Courting Miss Thang, page 34
The players got dressed without emotion. The team boarded a bus to Newark’s airport and left New York. The plane was like a mortuary, until it reached Canada. At least 12,000 faithful Raptors fans crowded Pearson Airport. The players saw this, while the plane taxied into a stall, and were immediately enlivened.
The huge crowd was well controlled. Working swiftly, Mounties and troopers cleared a narrow path into the terminal. Suddenly, the human wall, which had kept the surging crowds in place, gave way and a tidal wave of fans engulfed their Raps. Fortunately, nobody was hurt. After an hour of embracing, handshakes and kisses, the Raps departed, more or less intact. But not before Bruce led a losing-victory cheer. “We’re number one!’’ the crowd responded uproariously, We’re number one!’’ For the players, it was heartwarming to know they were appreciated at home, no matter what.
Vincent arrived home at 4:30 in the morning. Frences was asleep on the floor, Misha on the couch, with the television watching them. They had wanted to greet him at the door, win or lose. He crept passed them, gathered the remote off the coffee table, and cut off the TV. He removed his jacket and fell back into the easy chair.
“What a season,’’ he exhaled.
Although he would go on to win two championships with the Toronto Raptors, the season he met his soul mate would be his favorite.
Frences awoke to the darkness. She could hear the light snoring of her baby, and feel the presence of her man. She saw his slumped body in the easy chair and crawled over to his big, long legs, coming up between them. She got to her knees and kissed his parted lips. His eyes popped open.
“I love you,’’ she said.
Vince whispered, “We lost.’’
“I know,’’ Frences exhaled. “It’s all right, though. They were lucky. We’ll get them next time!’’
Vinny smiled.
Suddenly he didn’t care so much. Fuck the Knicks, the Slights, Noreen and Troy and anybody else that ain’t down for my happiness.
He took a deep, exploring look at his woman. Love sprinkled to all his tired joints. That right there was the feeling he never wanted to forget. He reached down and kissed her with that feeling leading the way, holding the back of her neck.
Frences licked her lips, staring into her man’s lusty eyes. “Wow, what was that for?’’
“I love you, too.’’
About the Author
A native New Yorker, Thomas Green was a hard news reporter for the New York Post, and covered sports for Gannett’s Westchester, New York affiliate. He was also a writer for The City Sun, an African American paper out of Brooklyn. He now resides in Atlanta, Georgia. You can holla at him @ Thomas@chocolatechipproductions.com.
Thomas Green, Courting Miss Thang
