Invasion

Pitt picked up a ball and began shooting. If Beau noticed him he didn't give any indication. After a few minutes something else about the situation seemed surprising to Pitt. Beau was doing all the talking! The others were simply listening, occasionally responding with nods of agreement.

The other players began to arrive including Tony Ciccone who made up the third person on Pitt and Beau's team. It was only after everyone had arrived including the opposition team and had warmed up that Beau wound up his conversation with the three businesspeople and joined Pitt. Pitt was now doing some stretching exercises.

"Hey, man, good to see you," Beau said. "I was afraid after that marathon you put in at the ER you weren't going to make it today."

Pitt straightened up and lifted a basketball in the process. "The way you were feeling the day before yesterday, you should be surprised you're here," he said.

Beau laughed. "Seems like ages ago. Now I feel terrific. In fact, I've never felt better, and we're going to cream these pansies."

The other three players were continuing to warm up down at the other basket. Tony was tightening the laces of his high-tops.

"I wouldn't be too cocky," Pitt said, squinting against the sun. "See the muscle-bound guy in the purple shorts? Believe it or not, his name is Rocko. He's a ball-breaker and a good shot to boot."

"No problem," Beau said. He snatched the ball away from Pitt and let it sail toward the basket. It went through the goal with a snapping sound having hit nothing but net.

Pitt was impressed. They were standing a good thirty feet away.

"Best of all, we have a cheering section," Beau said. Putting the tip of his thumb and index fingers together and puckering up his mouth, he let loose with a shrill whistle. About a hundred feet away an enormous light-brown dog got up from where he'd been lying in the shade and sauntered over. He collapsed at the edge of the tarmac of the court and lowered his head on his front paws.

Beau squatted down and gave him a series of pats on the top of the head. The tail wagged briefly then went limp.

"Whose dog?" Pitt asked. "If you can call it a dog. It looks more like a small pony."

"He's mine," Beau said. "His name is King."

"You got a dog?" Pitt asked incredulously.

"Yup," Beau said. "I felt like some canine companionship, so I went out to the pound this morning, and there he was, waiting for me."

"A week ago you said you didn't think it was fair to have big dogs in the city," Pitt said.

"I changed my mind," Beau said. "The moment I saw him I knew he was the dog of my dreams."

"Does Cassy know?"

"Not yet," Beau said, He scratched King enthusiastically behind his ears. "Won't she be surprised?"

"That's an understatement," Pitt said, rolling his eyes. "Especially a dog that size. But what's the matter with him? Is he sick? He seems lethargic and his eyes are red."

"Ah, he's just having trouble adjusting," Beau said. "He's just been let out of his cage. I've only had him a few hours."

"He's salivating," Pitt said. "You don't think he has rabies, do you?"

"Not a chance," Beau said. "Of that I'm certain." Beau cupped the dog's large head in his hands. "Come on, King. You should be feeling better by now. We need you to cheer us on."

Beau got to his feet, still gazing at his new companion. "He might be lethargic, but he's a good-looking dog, don't you agree?"

"I suppose," Pitt said. "But listen, Beau. Getting a dog, much less a huge one like this, is an awfully impulsive act, and knowing you the way I do, I'd have to say very unexpected. In fact, from my perspective you've been doing a number of unexpected things lately. I'm concerned, and I think we should have a talk."

"Talk about what?"

"About you," Pitt said. "The way you've been acting, like not going to class. It seems like ever since you had the flu ... "

Before Pitt could finish Rocko had come up behind Pitt and given him a friendly slap on the shoulder that sent Pitt staggering forward several steps.

"Are you dorks going to play or forfeit?" Rocko jeered. "Pauli, Duff, and I have been ready to take you guys to the cleaners for the last half hour."

"I think we better talk later," Beau whispered to Pitt. "The natives are getting restless."

The game commenced. As Pitt guessed, Rocko dominated the play with his bulldozer tactics. To Pitt's chagrin the burden of covering him had fallen on his shoulders since Rocko had selected to guard Pitt. Every time Rocko got the ball he made it a point to crash right into Pitt before dropping back to put in a jump shot.

Halfway through the game with Rocko et al in the lead, Pitt called a foul after Rocko purposefully elbowed him in the gut in order to get a rebound.

"What?" Rocko demanded angrily. He threw the ball forcibly against the ground so that it bounced some ten feet into the air. "Is the little chicken-shit going to call an offensive foul? No way. Our ball! No way I'm going to honor a call like that."