Impossible Dreams
Chapter 1

"You know that new guy?" Candy asked Lauren on their way out of
the Madison Square Garden. "You waved to him."

"Yeah," Lauren said, tidying her hair as a gust of wind blew them
all over her face. "I knew him when I was fourteen. We went to
the same high school."

"So he's back to his hometown now?"

"Yeah, he's from Brooklyn," Lauren said. "He was a senior when I
was a freshman at school. I was on the cheerleader team, and he
was on the basketball team."

"Well," Candy said. "I suppose not a very good one. He didn't
even play a minute."

"He can be really good," Lauren said. "I don't know what went
wrong with him. He was a first round pick and was drafted into
the Lakers. He didn't get much playing time because they had an
all star point guard in the starting lineup. Then he got into
some drug abuse scandals and had been silent since then. I hope
he'll learn from his miserable years and get better."

"How do you know he can be really good?" Candy said, as they went
down the stairs to the subway.

"Well," Lauren said, "He led NC to the NCAA quarterfinal twice,
even though they were beaten by UConn both time. He'd also been
on the All-ACC Team twice."

"Oh, I see," Candy said. "But aren't most NBA players once an
All-American player?"

"That's true," Lauren said, giggling. "There's more. It's a very
funny story."

"I'm listening."

"Okay," Lauren said. "It was back when we were in high school. We
were there in the gym, after the practice. Nobody was there,
except the players. Well, we were there, too, some of the
cheerleaders. We were going to go out. I don't remember who
started it, but then, someone called a bluff on Rick."

"His name is Rick?"

"Yeah, Richard Hart. Everyone calls him Rick. Anyway, yeah, it
was the shooting guard. Rick was the point guard. I don't
remember the shooting guard's name, but he's cute." She giggled
with Candy.

"May was his girlfriend," Lauren continued. "She's one of us.
Anyway. It was about making 3-point shots. That guy must have
been challenging Rick on that. Then Rick dared that guy and May.
He said if he could make ten 3-point shots in a row, May would
sleep with him. If he couldn't, he'd lose a grand to them."

"How did they get so much pocket monies?"

"The star players had non-commercial sponsorship. They sold the
merchandises," Lauren said, laughing.

Candy also laughed. "So he made the shots?" she asked.

"Yeah, he made them all."

"And she slept with him?"

"No," Lauren said, laughing. "She went for double or nothing."

"How?"

"She managed to get another cheerleader to join in. Well, she
asked me first, but of course I wouldn't. I wasn't that stupid.
Anyway, the new deal was if he could make twenty in a row, he
would sleep with both of them. If he couldn't, she's free."

"So he made twenty?"

"Yeah," Lauren said, laughing hard. "And the couple split shortly
afterward."

"Wow," Candy said. "Twenty in a row. That's really amazing, isn't
it?"

"Amazing?" Lauren said, turning over to look at Candy. "That's
impossible!  It was a record, even though not official. It was
historic. Nobody's ever done that before. Nobody's ever done that
afterward. Even playing only half that well would guarantee that
he'd be MVP every year."

"Well," Candy said. "I guess you should tell Don Wilson about it.
"I bet he'll get a dozen call girls to stand by."

"Forget about Don Wilson," Lauren said. "If he was of any good,
we wouldn't be having all these star players who play like grade
school kids."

A train approached as they were laughing. They got into the
train.

"How did that girl bait the new girl in?" Candy said.

"She used her boyfriend," Lauren said. "Offering him to sleep
with her. Yeah, I remember now. His name is Mike."

"And you didn't want it?"

"Well," Lauren said. "Mike was cute, but not really my type.
Actually, I was still a virgin back then. And, what's more, Mike
slept with anyone. So, if I had wanted him, I could've just waved
at him in the gym, like this."  She waved her hand at Candy, and
laughed.

"So that's why you didn't take the offer."

"Well, it's one of them. And I wasn't stupid."

"You knew Rick could make it?"

"I didn't," Lauren said. "Back then, I had no idea how difficult
it was. But I'd been told that he could make anything happen if
he determined to."

