3 Chapter 3 - Goodbye Home?! = First Dunk & New Pals!
"Richard *Sigh* Your mother and I have decided to... Leave To-" The large , man had stood in the kitchen as he popped open the families fridge and took out something.
A chilled bottle of Spiced-Rum was taken out whilst the freezer attached to it was popped open with an ice-tray to follow.
Getting a wide-glass was taken from the one of the cabinets and put onto the counter.
On the dinner table; Richard and his mom stood and chat peacefully.
The chair at the head of the table was pulled away and the grown-man sat down. A full-glass of liquor and ice before he attempted to ease his son into the news.
"WHAT?! NO! PLEASE NO!" Shouting as Richard rose up from his seat to look his dad in the eyes. A firm look was achieved where the younger and older males locked eyes. A slow nod came from Richard.
"Mom... C-Come... We don't have to leave h-home... T-That was just a one time, thing." Turning to his mom whom didn't choose to face her son but she shifted to speak to her husband.
"... Honey... We said that we would do this later." A twinge in her facial expression caused Richard to feel uncomfortable for a moment. Looking at them as the two parents held somewhat cross expression where a visible confused RIchard look between.
"Carol... I know that you love this place as much as you love Richard... But for gods'-sake; our boy was attacked by a brunch of hoodlums." A closed-eye and tight faced parent spoke where odd-curses rumbled under his breath as Richard shifted and put a hand on his father's shoulder.
"D-Dad... If... I can't convince you... W-where we gonna go?" Question being aimed right at the head of the family as a heart-stopping silence came.
...
*Jingle* Reaching for his drink as the ice-clattered gently against the glass as if it was kissing the edge to tip over before he took a long swig.
Putting it down on the tables' surface before he looked to the woman whom had been through nearly a decade of time together.
...
She looked at his face... and nodded back to him.
"... Listen to me, Richard... We're heading to Houston." As soon as that had escaped Richard's Father's lips... Practically all of the color vanished from his face... Actually from all over!
"H-HOUSTON?!"
[Later]
Inside of Richard's room where he sat down and pondered his current situation. Life was gonna be different... Very different.
Heading south didn't sound pleasant...
Even if it was by Dallas... His mom was an avid fan of their Football team for some reason but she was always so.... spiteful....
His dad once said it was a 'Hate-Love Relationship.' 'The concept sounded dumber than the idea of a 100% Offense 0% Defense Style Basketball Player. Too much of something good is bad!' Thinking to himself with an audible groan as he sat up before dropping his head back onto his pillow.
*Bam* "Augh!" Swing his head back didn't work out like he had thought as his newly-gained height had drive the back of his head against the wooden headboard of his bed.
"Dang it." Whispering under his breath where he nursed the spot with his hand. Rubbing it where he groaned and gasped; his headboard wasn't resting against the wall so it didn't cause that much noise... But... It did sting.
...
"We're moving, though." Richard sat up and looked down at the sheets of his bed... Eyes traveled to his navy-blue walls... To a stray football poster... To a couple awards for track and field.
...
Alot of memories had been developed here.
...
This hadn't gone as Richard's now developed mind thought.
'Why did those guys attack me? I got into fights.. Heck... Big fights... Why did that happen?" Pondering this... Only for an image to reappear in the youth's mind.
...
'God' - The man in white.
...
"... Houston; though?" Question as he adjusted in the bed before he went to fix his position on his bed.
...
...
"Rockets Town... Where Big-Man Die." A grumble escaped me where I groaned and put up my hands to my forehead.
...
In recent years; Not alot of notable Power Forwards and Centers found true and proper success. Stars had downshifted from Starters or Role-Players whilst prospects that were drafted or traded for couldn't develop their games to fit the system at the time.
...
'Shiiiiiit.' That was the only thing that filled his mind at the moment.
[A Couple Days Later]
The Beginning of Summer Break had began or rather; it was only hell for Richard. Despite his understandable reasoning didn't stop as the boy got a couple dozen booklets and a few textbooks to fill out.
As soon as he found out about this; both Richard and his Mother snapped at the prospect. The son for having to do the work and the mother whom would mostly likely be help her son during her free time
He'd almost not do all of this school work if he didn't find about two things.
...
First?
If he didn't do it... He wouldn't get be able to move on from 5th Grade Education Level to 6th Grade.
...
Secondly.
A task...
A Main-task.
[Main Task - Muscle Power = Brain Powa! - Completely almost 8 months of school in order to advance to the sixth grade. Success: Acquire Two Mentality Badges. Failure: Held back Education Wise. ((Affects Basketball Career))]
...
Richard knew that he would've never done something like this if it wasn't for his father informing school that the young man could complete it all within 4 weeks of Summer Vacation before the family moved out of his Home State. Venturing out to Houston, Texas 2 weeks into the new School Year where his folks were figuring out all of the financial details whilst Young Richard focused on his summer work.
