Traveller - L.W. Samuelson (free e books to read online TXT) 📗

net with Traveller watching. Jesse picked the ball up as it bounced toward him then shot again. Swish!
The ball bounced to the alien this time. “Shoot it starman,” Jesse said.
Traveller picked it up with both hands then threw it at the backboard. It hit the metal above the rim with a resounding bing before ricocheting well over Jesse’s head.
“Not so hard Travis,” he said as he retrieved the ball.
“Look, you hold the ball like so,” he said showing how to put one hand underneath the ball and the other on the side. “Then you shoot and follow through. Flick your wrist.” Jesse shot with his wirst curling into a cup after the basketball left. It swished the net again.
“I was a point guard in high school,” he said, proud of his shot. “We took the state championship.”
Traveller got the ball off the bounce. He tried dribbling it but it hit his foot and rolled into the bushes. Anger flared up inside of him. Take a deep breath. Stay calm he told himself hearing Porter’s voice. He picked the ball up; holding it like Jesse had showed him. When he shot, the ball sailed well over the rim. “Lization!” he roared.
Jesse caught the ball. “Try again,” he said throwing it back.
Traveller caught the ball with both hands. He impelled high into the air with it brushing against the backboard as he jammed the ball through the hoop.
“Jeeze,” said Jesse. “How did you do that?” He noticed that Traveller was decidedly blue now with frustration. The never alien never said anything but stood there with his hands open waiting for Jesse to throw him the ball. Catching it with both hands, he paused, placed his hands, and then shot. This time it rimmed out.
“Boni bon bon, star man,” Jesse encouraged. “Come out here.”
Traveller stood at foul shot distance from the basket. This time his shot arced perfectly before hitting the side of the rim to bounce high up on the backboard. The alien followed his shot catching the basketball as it bounced in the air. It was slam dunked so hard the rim bent.
“Travis! No more dunking. Lift me up there so I can bend it back.”
With the rim back in place, Jesse said, “Stand out in the court and practice shooting. I’ll throw you the ball.”
Two hours later, Lori pulled up in her van. She had seen them playing as she entered the alley. Rolling her window down she asked, “Hey guys. Are you about ready to quit? It’ll be dark soon.”
“Hi Lori. I play basketball,” said Traveller.
“Yeah, I can’t get him to quit now that he’s starting to get the hang of it,” said Jesse.
“I’m cooking spaghetti. It’ll be done in about an hour,” she said.
“We’ll play one game of one on one before we get there,” said Jesse.
“Okay, but you’d better not be late,” she said revving the engine before putting the van in gear.
After she left, Jesse explained the game to Traveller as best he could. He gave the alien the ball first.
To Traveller’s surprise, when he tried to shoot the ball, Jesse blocked it. His friend then dribbled to the basket for a lay up. “One nothing,” Jesse said.
Jesse threw him the ball again. Again Traveller tried to shoot it. Again Jesse blocked it. “Lization!” Traveller said watching Jesse score.
“Two zip,” said Jesse throwing him the ball again.
This time he held the ball high over his head so the Earthling couldn‘t get it. Jesse kept a hand in his face. Traveller grasped the ball firmly in one hand then shoved Jesse down with the other before using both hands to shoot the ball. It glanced off the rim with Jesse yelling, “You can’t do that!” He got up quickly to rebound and shoot. “Three zip.”
Traveller caught the ball Jesse threw to him. Without dribbling, he impelled from way out on the court to dunk the ball.
“You can’t do that,” Jesse said demonstrating how to dribble to the end of the cement to clear the ball before it could be shot. He tried re-explaining the game. When Traveller nodded that he understood, they started again.
Traveller couldn’t dribble well enough to drive to the basket. Jesse stole the ball everytime he tried. The only time he was able to score was when he faked one way then impelled for a dunk. When he shot from a distance, Jesse either blocked it or he missed. The dark had descended when Jesse called the final score, “Twenty-one to ten. Let’s go eat spaghetti.”

