Some Pick Up Ball (Page 194)

~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~

~~~(Date: October 26th, 2026)~~~

~~~(Location: Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)~~~

~~~(Time: 3:15 PM)~~~

It's been a few hours, and everything on TV isn't really holding my attention for long. My mind keeps going back to an idea I had on the flight here. Philadelphia is known for its love for basketball. It's burning passion.

I'm pretty sure that I'm not allowed to, but I don't know for sure. I stand up from the bed and make my way to the door. I'm wearing sweatpants and a hoodie. Once in the elevator, it stops on another floor.

A couple with their kid enters the elevator, and they stare at me. Mostly due to my height. Since this is a high-class hotel, there is enough room in the elevator for my height.

Most places don't accommodate such things.

"Mommy... Why is that man so big..."

A chuckle escapes my lips as the little girl points her finger at me while looking at her Mom. She's only six or seven. It's not the first time I've dealt with this. The woman gently silences her daughter, and the father looks at me.

"Sorry about that..."

The smile on my face tells them it's nothing to worry about.

"A child's innocence shouldn't be apologized for. Enjoy it while it last."

The door opens on the lobby floor, and I'm the first to exit before either of them can respond. The front desk clerk sees me and leaves their desk. A slightly worried look on his face. Most of the time, when a person comes down to the lobby from their room, it's to complain.

Given who I am, I think the complaint would be much more serious. If I was to be one to complain, that is.

"Are there any problems with your stay, Mr. Kennedy?"

The only thing I want to do is get out of here. Schuylkill River Park is somewhere I've heard it has a good place to play with a healthy amount of people.

It'll be funny that a player from another team is playing streetball at a court the day before the game in said city. I don't think I've ever heard of that happening before. I've always been a pioneer, though.

"Nothing wrong with my stay. I'm just gonna see the sights of Philly."

He nods his head with some relief, and I make it outside. Immediately hailing a cab and hopping it. The man stares in the mirror at me with dumbfounded eyes. Must be a basketball fan.

"Where to?"

He shakes his stupor off and asks me the question all cabby asks.

"Schuylkill River Park."

He puts the car into gear, and we're on the road. Philly is a beautiful city during the day, but the sun will be setting in a couple hours. It's one of the more crime-ridden state capitals in the US.

It's not in the same condition as Manhatten, that's for sure. It takes around 15 minutes, but we make it to Schuylkill River Park, and he pulls over.

I pay the fair and step out of the cab. As I look, there is one game going on. It's mostly young teens here with their parents.

As I step through the metal fence gate and make my way over, the game immediately stops.

~~~(POV: Tom Thibodeau)~~~

~~~(Date: October 26th, 2026)~~~

~~~(Location: Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)~~~

~~~(Time: 3:48 PM)~~~

My phone has been buzzing like crazy the last minute, and that's not a good sign. I reach over to the nightstand and pick it up. Unlocking it and seeing that it's from ownership.

[What the hell is going on over there!!? Why is Ulysses playing at a park in Philly!!!]

He wouldn't...

That's when I see all the Twitter notifications. As I open the app, my stomach drops as I sit up in bed. Our best player, and the best player to come out of high school, is playing pick-up ball at Schuylkill River Park.

"IS HE STUPID!!!??"

I don't know what's gotten into him or why he's doing something like this. I immediately close Twitter and call 911. Ulysses shouldn't be taking risks like that. What if he plays with knuckleheads?!! People that are okay and will go out of their way to hurt him.

Why does he even consider something like this!?!