"Who told you?"

"Uncle Frazier," Lauren said. "He's not really my uncle. He lives
next door. He used to coach Rick before he was fired by the
school."

"For what?"

"Beating a player," Lauren said, laughing. "He beat Rick, sending
him to the hospital for a few stitches."

"Oh, they hated each others?"

"No, on the contrary, they love each others. I know Rick loves
Uncle Frazier dearly. He had been supporting him even after being
beaten badly, but couldn't save his coach's job."

"So, it looks like you know Rick quite a lot."

"Well," Lauren said, smiling. "It's like growing up together.
Rick still comes to see Uncle Frazier, even after he went to
college and later on when he's in the NBA. I saw him quite a bit
until I moved out. Yeah, I think I know him more than any of the
star players in the team, much more."

"Ever slept with him?"

"Nah," Lauren said. "Not my type."

"Because he's black?"

"Well," Lauren said, glancing left and right. "That too." She
giggled.

"He's rather cute," Candy said. "Especially when comparing to
most other black players."

"And they're so tall it just doesn't match."

"Yeah, that too. I don't know how tall our center Big Mac is, but
I think I can give him a blow job without having to go on my
knees."

Lauren laughed. "Big Mac is 7'2," she said. "But rumor has it
that he's only French fries without his uniform."

"Oh my God," Candy said, bending down laughing. "Any rumor about
Rick?"

"Are you interested in him?"

"Well," Candy said, giggling. "You know the policy. I love this
job. I'm not going to screwed it up. But he's small, I mean
short, I mean his height."

"Well," Lauren said, laughing. "I don't know if he's big or
small. That you'll have to find out yourself. But he's short,
very short for a basketball player. He's 5'10, only three inches
taller than me."

"Is he the shortest player in the league?"

"No," Lauren said. "I have definitely heard about someone
shorter. I think there are like three or four players in the
league who are below six. He's one of them."

"I think I know one who is below six," Candy said. "The Clippers
point guard. You know, the guy who dyed his hair pink at the
preseason game."

Lauren laughed once again. "Yeah," she said. "I remember that.
He's an idiot. And yeah, he's below six. I remember after that
pink hair show, he said on TV that he'd like to dye his tattoos
pink if it's possible."

"He has the most tattoos on his body, is that right?"

"I don't know," Lauren said. "All I know is he has tattoos all
over his exposed skin. I also know if I see him in the street at
night, I'll think I've been sucked into Monster Inc."

Candy burst out laughing. "Oh my God," she said. "You're killing
me. Anyway, I don't mind pink hair, but those excessive tattoos
are a real turn-off for me."

"Me too," Lauren said. "Actually I think pink hair will be a
turn-off for me as well, bright red might be okay."

"You're a nut," Candy said, laughing with Lauren. "Does Rick have
many tattoos?"

Lauren giggled. "Okay," she said. "I'll try to find his phone
number for you."

Candy giggled, too. "No," she said. "I'm just curious."

"He has a few," Lauren said. "But I don't know if he has added
more since I last saw him about two years ago."

"Oh, okay," Candy said. "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Okay," Lauren said. "He has a Pluto on his left shoulder. He
showed me a tattoo once and I told him it was stupid. So when he
was thinking about a new one, he asked me. I told him to put a
Tweety on his butt. He said he would if I had one myself. Of
course I wouldn't. So eventually he had a Pluto."

"That's too funny," Candy said, laughing. "I nearly had Winnie
the Poof here." She pointed at her tummy before going on. "I'm
glad my sis managed to talk me out of doing it, or I wouldn't be
able to get into the dancer team."

"You're lucky," Lauren said. "I've heard it's awfully painful and
expensive to remove them. Speaking about cost, is his head shaved
or is he still wearing his hair in braids? I think I didn't pay
attention."

"Hmm," Candy said. "I think he's shaved. Actually I'd prefer they
keep their hair curly. What about you?"

"I've never thought about that," Lauren said. "I guess not. I
don't even like to have my hair permed."