Jesse and Traveller sat down at Lori’s small four chair table with the tranlslator placed on a T.V. tray bewteen them. The pleasant aroma of meatballs and spaghetti sauce filled the air making their mouths water. The smell of buttered garlic bread mingled with the sauce.
“Man, I’ve never seen anyone jump like you Travis. You should have seen him Lori. He jumped sp high his elbows caught on the rim and bent it.”
Lori had her back to them stirring the sauce. “I hope you bent it back. Mr. Halverson will kick you guys off his court.”
“No he won’t. He likes me. I raked his yard for him,” said Jesse.
“You are skilled at the game of basketball Jesse. I didn’t have a chance against you,” said Traveller.
“It’s only a matter of practice. You should have seen him play flag football. We tied Bill and Tim’s team. Travis scored two touchdowns,” Jesse bragged to his sister.
“Is that how he got the shiner?” Lori asked.
Jesse noticed it for the first time. “Jeeze, your eye’s almost swollen shut.”
“That’s okay. I enjoyed myself today. It was fun. I’ve never had friends my age before.”
Lori sat the French bread on the table along with the spaghetti and meat sauce. She dished Traveller up fighting Jesse off with a wooden spoon when he tried to go first.
Once she finished, he piled his plate high with spaghetti.
“Dig in,” Jesse said with his mouth full of spaghetti.
Traveller watched Jesse twirl the noodles with his spoon. He did the same but just before he was able to capture them with his mouth, they slid back onto the plate. He shrugged and then used his fork to cut the spaghetti up and eat it. Traveller tried a meatball. “That is acroluminous,” he said smacking his lips. “What is it?”
“It’s called hamburger,” Lori said sitting down to join them.
“What is hamburger?”
“It’s ground up dead cow,” said Jesse between bites. “You know those animals we saw up at Pomerelle.”
“You mean I’m eating another living being?” Traveller said taking another bite.
“That’s right. It’s good isn’t it?” said Jesse.
“Yes, but . . .”
“Don’t worry about it. You’ve gotta have protein if you want to play basketball.”
Traveller didn’t say anything. Somehow he felt what he was doing was wrong, but Lori had cooked the meal; he didn’t want to disappoint her. The “hamburger” was good. It satisfied his hunger, his body needed the protein. He ate three meatballs before turning to the bread. With real butter and garlic salt, it supplied another unique taste to his palate.
“Boni, bon bon,” he said between bites.
Lori smiled as she ate a small portion of the spaghetti and meat sauce. “I’m glad you like it,” she said.
After the three had finished eating, Traveller placed his hand over Lori’s. “Thank you,” he said. Her eyes misted with tears.
“Yeah, thanks sis,” Jesse said.

***
Lori woke up with the dawn of a new day just breaking. She heard her front door open even though Traveller was trying to be quiet. She got up, slipped a robe on over her pajamas then rushed to the window of the living room to see Traveller bouncing her basketball down the alleyway.
She had talked to the alien until well into the night after Jesse left. She told him of her hopes and dreams, sharing her frustrations with Jesse. He didn’t study. He was irresponsible. He spent his money and hers. Most of all, she was afraid he would flunk out and have to go home.
Traveller had listened intently not saying anything. When she was through pouring her heart out, he placed a hand over hers and said, “Everything will be fine. Jesse has friends and a sister who cares for him.”
Every time Traveller touched her the anxieties melted away. It was as if she found herself suddenly walking on a beach near the ocean. The electric tingling of his hand made her forget what was troubling her. She had calmed.
Lori poured some milk over two biscuits of shredded wheat and ate. After clearing the table, she whistled to herself as she dressed for school. When she left, she drove to the basketball court. Traveller was practicing dribbling and shooting. She pulled up and rolled her window down.
He reached in placing a hand on her shoulder. “Hi Lori. Did you get your rest?”
“Hi Traveller. Thanks for being a good listener last night. I left the door open. Don’t forget to eat breakfast,” she said.
“Thank you,” he said turning back to play basketball.

Concentrate, shoot, get the ball, dribble, concentrate, shoot. Concentrate, shoot, get the ball, dribble. Traveller practiced for over four hours until Jesse showed up on his bicycle. “Have you eaten?” Jesse asked.
“I’m not hungry,” Traveller replied.
“Sure you are,” said Jesse. “Come on. We’ll get a bowl of cereal.”
When they got back to Lori’s, Jesse poured two bowls of Cherrios. He put sugar on both. With food in front of him, Traveller realized how hungry he was. He dug in with his spoon enjoying yet another new taste.
“One of these days I’m going to cook you some eggs and bacon,” Jesse said.
“Boni bon bon.”
They finished breakfast with Traveller humming. “One game of twenty one, then we’ll go meet Tim at the gym,” said Jesse. “Last one there’s a rotten egg.” Jesse ran though the door and down the steps. Traveller jumped over the stair railing intercepting Jesse when he hit the alley. He ran leaving Jesse behind.
Traveller caught the ball, the game started. He shot and missed. Jesse rebounded it well off the backboard. Traveller waited for him to square up and shoot. Instead, he swung the ball over his head in a hook shot. Swish! “One zip,” Jesse said.
Traveller played much better this time. He scored on a couple of jump shots in addition to several dunks, but Jesse was still able to steal the ball and use his “hook” shot to win twelve to twenty-one.

Four players from the ISU basketball team were playing two on two on one end of the gym when they got there. Tim and a few other guys were shooting baskets at the other end. When Jesse got to half court, he shot the ball he was carrying. Travellers followed the ball, running as fast as he could. It bounced high off the rim. Traveller grabbed it well above the metal ring jamming it through the net with both hands. Almost everyone on that side of the court stopped playing. “Wow!” someone said. “I’ve never seen anyone jump that high.”
“Do it again,” someone else requested.
Tim yelled, “To the right of the rim!” and pointed. He lobbed his basketball. Again, Traveller caught it then jammed it through the hoop.
Everyone in the gym was watching this time. “Hey!” one of players from the ISU basketball team yelled. “Want to play half court four on four?”
Jesse looked at Tim who looked at Bill, the guy from the football team. They nodded yes to each other then looked at Traveller. “Wanna play?”