"Bounce it back!", I said as I hopped a bit using one foot for balance and then switched to the other. It was around midnight and I had decided to sneak out of the house to play basketball a little. It was getting too merry and crowded a bit as it's the Christmas season. He threw it instead. "I said...", I let the ball bounce against my palm as I moved with the ball,further away from the net,"...it back"
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I had come to the basketball court to clear my head a little and get my mind off a lot of things. The court was quiet and looked alone,just how I wanted it to be. It wasn't the wisest decision coming out late at night and being here,but we only live once I guess. I was given the privilege of being alone in the quiet for about 15 minutes before someone came strolling in,with a skate board under his arm. It was my friend, James. He lived on the other end of the street and you hardly ever see him outside asides during the day at 2pm to skate in the arena. It was weird seeing him walk into the basketball court at that time. I was curious what he was doing here. With my eyebrows furrowed and almost touching each other,I stared at him as he walked closer towards me. He wasn't walking towards me, he was looking for a spot to take a seat on as there were no chairs of any sort in the court.
"It's late", he mumbled as he took a seat on the ground. Seemed he finally found the right spot. And he finally decided to question me because I wasn't going to be the one questioning him on why he was outside, actually outside. I understood he was an introvert but I could not imagine staying at home for the hours he stayed indoors for. "And dark", I added to his statement as I continued bouncing the basketball I had in my hands. "Why are you outside?", He asked the question. A question that should be directed towards both of us. "It was stuffy at the house so I decided to come for some fresh air"
"Yeah..", I heard him say."...I understand how that feels. Friends and family everywhere at home seems nice but weird and stuffy at the same time". He wasn't wrong. I had been excited to see my uncles,aunties and cousins I haven't seen since last Christmas or last two Christmas ago. I was the top tier house cleaner who carried cleaning the whole house and decorating it for Christmas as a course she needed to get an A and nothing less than an A in. Now, it's Christmas Eve and I wasn't feeling the spirit anymore.
I didn't say anything to him as I played with the basketball. Twirling it on only my index finger, bouncing it and letting it go over me,before grabbing it in my arms again. I suddenly had the urge to throw the ball at him, not to harm him or anything but to let him know he was heard. I gave into that feeling and I threw the ball at him. He yelped a bit and caught it in his palms before glaring at me. "I would appreciate you use your words if you want to communicate with me Dorathy"
I didn't know why but I felt the corner of my lips curl upwards. I was smiling broadly at James. Half of me was sure it was because of what I did. I was making myself laugh cause there was a lot of humuor in what I just did. And the other half thought it was James and the way he replied,his body language and the scowl after the surprise he had on his face as he spotted the ball spinning towards him. "Christmas doesn't feel like Christmas anymore", I said to him.
"That doesn't explain you trying to take my head off with a ball", James had the basketball in his hand,making it turn in a transverse form.
"I wish to see Santa", He suddenly said,with a one sided smirk as he remained staring at the ball in his hands. "Then go see him", I answered, mustering every bit of sacarsm I had in that one sentence because that was an entirely random thing to say. I wasn't the least surprised. It was difficult to have a conversation with James. He was just so out of everyone's line in a way. He was weird. I liked his weird but that didn't make it any easier to talk to him.
"Bounce it back!", I said as I hopped a bit using one foot for balance and then switched to the other. It was around midnight and I had decided to sneak out of the house to play basketball a little. It was getting too merry and crowded a bit as it's the Christmas season. He threw it instead. "I said...", I let the ball bounce against my palm as I moved with the ball,further away from the net,"...it back".
I was jogging towards to net for a basic alley hoop move. The distance to the net was just a foot afar when I jumped a bit to toss the ball from under the net,into the net. An alley hoop.
James and I continued playing basketball, the cool night air invigorating our senses. The sound of the ball bouncing on the court was almost therapeutic. As we played, I couldn't help but think about how Christmas didn't feel the same anymore. The excitement and magic of the season seemed to have worn off. There was always this feeling of awareness that it was Christmas or it would be Christmas soon. You'd feel it in the weather, you'd see it in the people, neighbors around you. It was intoxicating and something to look forward to. The only thing about the Christmas season that didn't entirely change was the chilly weather and the rush and over population in supermarts,beauty saloons and malls.
James, sensing my distraction, threw the ball at me again. I caught and held onto it, looking at him with a raised eyebrow, "You know, James, I think I'm going to write a letter to Santa," I said, trying to sound as serious as possible.
James mimicked my facial expression and said,"A letter to Santa? You're not exactly the letter-writing type, Dorathy."
I shrugged. "Hey, it's Christmas. I can be cheesy if I want to." I started to bounce the ball again, lost in thought. "Besides, who knows? Maybe Santa will bring back the magic of Christmas."
James snorted. "Yeah, right. And maybe he'll bring me a pet unicorn while he's at it."
I laughed, feeling a bit more carefree. "Hey, you never know. Stranger things have happened, right?"
We continued playing, the night air filled with the sound of our laughter and the bouncing ball. As we played, I felt a spark of Christmas magic reignite within me. Maybe, just maybe, this Christmas wouldn't be so bad after all.