"I don't either," Candy said. "I don't even like my hair long.
But I may try growing my hair. I kind of like the way your hair
flows in the air when your head sways. Which shampoo do you use?"

"Lancôme Intense," Lauren said. "You?"

"Umberto Beverly Hills," Candy said. "I may give yours a try."

"If you want to try it," Lauren said. "I think I have a couple
samples."

"Okay," Candy said. "Hey, feel like dining out? I'm getting sick
of eating cold sandwiches everyday."

"Sure," Lauren said. "Charlie's Kitchen?"

"Sure."

When they were waiting for food at the restaurant, Lauren heard a
buzz coming from her pocket.  She pulled out her phone.

"Hello?" Lauren answered her call.

"Hey, Rick!" Lauren said into the phone. "I'm fine, thanks. Know
what? We're just talking about you. Oh, I see. Well, yeah, I knew
you had signed with the Knicks. Well, did you give us your
number?  Alright, alright. No, not tomorrow, I can't. No, no, you
idiot, we have a home game on Friday. Okay, okay. Saturday night.
Yeah, I know where it is. No, no, I'll go pick up mom and Uncle
Frazier. Okay, see you then. Bye."

"It's him, Rick," Lauren said, laughing. "He wants to see us. He
says I should have called him. Why can't he use his brain?  How
on earth would I know where he lives?"

"How can he find you?"

"He called Uncle Frazier," Lauren said. "Uncle Frazier called my
mom."

"What does Uncle Frazier do now?" Candy said.

"He's kind of retired," Lauren said. "Sometimes he teaches the
kids how to play basketball here and there. It's kind of weird."

"What's weird."

"Well, my dad used to be his buddy. They both drank a lot. They
drank during their lunches, they drank when they watched
basketball games together, and they drank while bull shitting.
But even my dad didn't know anything about his family."

"Oh," Candy said. "A root-less man. By the way, I have never
heard you talked about your dad. Where's he now?"

"He passed away four years ago," Lauren said. "Liver problem. He
drank too much."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's okay," Lauren said. "Uncle Frazier's been like mom's big
brother since then."

"How old is he?"

"I don't know," Lauren said. "I think about sixty five to
seventy. May be Rick will know."

"I see," Candy said. "Oh, yeah, do you need sneakers?  An outlet
is offering some odd size shoes to the center at a big discount."

"You know my size," Lauren said. "Any whites will do."

"Okay," Candy said. "By the way, have they given you that MTV
job?"

"Oh," Lauren said. "I nearly forgot. I'll have to ask Nessa."

"You know," Candy said. "I'll never go to audition with you
again. They're always watching you and drooling, and leaving me
in the corner crying."

Lauren laughed. "You're silly," she said. "I think it's because
they want a blonde. Next time take a wig with you."

"What about your dimples?" Candy said. "How do I fake one, or
both?"

Lauren laughed again. "With a pin?" she said.

Candy slapped Lauren in the hand as she laughed. "What about your
breasts?" she said. 

Lauren nearly fell off her chair. "You're a riot," she said,
laughing. "You have nicer ones."

"Nah," Candy said. "Seriously, I'd rather have yours, even though
yours are a little smaller. Mine sag a bit too much. I think you
can do Jazz without wearing a bra."

"Shut up," Lauren said, laughing. "I always wear one, and stuff
some cotton inside to make mine look as good as yours."

------------------------------------------------------------

Lauren went into her apartment, kicked off her sneakers, and hung
her jacket in the closet. 

"Won or Lost?" her roommate Vanessa said from the couch. She was
watching a sitcom on TV.

"Lost again," Lauren said, carrying her bag to her bedroom. "A
bunch of worthless million dollar men." 

Vanessa chuckled. "Hey," she said, raising her tone. "I got you a
photo still job."

"What kind?"  Lauren said, coming out of her bedroom.  She had
changed into a bathrobe.

"Head shot, web page," Vanessa said. "Five hundred bucks. They
want a long haired blonde like Elisha Cuthbert, but with their
budget they can't have anything better than you."

