Stories and Paintings
Stan ate only a piece of toast and a mouthful of bacon; he left his eggs and caviar untouched. With his head hanging low, he trudged back upstairs, mulling over the morning’s cruel newspaper headlines. In the main bathroom, he brushed his teeth then stared at himself in the enormous mirror. He inhaled a... Continue Reading →
With a gentle whir, the automatic blinds drew slowly back across the bedroom window, allowing the 6am sunshine to bestow its light and warmth upon the peaceful face of Stanley Berserkervich. Stan squinted, mumbled, then rolled over and stretched. He laid on his back and rubbed his eyes, then stared up at the ceiling... Continue Reading →
After arriving in Denver, Ray and Carl checked into a modest hotel. Ray believed an unannounced visit to Peter Zdunowski’s home that night would not be well received, and that it would be better to approach him then next day. Carl agreed, saying he had come up with the same idea. Around eleven... Continue Reading →
Ray nodded. “He had a condition… It was why his body had grown so tall so fast. He was such a huge presence on the court, tough to guard, and defensively… when he was on his game, no one got past him.” “Hold on,” said Carl, turning in his seat to face Ray. He flipped... Continue Reading →
Late that afternoon, having observed the new Dunk Force squad’s three-hour training session (the last hour and a half of which consisted of watching an educational film entitled Racial Inclusivity and Healing in a Multicultural Society—Part 6: The Sub-Humanness of White People), Ray and Carl were driven to a nearby airfield. As Ray stepped... Continue Reading →
Ray made his way around the court, back to where Larry was waiting for him. “So, what do you think?” asked Larry. Ray looked about the arena. “It’s a damn joke. You have half a team—maybe. But they don’t know what they’re in for. I don’t know if they’re up to it.” “We don’t... Continue Reading →
Ray took a cup and held it beneath the cooler spout. As he continued to watch the players, he poured himself some of what he assumed was an energy drink. He raised it to his lips and took a long sip, then dropped his cup and bent forward, choking and spluttering. As his chest... Continue Reading →
Carl crossed the court, smiled at Larry then turned to Ray. “Is this him?” he asked Larry. “This is Ray Elwin,” said Larry. “Ray, this is Carl Derrick. He’s overseeing team preparations.” Ray and Carl shook hands. “Great to meet you, Ray,” said Carl. “I’ve heard a lot about you.” “This is the new... Continue Reading →
The building entrance was dusty and rusty compared to the last time Ray set foot through its bullet-proof glass sliding doors. The red, white and blue paint in the foyer had dulled over the years, and cobwebs now draped the long, bare reception counter. All the furniture was gone, along with the framed photographs... Continue Reading →
Ray’s mind returned from memories of battles past and focused on the task at hand. A new Dunk Force team. How would it compare to the original? Players today had extraordinary natural talent, but how many young men with such talent would be willing to forgo the fame and fortune of an NBA career... Continue Reading →
