Page 279 of Ruthless Court

Me: Apparently strangers read feelings into microphones.

Hannah: You’ll hate it.

Me: Probably.

Hannah: Then why would you go?

I look through the glass again.

The cat has stretched across two chairs now.

Someone carries a stack of books toward the register.

No basketball on a television.

No athletes.

No people waiting to ask about my draft position.

Nothing here belongs to my world.

That’s the point.

Me: Because you might like it.

The bubble disappears.

For longer this time.

I shove my free hand into my pocket.

Students move around me. Bikes pass. Somebody laughs across the street.

Still nothing.

Then my screen lights.

Hannah: Is there basketball involved?

I knew that was coming.

Me: No.

Hannah: Film?

Me: No.

Hannah: Teammates?

Me: Not invited.

Hannah: Player guest section?

Me: I would rather eat one of your broken pencils.

A laughing emoji appears.

Actual laughing.