Lauren faked a kick at Vanessa as she laughed. "Studio?" she
said.

"Yeah," Vanessa said, laughing.

"When?"

"Friday at four-thirty," Vanessa said.

"Damn," Lauren said. "I can't. Home game."

"Oh well."

"Dye your hair blonde and go take the job. You'd wanted to dye
them anyway."

"If I had your face," Vanessa said. "I would have."
 
"You have a pretty face."

"They want a prettier one," Vanessa said, giggling. "And a more
pleasant smile."

"Oh well," Lauren said. "Hard luck. Oh, by the way, still no
response about the music video shooting?"

"Oh, sorry. I forgot to tell you. Another talent agency got the
job."

"Oh, well," Lauren said. "Hard luck again. But still, thanks for
doing them for me." She went to take her shower.

------------------------------------------------------------

Lauren hadn't been to a steakhouse for more than a year, partly
because her ex-boyfriend considered it a costly gimmick, and also
because all of her jobs required that she keep her fitness.

Rick rose from the table to give a hug each to Uncle Frazier,
Lauren, and her mom. Lauren had always found it funny to see a
basketball player only three inches taller than her.

"Hi, Mrs. Gasol" Rick said. "How've you been?"

"I've been fine, thanks," Lauren's mom said. "Derek says you are
now playing for the Knicks. I hope you can do what you did at
North Carolina."

"We'll see," Rick said. "Let's order food first."

While waiting for their food, Rick said. "I didn't know you're a
City Dancer, Lauren."

"It's my rookie year," Lauren said. "It helps my exposure."

"Do you still teach dancing?"

"Yeah, I'm still a dancing instructor. You know the dancer job
practically pays nothing, don't you?"

"Yeah, I know," he said. "Still not married?"

"Did you get my invitation?"

"No," Rick said, staring at Lauren. "I didn't. When are you
getting married?"

"You didn't get the invitation," Lauren said, smiling. "That
means I didn't send you one. I don't have one to send out."

Rick laughed with the old folks. He also shook his head.

"Actually," Lauren said. "I don't even have a boyfriend now, got
any referral?"

"Well, the guys I know, you won't want them."

"That bad?" the mom asked.

Lauren laughed before Rick responded. 

"Did I say something wrong?" the mom said, looking at her
daughter, then at Rick.

"No, mom, you didn't," Lauren said. "Okay, Rick, tell her."

"Nah."

"Come on."

"Nah."

"Okay, mom. The next thing he'll say is, they're worse than him,
and I might as well be dating him."

The mom and Uncle Frazier laughed together again.  "Then why did
you ask?" the mom said to Lauren.

"So I can smack him," Lauren said, laughing.

The mom laughed once again as Uncle Frazier shook his head.

"By the way," the mom said. "Rick, I heard you got divorced. Is
the kid with her?"

"Yeah," Rick said. "Almost two years now. Yeah, kid's with her."

"So where do you live now?" Lauren's mom said.

"Forest Hills," Rick said.

"Why not Brooklyn?" the mom said. "I'd been to the house you
bought for your folks. It's very nice."

"Pros don't live in Brooklyn," Uncle Frazier said. "They usually
live in Westchester."

"Then why don't you live in Westchester?" the mom asked Rick.

"I ain't making that much money," Rick said, a little hesitantly.


"How much are you making now?"

"About seven hundred forty grand this year."

"My God," the mom said, gapping. "And that's not that much?"

"In the NBA," Uncle Frazier said to the mom. "A million dollar is
like the minimum five-and-a-half you make flipping burgers.  He's
making below minimum."

"Wow!"

If he had not done those things to screw up his career," Uncle
Frazier said. "He should be making more than ten million by now."

Rick began looking very uncomfortable.

"How big is that diamond on your ear?" Lauren said, switching
topic.

"Three carat and eighty. Like it?"

"Makes you look gay," Lauren said, giggling.

I can show you I ain't gay," Rick said, looking Lauren up and
down, smiling.