Through sheer willpower; Richard was able to push through 4 chapters in English & Science. 5 In History. 7 In Math. Social Studies was an easy little thing.
So many little things was forcible rammed into his head by his stubbornness to not allow work to best.
... Besides... He atleast wanted to get into a good middle school or highschool later in life... Sometimes it started with the most little things.
That includes elementary schools.
By the end of week 1. In an mad-dash and a couple of overnights, (Unknown to his Parents' whom always wondered why his room's light was on at certain points during the night.) Completed around 81% of school.
...
But he was mentally exhausted; sick of school-work where he lazed about for a couple days in the house.
One particular day was different. Laying on his bed as he listened to a basketball podcast where he borrowed his Father's Tablet.
Recently - It was said that Former MVP Kawhi Leonard had teamed up with the Spurs. With the dynamic retirement of King James earning him his 6th Title and KD's injuries building up with him also leaving the IBA; it was seen that the Klaw had become the definitive best Player in the League whom was still schooling Defenders with his 'Prehistoric Scoring' & on/off Lockdown Defense from 1-4.
Additional of the current years' drafts being 18th pick who was the most notable.
As a result - the weaken Spurs team had bulked up considerable.
Some other teams such as the Lakers with their aging Big-Man; Anthony Davis were decline til they managed to get the 9th Pick. Snatched the 4th best Point Guard in the draft.
New York was able to get 3 first round picks in the 1st, 14th & 22nd getting a strong and talented court in their Shooting Guard & their Forward Spots.
Sadly Milwaukee Star; The Greek Freak had ruptured his ACL leaving to be a subpar and lengthy Small-Forward as they weren't able to surrounded him with some talent.
Lastly: New Orleans had developed into a Superteam in the span of a summer. One being that Heavily-Favored to the MVP Zion Williamson whom had grown from 6,6 ft (1.98 m) to be 6,10 ft (2.08 m) during his first couple years whilst also leaning out to a point where he was able to play a solid season had become an considerably the 2nd best Player in the World aside for Kawhi keeping the title. Bring New Orleans to Conference Finals. Lonzo Ball had also done some recruiting in bring his two younger brothers. 3PT Contest Winner, Liangelo Ball and Former MVP Brother; Lamelo Ball.
Numerous fans bickered angrily online or in person given the chance at the massive power-shift in the organization whilst New Orleans fans trolled and teased those who didn't have enough 'Star-Power' to contend with the 'Mostars' as they were affectionally called.
...
....
Sitting up from his bed where the boy looked at his phone with wide-eyes.
"... What the fuck?" Voicing himself as life was very, very, very, very, very different compared to beforehand.
...
Why? Just... Why.
Richard moved... from side-to-side.
...
He was very giddy.
Such interesting news related Basketball got him wanting to play...
....
....
Springing to his feet as he swiftly scurried through his drawers. Finding a solid white t-shirt with grey sports shorts.
White-socks had been put right on his feet as they were tight all-over. A backpack was grabbed which he threw over his shoulders. One of his hands swiftly went right over to the basketball which had been not only a tool but a plaything in Richard's grasp.
Throwing the orb inside as the bag was zipped up with a swiftness akin to a cat snatch a bird whom didn't see it coming. Running downstairs as his mom whom was napping found herself waking up by the heavy steps of her boy.
"R-Richard?!" Launching on ground floor at the beginning of the stairs with Richard stopped in his steps.
"Where are you going?" Wide-eye at the fast movements of her child; she hadn't see him really put some effort in his movement aside for walking around and occasionally going on jogs or 'fast-walks' as her son teased him. Hell - She swore that he ran down the steps in a manner of milliseconds.
"Oh... Just gonna go play some Basketball." Her brow raised up as she responded. "Just be Safe... and Come On later before 2! Not 2:05! Not 2:02! 2:00!" Forcing herself awake at the end to hammer her warning into her tall son's head.
She didn't care how big he had gotten; she would whoop him to kingdom come if his big-little ass didn't listen to her or her husband. A pouting and visible understanding Richard nod slowly like his father as he waked backwards like a snail.
Heading over the shoe-racket where he snatched up his sneakers. The once-grey running shoes had been busted in violently with visible creases on the upper and the lace were coming undone at the ends. In addition, one of the heels had a visible opening whilst the other appeared to have a series of spider-web like cracks.
Throwing them on his feet where he snatched up somethings that he just couldn't leave home without.
The House-Keys & Building Keys and his phone for emergencies.
Opening the door where he looked for the stairs.
...
Not the elevator.
...
The stairs. Traveling down the alleyway with hurrying steps til he founded them; popping the doorway which he exploded downward.
At certain flights; he hopped down and landed like a cat whilst he ran down others like a madman.
