Part 48 (1/2)

Freeze ignored the comment.

Give me MD 2020.

My n.i.g.g.a.

Cool, Freeze said. You can have him. Give me my man No Face. No Face swelled up with grat.i.tude, chest out, lips inflated into a grin, one eye expanding expanding expanding, and he rose, tiptoes.

Thunderbird.

d.a.m.n, Freeze, Keylo said. You gon let this b.i.t.c.h play on our team?

Jesus breathed his first whiff of Keylo's gravedigger breath.

Give a n.i.g.g.a a chance, Freeze said. Even a b.i.t.c.h. He gave Keylo a quick hug.

Come on, Country Plus said. Choose another man.

d.a.m.n, who else? Freeze studied the crowd.

Pick him. No Face pointed to Jesus.

Freeze gave Jesus a fishy-eyed look. I want him.

That doofy-lookin' muddafudda, Keylo said. He and Jesus faced one another, eyes colliding.

And I'll take Mad Dog. Okay. We set.

Jesus pondered the faulty mathematics. That's only four. Four players, not. . . . No Face pulled Jesus into the huddle.

Yo, g, Freeze said. What's yo name?

Jesus.

Jesus?

Yeah.

Welcome, Jesus. I'm Freeze. Freeze extended his hand, and Jesus took it with his firmest grip.

Country Plus pulled a dime from his pocket and tossed it s.h.i.+mmering into the air. Call em.

Heads, Freeze said.

The coin fell to the surface of Country's skin. He slapped his palm over it.

See, Freeze said. You already lost.

What you call?

You know.

Country removed his palm. Heads.

See.

Country Plus stared into Freeze's face, the price tag dangling from his cap and jerking back and forth in the breeze like a hooked fish on a line. From this time forward, I will make you hear new things.

Whatever, Freeze said. You talk a good game. Let's see if you can play.

No Face unzipped his jacket and pulled it off, removed his T-s.h.i.+rt, and revealed his Mr. Universe torso.

Hey, Jesus, Freeze said. That's yo man. He pointed to Country Plus. Stick him.

Word, Jesus said. d.a.m.n, how Freeze tryin to play me? Jesus always played center, the tallest and strongest player on the court. And here Freeze was, playin him like a guard.

We skins, No Face said. Ain't you gon take off yo s.h.i.+rt?

Nawl.

Why not?

Nawl.

Yo s.h.i.+rt gon get all funky.

I'm aw ight.

Better take out yo earring.

Nawl.

n.i.g.g.a yank it off.

Nawl.

No Face, Freeze said. Take out the ball.

No Face took out the ball. MD 2020 s.n.a.t.c.hed his lazy entry pa.s.s and tossed an easy layup. Good steal. Country Plus congratulated his teammate, and his team-Thunderbird and Mad Dog-celebrated their first basket. No Face looked at Freeze with a drowning man's eyes (eye!), begging for mercy.

Country Plus threw Freeze the ball.

Wait a minute, Jesus said. It's their ball.

Wake up! Keylo said. You in South Lincoln. Red Hook rules. Stonewall rules. Stonewall rules.

Freeze took out the ball. Fired it to Keylo, who crouched low and ran it hard on his short, baby-thick legs. Country Plus's unit swooped down on him, a flock of small fast birds moving in streaks, sparrows in a room. Keylo froze in place. Fired the ball at Jesus, but Country Plus clawed it in midair, and in the spark of a moment swept Jesus aside like a swatted fly. Jesus gave chase with everything in his legs. Country Plus launched for the nest-high basket, his elbow catching Jesus in the throat.

d.a.m.n!

Don't sweat it, Freeze said. He took the ball out. Fired it in to Jesus. Jesus dribbled. Green-thumbed gra.s.s poked through the concrete and s.n.a.t.c.hed at the ball. Tall weeds twisted around his legs. And puddles swamped him, quicksand. With each putting down of his heels, his whole body sank further into the court. Then Country Plus liberated the ball from his paralyzed fingers. Rode an invisible rainbow to the hoop. Reaming sight. The rim vibrated colors.