Heading to New York City I

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BEEP!

BEEP!

BEEP!

I reach over and turn off my morning alarm. It's 5:00 AM, and I'm dead tired. I didn't get home till 9:30 last night. Hannah and I hung out longer than I thought after the movie was over. It was a really fun date, but now it's time to handle business. I get up from my bed and undress out of my pajamas. I enter the shower and detach the shower hose so I can actually clean myself. Being this tall has its disadvantages. After a relaxing shower, I exit and dry myself off with a towel. Howard is probably asleep right now, but he's in for a rude awakening.

I want to leave as soon as possible, which means he needs to wake up right now. I pick up my phone after I slide my shirt on. I call him, and he actually picks up. "Come pick me up in 10 minutes. We'll head to the airport and hop on the first flight to New York City." He confirms he'll be here, and I hang up the phone. I look walk downstairs, and I have a suitcase already packed. Ellie took it upon herself to pack me some stuff yesterday for today's trip. She isn't going on this trip, which kind of sucks, in all honesty. I'd love for her to go to New York City with me.

I head into the kitchen and quietly make some food. The loudest thing in the microwave. Having me a burrito before it's time to go. As I take the plate out of the microwave, I hear heavy footsteps come down the stairs. I look and see a fully dressed Ellie with a suitcase. She sees me looking at her in surprise and excitement. "I can't let you go with a lawyer I don't know anything about. So I'm coming to." I smile as she uses one of the best excuses for a last-minute change of plans I've heard. Not trusting a lawyer is a good reason to do something, in my opinion.

I smile and place my plate and burrito on the table, and I walk up to her and wrap her in a hug. I have to bend down really far to do so. "You don't need a reason to come with me, Ellie. I'm happy you decided to change your mind. I'm not going to ask how you knew I'd get up at this time, though. That's just weird." She rolls her eyes at the sarcastic tone at the end of my acceptance for her to come. I'm a creature of habit. I always wake up very early, be it 4:30 or 5:00 AM. All she had to do is wake up at 4:30 and wait for me to get up.

I'm a little worried, though. She has been taking time off work to do things with me and for me. This is a multiple-day trip. We won't be back till Sunday night. I have my camera in my suitcase. I plan on getting a basketball while I'm there. I want to head to the famous Rucker Park and record some videos for my youtube channel. It'll be different and better content than just practicing in my favorite park and running some scrimmage games there when people show up. Rucker park is going to be a blast. Maybe I should tweet about it.

So that people show up. I pull out my phone as I sit down at the table to enjoy my burrito. I open Twitter and see that I'm tagged in 99+ things. Most are highlights and talk shows talking about me. They can do them, and I'll do me. I open my Twitter post, and now it's time to drop the surprise. "What are you doing?" Ellie looks as I'm typing on my phone. I inform her that I plan to go to Rucker Park while we are in New York City. After our meeting in the NBA Headquarters. "Read it back to me. I want to hear it." I nod my head and take a breath.

"I'm heading to New York City and Rucker Park today. I'm jumping on a flight there in an hour or so. After I'm done with some business, I'll be there playing some pick-up games for my youtube channel. I hope to see some of you there! I should be showing up around 3 PM."

I finish announcing the tweet out loud for Ellie, and she nods her head that it's fine. I hit post-tweet and turn off Twitter. I place my phone in my pocket and finish eating my burrito, and after a bit of time. A knock on the door happens, and that signals that it's time to head to the tiny airport in Holden.

Unknown to Ulysses, the couple million followers he has sees the tweet and he is already trending on Twitter. At 5:25 AM, many retired and current basketball players in New York are planning a trip. Along with lots of fans. Even the police department in New York City sees the tweet and knows they'll have to run security.