Long-Last - He arrived at the lobby before he proceeded to exit.
Popping opening the lobby entrance however he didn't noticed that a duo of boys had watched him traveling down the stairs swiftly and powerfully.
Following after him with a mixture of curiosity. These two seemed to be up to trouble.
...
At the entrance of the Apartment Building, Richard had taken his basketball out of the backpack and began to dribble about casually.
His mind had been traveling in recollection... During one of his runs when he had a break; he noticed that he had seen a basketball court a block or two away.
'I'll figure it out.' Thinking to himself before he broke into a sprint; dribbling the ball powerfully and smoothly. Where in a couple seconds or so; the young man was already out of view of his apartment building.
....
.....
The front door of the apartment opened where the two looked over in the distance to running boy.
"Holy Shit. That big guy's fast!" The slightly chubby of the two said where the other snorted.
"Maybe if you stopped eating Gram-Gram's Pies, you could catch up." The thinner one mocked the other whom turned to his life-long comrade.
"Bro - What do you me-" Asking only to see that his 'Bro' broke into a sprint as well; he took longer to disappear from view where he yelled out. "HEY! WAIT UP!" Shouting as he ran after the others.
True to words; the thinner was clearly ahead of his chubby 'bro' but despite his own speed. A massive distance was between him and Richard whom kept his ridiculously pace. A thought came up in his mind.
'That dude's big but he's fast. He is built like one of the college players and his dribble has stayed the exact same! He has to be a 2nd Year in Highschool or something... Maybe... Just maybe.' Invigorate by the athleticism of this mystery in the youth's eyes; he put a more effort into his sprint.
[Minutes Later]
Arriving at the Basketball court that Richard excitedly sighed. He had gotten to the court fast and he had his warm-up at the same time!
But that wasn't the best part!
...
It was a Street-Court!
...
Concrete Courts - Pitch black pavement. Paint white-lines all-over to symbolize the court boundaries and key-components of the paint and 3-point lines.
Huge overhead lights all-over for night-time play and massive fences to prevent any basketballs from spilling out of the courts or anyone whom is chasing after them.
... But lastly!
The hoops.
Four of them in total for maximum entertainment and fun!
A huge smile had been affixed to his face that if anyone was coming across the sight; they'd think that he was some weirdo or creep.
Bouncing on the balls of his feet where he slowly walked up to one of the hoops. They weren't the greatest condition... but... they had this charm to it.
...
Aside from the school hoops from the past... It was the first time that Richard had seen a basketball hoop in real-life... He loved the shape and sight of it.
The chain-linked net. The huge and rounded backboard. The cleanly painted orange-rim.
...
Walking up to it with soft and patient steps before he stood just under yet infront of it.
...
In his previous life... It felt so... Far.
...
Now?
...
It looked so much smaller.
'Whoa.' Happened to be the only thought of the boy who bounced the ball once. Putting his right foot forth and his left coming up behind it. A concentrated face formed as he let out a tiny gasp before he prepared his legs to launch.
A baby hop came as he floated upward a tiny bit... Yet he was so high up! It felt like bazookas replaced his leg muscles completely. The mental image of stick-figure version of himself with rocket legs formed as the 6ft (1.82 m) tall boy rose up!
It surprised him as Richard hadn't realized his jump wasn't at his 10-25%... But Rather his 50-65%! It was an unconscious act but an act that Richard's mind absorbed and launched onto.
...
He loved it!
Launching upward as he felt time itself slow down...
'I can dunk it.' A thought so simple... So simple...
The rim was regular height... Before jumping or even walking up to the court; the biracial boy could tell from a distance yet the idea of dunk the ball with such ease at the height which professional IBA players do so.
...
It caused a surge of power to rise in his body yet his body was loose at the same time. Coiled to explode.
Raising one of his hands up with the ball loosely in hand... As soon as he stopped traveling upward. His grip tightened; a sound of skin and synthetic creation rubbing and squeezing against the each-other.
...
A hefty grunt was exclaimed before he brought down the hammer!
Thundering the ball down as it was brought through the hoop cleanly! Heading down fast as a powerful *Bang* sounded afterwards.
Sent down like it was punched by a wild-animal; the basketball hurtled down where It struck against ground and bounced up high where it traveled up higher than Hoop itself.
Richard whom was floating through the air at the moment had a million different feels as he begun to glide downward.
Eyes widen as if they were saucers. Bumps and hair formed all-over his being. All of the sweat on him didn't feel cool... It felt hot like fire.
Left foot landed down as the ball provide some absorption followed by his other foot was too follow afterwards.
His trip on Flight Richardson ended as the boy's legs squatted down to absorb every bit of his weight successful.
...
The boy felt himself lose control of his legs and fall on his butt but he didn't yelp as his clothed button landed on the concrete
Shock all over his face at the action that he had done.
...
