Page 27 of Love & Streetball

9

“Scottie!”

I rolled over in bed and groaned, shielding my eyes from the sunlight. Stretching, I opened one eye when Mama entered my room with a box in her hand. I could see my name written in black marker. Slim.

“What you and that boy got going for him to keep leaving you gifts?” she asked, eyes in slits, like she was a detective and I was her prime suspect.

I sat up. “What do you mean by gifts?”

“What I said. This box was on the porch this morning with your name on it. I know it’s from him because Ernestine said she saw him bring it and leave it on the porch. You were with Kane for hours last night, and now you have gifts.”

My heart began thumping erratically.

“Open it,” Mama demanded, placing the medium-sized box on the end of my bed. She crossed her arms across her chest as she waited.

I hadn’t even rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, used the bathroom, or brushed my teeth yet. If she hadn’t woken me up out of my sleep, I would still be under my covers. Kane dropped me off at two in the morning. I was having so much fun playing the game with him, watching movies in his theatre, and eating snacks that I didn’t want to leave. I wasn’t even tired when I left because I was having so much fun, but when I made it to the house, I had crashed.

Using my nails, I found the end of the tape and pulled it up. Kane swore we were best friends now. I told him I didn’t need anything from him, though. He was already putting the money up for the first game. I just needed to get a team together. We would just need one other person because I knew Vani and Jalen would be down.

Inside the brown box was a Nike shoe box and a phone box. My forehead crinkled as I pulled each of them out.

“Are you sure you two are just friends, Scottie? A phone? An iPhone at that. Who is paying that bill?” Mama asked as I took all of this in.

“Just friends…I guess. I wasn’t trying to have a new friend, but he’s kind of persistent.” I opened the shoe box and gasped. “Aja Wilson’s shoes,” I whispered. I couldn’t wait to wear these for my next game.

“Well, that’s nice of him, but tell him a friendship can’t be bought,” Mama said.

“He knew I needed new ball shoes. Mine are falling apart. The phone…I don’t know.”

I struggled to figure out how to power it on until I pressed a button on the right side and a button on the left side simultaneously. Mama was still standing there, and I finally looked over at her.

“I like Kane. I do, but he doesn’t have to gift you. I know he feels like you need these items, but how is he getting the money for this?” she asked.

“His family is rich,” I mumbled.

“And do his parents know what he’s doing with his money?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I mean it is his money.”

“Don’t get smart, Scottie,” she said, making my eyes stretch.

“I’m not. I was just saying.”

“Well, I picked up an extra shift at work, so I’m about to go in. Send me that new phone number. If you’re going to hang with him today, let me know.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied, and she left my room.

I navigated to contacts, and just like I knew Kane would, he’d already locked in his phone number. Before calling him, I cleaned myself up. I knew these phones you could chat on video. Vani has an iPhone and would always get on video calls with all his hoes.

While putting butter and jelly on my toast, the phone rang. I answered and placed it on speaker as I scrambled my eggs. Mama had gotten a few groceries. I couldn’t wait until next weekend. I was coming home with some money and would help put food in the kitchen.

“Hello?” I answered.

“What’s up, Slim?” Kane’s raspy voice rang out.

“Thanks for the shoes and the phones, but you didn’t have to,” I let him know.

“I know. I wanted to.”