"Not even in your dreams," Lauren said, laughing with a little
flush on her face.

Lauren's mom shook her head. "Jesus," she said.

"Rick," Lauren said, after the meal. "Do you mind taking Uncle
Frazier and mom home?  I have to get up very early tomorrow
morning."

"I'll take you all home," Rick said. "Where do you live now?"

"Near Interfaith hospital."

"You'll get off last then," Rick said, as he gave the tag to the
valet parking attendant. 

After dropping off Uncle Frazier and her mom, Lauren moved to the
front seat and Rick drove her home.

"Where are you going tomorrow morning?" Rick said.

"WB 11 Morning Show," Lauren said.
 
"Dancers' appearance?"

"Yeah," Lauren said, while studying the console of Rick's car.
"Looks like it's loaded." 

"The car?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah," Rick said. "Fully loaded. Like it?"

"Nah," Lauren said. "How much?"

"Why not?  It's big, it's nice. Feel it, all leather. Listen to
it, surround sound stereo," Rick said, patting the seat and
turning on the CD as he described the features.

"Well," Lauren said, reaching forward to turn down the volume.
"You're driving this car like you're a chauffeur."

Rick laughed. "Then why didn't you stay at the back?" he said.

Lauren laughed, too. "Actually, sounds good," she said. "I'd
never had a chauffeur before. How much?"

"Not even for the prom?"

"No," Lauren said. "My date borrowed his dad's car, but on the
way back, he smashed it into an ambulance. Moron!"

Rick laughed. "So no romantic moments that night?" he said.

"No," Lauren said, laughing. "So how much?"

"Seventy-two," he said. "Altogether. I paid forty-nine after
trading in my previous one."

"Did you buy it here?"

"Nah," he said. "I bought it while I was in Memphis. I ain't
going to buy a new one until I know I'll be signed next year.
This is just a one-year contract."

"You haven't played for a minute so far, have you?"

"Nah," Rick said, letting out a long sigh. "They should've given
me more chances."

"Chances are in your own hands."

"What do you mean?"

"You should have worked harder."

"I work very hard, man," Rick said. "I'm one of them to show up
earliest. I stay behind to practice my shots. I had some tough
years, so I know I have to work harder. You have no idea."

"Well," Lauren said. "Yeah, I have no idea. But Uncle Frazier
should, and he's always been saying you don't work hard enough."

"He has no clue," Rick said, with an intimidated expression on
his face. "I just ain't getting no luck. I just need a chance."

"I think you had your chances," Lauren said. "I still remember
watching a game at Uncle Frazier's place last Christmas. You came
off the bench and played like an idiot. You hesitated when you
were completely open, and made shots when you had hands in your
face. I think you turned the ball over at least three times.
Uncle Frazier nearly smashed his TV."

"I didn't play well in that game," Rick said weakly. "Yeah, I
admit. But every player has his ups and downs. I just happened to
have my downs that night."

Lauren took a deep breath. "I think it's about your mind," she
said. "I told Candy your story." She giggled.

"Candy?"

"Yeah. The girl who was with me the other night when you saw me."

"Oh, that brunette. She's also a dancer?"

"Yeah."

"What story?"

"Do you remember those twenty 3-point shots?"

"Yeah," Rick said, smiling. "Of course I do. You ain't going to
believe it. That chick was very reluctant at first, but she was
like..."

"Damn it," Lauren said. "Don't talk to me like that."

"Oh, oh. Okay."

"Anyway," Lauren said. "I told Candy the story. And I said if you
could play like that now, you'd be MVP every year."

"Man," Rick said. "That was just good luck. I had prepared to
lose a grand when I picked up the ball. You know it's
impossible."

"I didn't know," Lauren said, laughing. Then she went on. "But
Uncle Frazier had said you could make anything happen if you had
the determination."

"He's been expecting too much from me," Rick said. "I ain't no
Michael Jordan, and even MJ ain't good enough for him."

