Venice Beach III

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~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~

~~~(Date: January 25th, 2026)~~~

~~~(Location: Venice Beach, LA)~~~

~~~(Time: 11:34 AM)~~~

I've started off with 3 points, an assist, and a steal, and the is 4-1 in our favor, and we're on offense now since the opposing team missed a chance to score after my steal followed up by an assist. Venice Beach has already been a far better experience than Rucker Park. Mainly because the crowd isn't that big and the people here are way more relaxed.

I bring the ball down the court and immediately toss it to the post. Two 6'4 guys are battling it out hard down here. As soon as the ball touches my teammate's hands, the man starts to clap. "Yeeahh. This is what I'm talking about. Just you and me now, Ray-Ray." Seems like these guys have some beef, and I have no qualms about them playing it out.

The man being defended, Ray-Ray, smiles and leans into his opponent. "Talk all that good shit, JP. You ain't doing shit when it comes to backing up anything you say on the court." That motivates the defender, JP, further they start bumping and grinding, and it's a true battle in the paint. People are clapping and cheering them on. And I stand in the same spot and enjoy the show.

Ray-Ray gets a little bit of space after cleverly stepping on JP's shoe, but as he's going up for the shot. JP holds onto him and pulls him out of his jump and into a hard foul. Ray-Ray gets up instantly and in JP's face. "What's good!! C'mon swing, Bitch! Do something for real!!" Things escalate real fast, and some of the guys on the side come on the court and split them up.

It was entertaining, to be sure, and I'm so freaking happy that I'm not the one at the center of attention. It's refreshing, and I'm enjoying myself in a public game for the first time in a while. "Quit playing like a cheap Bitch, Ray-Ray! That's all you know how to do!!" They keep barking at each other even as they're being separated. This is classic street basketball.

My eyes look towards the sidelines, and I see Hannah talking with another girl as she looks at me. She smiles and waves me over while all this drama is going on. I jog over quickly, and the attractive light-skinned girl she's talking smiles too. "Ulysses, this is Bianca, and she was hoping you could sign a basketball card for her." I don't see any issues with that.

She quickly pulls the card out of her backpack and removes it from its protective casing. I take a good look at it, and it's a limited edition Highschool Senior Basketball card of me. "Can you make it out to William Jones? He's my little brother. He's in the hospital fighting Sarcoma." That immediately grabs my attention, and I become invested.

Sarcoma is a dangerous and volatile cancer of the bones and muscles. It's common in children more than anything. "Where is your brother staying?" Bianca has a sudden burst of hope, and I quickly sign the card and hand it back to her. She tells us that he's at. "After I'm gone with some games here, mind if we stop by? You ride with us." I want to meet William.

~~~(POV: Hannah Fiona)~~~

~~~(Date: January 25th, 2026)~~~

~~~(Location: Venice Beach, LA)~~~

~~~(Time: 11:36 AM)~~~

Bianca jumps up and down with excitement next to me, and I feel so happy for her. But my eyes are on Ulysses as he makes his way back onto the court. It astounds me sometimes. The way he treats kids and tries his best to give them a good memory. The time he gave that little girl his game shows and signed them and took pictures with the family.

Now this, going to a hospital and meeting a kid who's a huge fan and fighting for his life. God, it makes me want him to fucking bad. Seeing this loving and caring side he has for people makes me want to get down on one knee and propose. He's someone that if a girl lost, she'd never get over. "I can't believe that Will gets to meet Ulysses!!" Bianca is still jumping up and down with joy.