Kay said, "Ivy, this is Cara Stille, a friend, and ex-teammate."
"You've always lacked in social graces," Cara said, looking at Kay.
Kay smiled, nodded, and laughed a bit.
"Nice to meet you," Ivy said.
"A pleasure and the greatest basketball player of all times is Bill Russel, who won eleven NBA Championships in a thirteen-year career," Cara said.
"Thanks, Kay said she knew the woman who coached here," Ivy said.
"That's me, varsity girls," Cara said.
"How do you play here with its history?" Ivy asked.
"We play down the history, so the kids don't get nervous," Cara said.
"I didn't think about that," Ivy said.
"Well, do you think of MJ as a Bull or a Wizard? A Bull, he played most of his games as a Bull. MJ only played two years varsity here," Cara said.
"Good point," Ivy said.
Cara turned to Kay, "What brings you here so early?" she asked.
"Ivy wanted to see the gym MJ played in," Kay said.
Cara tilted her head, "I see, why?" she asked.
"She's from Chicago," Kay said.
Cara nodded, "I see," she said.
"Yeah," Kay said.
"How's the shoulder?" Cara asked.
"It's attached," Kay said.
"That's a big plus," Cara said.
"The weather bothers it, and I'm constantly in therapy for it," Kay said.
"Long term effects?" Cara asked.
"I'm probably going to have arthritis in it, and the mobility will fail as I get older," Kay said.
"From what everyone has said, you're lucky to have it still," Cara said.
"I tell myself that every night," Kay said.
Cara turned to Ivy, "How do you handle this stubborn mule?" she asked.
"Good sex," Ivy said.
Cara laughed, "Good answer," she said.
"How do you know Karen?" Ivy asked.
Cara turned to Kay, "OOO, she used your full name," she said, then turned back to Ivy, "as Karen said, we were teammates for three years; I graduated with her sister Candi."
"Candi? Which one is Candi?" Ivy asked.
"Oh, you've not met any of her siblings?" Cara asked.
"I met Ellie and Sawyer last night," Ivy said.
Cara turned to Kay, "Do you ever leave Chicago?" she asked.
"Not really, unless it's to play," Kay said.
"Candi is the oldest, the same age as Keith, but they're not twins, a long story, but she graduated a year behind Keith," Cara said.
"Who's Keith?" Ivy asked.
"Keith is my brother; you won't meet him since he's away on business," Kay said.
"Is Candi the doctor?" Ivy asked.
"Yes, she is," Kay said.
Ivy nodded, "Okay," she said.
Cara laughed, "Well, the Scotts are, well, an interesting family," she said.
"Interesting in what sense?" Ivy asked.
"We're intriguing," Kay said, stepping in.
"We can go with that," Cara said.
Ivy nodded and looked around the gym. Kay looked to Cara, "Ivy thinks this gym looks unique," Kay said.
"I don't; a gym is a gym," Cara said.
"I say this gym looks exactly like the gym at Tree Hill High School," Kay said.
"I can see that," Cara said.
"Yeah, I agree," Kay said.
Cara nodded, "Well, I have to finish preparing for the game tonight," she said.
"So, what do you have planned for tonight?" Kay asked.
"The usual, go out and play the best game we can," Cara said.
"Just like my dad would say," Kay said.
"Of course," Cara said and walked away.
Kay shook her head and walked over to Ivy. Slowly, Kay wrapped her arm around Ivy. They walked over to the bleachers and took a seat on one of the bleachers.
"This is so amazing," Ivy said.
"What is?" Kay asked.
"Getting to see a basketball game in the gym that MJ played in," Ivy said.
"Games," Kay said.
"Games?" Ivy asked.
"Yes, games, multiple, we usually stay for the boy's game as well," Kay said.
"Oh, you didn't tell me that," Ivy said.
"Well, I didn't think it because it's normal to me," Kay said.
Ivy shrugged, "Okay," she said.
Kay smiled and laughed; she leaned over and kissed Ivy.
