If Jove Stray

Chapter 12: let's play ball

Lully grunted as he pushed the last stack of chairs against the piano in the corner. Esperanza grinned as he wiped the sweat of his face. He wanted to protect the piano as well as he could; Levi would be devastated if something happened to it.

"Any news from Harper?" Emerson inquired.

"No," Lully replied. "Well, nothing good. Esperanza says he's a grumpy mess and refused to sleep like everyone is telling him to."

"We are talking about Harper," Emerson sniggered. "So who else is coming? Keller? Winston? What happened to all the girls who used to play?"

"I'm too short," Esperanza called. "And Bell thinks you cheat!"

They were sitting on the stack of the chairs. Esperanza liked the view to watch and stay out of reach. Lully liked trying to throw her the ball and into the game. Bell would sometimes play, but it had been quite a while. She was claiming that she hadn't brought a hair tie, but Esperanza had brought the rest of a bottle of wine. She and Bell were ready to enjoy themselves, but definitely not by playing.

Keller came in with Turing, still in their clothes from work. Others came in, and soon Lully handed out the colored bands to sort the teams. Before they started, Levi and Tyson came through the door. Lully paused, a furrow between his eyes.

"Levi! Are you..."

"Don't worry about me, I'm not playing anything," Levi laughed. "Tyson said he played basketball on Earth. I don't know how similar it is to just baskets, but I thought you might need another person."

"Always!" Emerson called. "Earth guy, huh? Don't worry we'll go easier on you."

"Baskets?"

"The ball can't touch the ground and if you have the ball you can't move," Lully explained. "The opposite team can't touch you. Points are awarded for putting the ball in the basket of your team. You can't stand any closer to the basket than the line I taped out. Got it?"

Tyson grinned, pushing his hair out of his face. "Whose team am I on?"

Levi hurried out of the playing area, pulling himself into the stacks of chairs. Esperanza was impressed with the feat as he settled in a chair. Bell poured herself a glass of wine and relaxed, watching her partner Emerson play. Bell and Emerson hadn't gotten along much before Landing Day, but now they seemed more content with each other. Esperanza was glad; the couple deserved happiness.

"I've never watched this before," Levi noted. "I didn't want Lully to feel awkward about my being here."

They watched the group shuffle around, calling for the ball. Lully had two bands on; the judge to rule if they had a problem on the floor. Tyson was a little clumsy at first, but got the hang of the game and soon, was helping his team win.

"How was dinner?" Esperanza asked Levi. "Do you want some wine?"

Levi glanced at the offered bottle but shook his head. "No, thank you. And dinner was good. Dylan joined us. Tyson was there. Nothing ended in tears. I was glad."

"Emerson, stop letting them beat you!" Bell shouted.

"I'm not," he shouted back.

Esperanza laughed as Lully called a foul on Keller. She was certain he did it for the sport of watching Keller's confusion. Tyson took advantage of the confusion to score another basket. He had a different way of shooting the ball into the basket; it seemed to be more accurate than the usual haphazard toss. The others noticed, trying his method out as the game went on.

"Is Alcott going to work tomorrow?" Esperanza asked.

"Probably not," Levi replied. "Oh, do you think we could move some of these chairs away from the piano after the game? I have lessons tomorrow."