Looking down to stare at his hands... Clenching them to see if this wasn't a dream.
...
'I...Can Do A Slam Dunk!' The largest and purest smile formed on his face where the youth exclaimed with youthful scream.
"YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Uncaring of others completely! He did a freakin' Slam Dunk.
Looking upward - His smile disappeared for a moment to realize one thing.
...
The rim was shaking still!
'How hard did I Dunk It?!' Thinking with surprise as it took a couple more moments for it to cease where he was shocked completely.
[Elsewhere - Before Dunk]
The two boys whom had ran after Richard were gaining on him as the boy had calmed down but they relaxed as well.
Turning from a run into a walk as they tried to catch their breath but it wasn't working out them. The thinner of the two couldn't breath whilst the bigger one was practically on his hands and knees.
"D-D-Do we have F-Follow That- *Inhale* Guy?! *Exhale*" Shouting out the last piece as he looked up at his bro whom tilted slightly to gather his breath. Hands gripping his shorts where his tired mouth only voiced.
"S-Shut U-Up." Speaking where they had managed to regain their breath. Groaning as the thinner of the two worked even harder as his 'Bro' was too 'tired' to get up on his own but he begrudgingly helped him.
As the two found themselves at the Basketball Court, they looked to Richard whom was looking at the rim.
"W-What's he doing?" Able to gain his breath, the chubby one out of the two was the first to ask his fam whom turned as to him. Unlike his other; the thin was easily speaking.
"Gauging the height of the Rim? Maybe he's not used to the height or something?" Speaking with theories as the chubby gave the smart-speaking boy a 'baby' shove catching him off-guard. Yelping as he was able to keep his balance.
Grumbling under his breath as they stared at each other with the chubby one saying.
"Bullshit. What does he do? Dunk on College Players on 11ft (3.35 m) Rims or something?" Snorting at that response.
"Why even ask me if you know so much, Mr. 'Flighttown.'" Mocking the other with his an insult nickname with history causing the boy's face to become flush with heat and his face twisted.
"S-Shut up! Like you would know anything." Shouting back at him where the two were prepared to argue.
...
*Boing* The sound of a basketball hitting concrete alerted them. Taking attention away from their argument causing them to twist their heads to the source of the noise.
Their expressions changed completely as their eyes locked onto Richard's form before he leap. Chubby one thought 'Whoa! That guy got so low! It almost looks like 'Renegade' Russel Westbrook's Two-Foot Gather!' His favorite player being the rather infamous Russel Westbrook whom travel from team to team during the later parts of his career. Putting up numerous stats yet he wasn't able to get a championship leading to him being trade continuously til he took a least aggressive and play-making role when he joined the LA Clippers for their first Chip but those years earned him the nickname 'Renegade.'
The thinner out of the two didn't have a simple thought process but more detailed; he focused more on the mechanics of Players. 'Shit! His legs are massive and explosive; they're loaded with muscle all-over that able to leap a heavy-guy like him jump. It's almost like Prince James!' Unlike his fam to his side; the Thinner of the two preferred to look towards the future of the IBA. Lebron 'Bronny' / 'Prince James' James Junior. whom like father had been drafted to Cleveland with the same talent pool as his old man; he wasn't nearly explosive or agility however he had the same power and leaping ability of a Young Lebron James Senior. Putting Defenders On Posters Every Night.
Watching this titan whom begun to cock his arm backwards til it was just as far back as his head. A gulp came from the chubby one of the two where they watched him bring down the hammer.
*Bang!* The dunk sounded like a heavy gunshot that spooked them as the flight of that beast was captivating where the power of him brought fear.
Landing down as the two exhale; their breath was snatched away.
The two had goosebumps all-over their young bodies as the thin one felt the longer hairs on his neck stand up which the mystery fell over onto his butt.
"Is he okay?" Turning to his fam whom watched as Richard that fell down looked down at his hands. Their positioning didn't allow for them to see his face at all but they only assumed the worst.
"..." An abnormal silence was the response to the question. Speaking to himself as he was uncaring of his volume. "I'm gonna ask him to join up for East Street Games." A shocked expression appeared on the chubby ones' face as he looked over and saw the stern look in his fam's eyes.
...
"YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" That roar escaped the mystery spooking to the two as they watched him spring up to his feet. Heading over to snatch up his basketball that the thin head inside with the chubby one still scared of that display of athleticism.
He knew how his bro would ask the question.
Bouncing the ball; Richard turned around with his face having loosen up from his grinning expression to one of curiosity. A brow had been raised as he looked at the traveling duo.
"Hey! Wanna Join Up In My Crew?" A smile appeared on the boys' face where Richard tilted his head.
...
"Aw Fuck." The chubby one squeaked out as Richard's smile formed once more. Looking at the two where he held his basketball on his side.
...
Opening his mouth.
...
He answered.
