Page 31 of Bless This Hot Mess

Ronald, rolling a bright red suitcase behind him, turned toward them, his expression a mix of surprise and exhaustion. “Lady, I’ve had areallybad day, and you’ve just made it worse,” he muttered to the ticket agent before storming over.

As Ronald approached, Japheth couldn’t help but notice how different Ronald looked today. Dressed for his big tryout, Ronald was wearing a sleek, fitted basketball jersey in jet black, with his last name stitched proudly across the back. His shorts, the same absurdly low-hanging kind they’d clockedyesterday, somehow stayed miraculously in place despite drooping precariously low across his backside. A pair of spotless white sneakers completed his outfit, clearly selected thoughtfully for his big moment.

“Rebekkah, Japheth, what are you guys doing here?” Ronald asked, his voice tired but curious.

Rebekkah stood up, smoothing her floral dress and then working on the complicated buttons of her military coat. “We’re skipping town.”

“On the run,” Japheth added dramatically, shooting Ronald a grin.

Ronald raised an eyebrow, “From what?”

“Oh! Not really. We’re not runningfromanything,” Japheth quickly clarified, awkwardly waving his hand.

“We’re runningtowardour dream,” Rebekkah said with a glimmer of hope. She was digging deep to find her footing by setting an example of bravery for their new friend and reluctant Trinity member. Ronald didn’t seem to notice, still thoroughly caught up in his own drama.

“That bus ticketauthoritarian,” Ronald bellowed over his shoulder at the ticket booth, shaking his head in frustration. “She won’t refund my ticket, and now I’m out $17!”

Rebekkah’s brow furrowed in concern, “Why do you want a refund? Aren’t you supposed to be going to an audition for the Harlem Globetrotters?”

Ronald let out a long, defeated sigh, “Not anymore.”

Her face softened with sympathy, “Why not?”

Ronald threw his hands in the air, “Because those Harlem Globetrotters are a bunch of heightist jerks!”

“Heightist?” Japheth echoed, confused.

“Yeah,” Ronald scoffed, crossing his arms in annoyance. “Turns out, you have to be at least six feet tall to try out for them, and I’m,well… not that.”

Rebekkah gasped, shaking her head, “Oh, Ronald, I’m sorry!”

Japheth, always quick to defend a friend, chimed in, “They’re probably a bunch of… a bunch of… douchebags anyway!”

“Japheth!” Rebekkah reprimanded, though she couldn’t entirely suppress a small smile.

“Sorry,” Japheth said sheepishly, surprised by his own outburst.

Ronald’s voice dropped, his bravado suddenly replaced by something more vulnerable, “You know how you were saying that that Jesus guy had his twelve best friends who he travelled with? And ate with? And slept with, and stuff?”

Rebekkah hesitated, “Well… kind of, yeah?”

“Well,” Ronald continued, cautiously, testing the waters of trust. “I love basketball, but the reason this is really breaking my heart is because I… I thought if I got on the team, I’d havethat. My people. That’s what a great team like the Globetrotters can be; your boys, but also like your family.”

Japheth’s voice softened, understanding settling in, “Oh man, Ronald, we’re so sorry. What a stupid rule! If they only saw how amazing you are. The waywesee you. Those giant dumb asses would realize what a mistake they’re making by not letting you audition.”

Ronald’s lips twitched at the corner. “Try-out,” he corrected.

“Yeah,” Japheth nodded enthusiastically. “Listen, maybe you’re only five foot… two?”

“Three!” Ronald corrected, standing a little straighter.

“Five foot three!” Japheth echoed, nodding as if this extra inch was obvious. “But I bet you’re really not short where itcounts.”

Rebekkah chimed in, vouching her support, “Exactly!”

Ronald’s chest puffed up slightly as he confirmed, “I’m not!”

“It’s all about perspective,” Japheth assured him.