"But you had the determination that evening," Lauren said.
"Didn't you?  And, at least for that evening, you made the
impossible possible."

"Yeah," Rick said. "I couldn't lose to that moron. I had to teach
him a lesson, and I really wanted to screw that... What's her
name?"

"You're a jerk!"

"Huh?"

"You're a jerk."

"Oh," Rick said, and laughed. "Okay. Sorry, ma'am."

"So, you see, when you had the determination, you did it."

Rick became silent. "Well," he finally said. "Actually, we were
all so high during that dare thing, they could have doubled me
for another round and..."

"Oh my goodness," Lauren interjected.

"What?"

"Two weren't enough?"

Rick laughed. "Not that," he said. "Actually, not two, just one."

"Huh?"

"The other girl," Rick said. "The one who came in for the double.
I didn't sleep with her."

"Why?"

"She cried," Rick said, laughing. "So I let her go. I thought you
all knew."

"Oh," Lauren said. "I didn't know that. Okay, go on. If they had
doubled you for another round."

"Okay," Rick continued. "If they had doubled me for another
round, I'd be so stupid I'd have agreed to anything. Not even a
robot can make forty in a row."

"Not enough girls there."

"No, I think there were," Rick said, and turned over to smile at
Lauren.

"I'm not stupid enough to do it," Lauren said, giggling.

"Forty is totally impossible," Rick said. 

"I don't know," Lauren said. "But, not even eighty. I won't."

Rick glanced at Lauren, smiling. "What about eighty for this
car?"

Lauren laughed. "You really are a jerk," she said. "No! No! No!"

"I'll throw in my earring."

"Shut up!"

"Half of my contract this year?"

Lauren looked at his face. "You're out of your mind," she said.

"So you're in?"

"No," Lauren said, holding her laughter. "Now, shut the fuck up
and drive."

"Chicken," Rick said. "Easy money and you won't take it."

"I said shut the fuck up. You know I won't sleep with you, no
matter what."

"Because I'm black?"

"No," Lauren said, looking away from Rick. "Because we are
friends, close friends. I don't sleep with friends."

"So," Rick said, after a brief moment of silence. "How have you
been? Why did you quit college? You never told me."

"Well," Lauren said, looking out of the window. "Some big
mistakes. You know, big mistakes when you're stuck with the wrong
guy."

"Boyfriend?"

"Whatever you call it," Lauren said. "Expensive lesson. And, no,
I'm not quitting college. I'm going to finish it one day."

"Why not now?"

"Are you insane?"

"Why?"

"I don't even have time to date, with two jobs, both taking up a
lot of time."

"You virtually don't make anything from the dancer team."

"I don't," Lauren said. "But I love it, and the exposure and
potential is huge. Getting into a dance team is, I think, tougher
than getting into the NBA."

"What about the main job? You can quit it for school."

"Are you insane?"

"Why?"

"Who's going to pay my bills?"

"Well," Rick said, after another momentary silence. "You said we
are friends, close friends. I can give you a loan. And, no, you
ain't gonna sleep with me for that."

"You know," Lauren said, smiling at Rick. "You finally made my
day. It means a lot. But no, I will do it my way. I know I'm
going to make it."

"Okay," Rick said. "But keep it in mind. It's an open offer for
life."

"Okay," Lauren said. "By the way, you didn't finish your college
either, did you?"

"I didn't," Rick said. "You know I went for the draft after my
junior year."

"Why didn't you finish it?"

"The degree means nothing to me," Rick said. "I went to college
for the NBA, not for the degree."

"Well," Lauren said with a sigh. "It's an accomplishment. When
you start something, you want to finish it. A degree may also
mean very little to me, but I don't want to leave behind
something unfinished. Don't you feel like you miss something you
haven't achieved?"

"I'd never thought about it," Rick said slowly. "Actually, you
know, I'm an underachiever. I haven't achieved anything, really."

"Well," Lauren said. "You know..."

"I know what?" Rick said, when he didn't hear anything from
Lauren after a while.

"Well," Lauren said, and took a deep breath before going on.
"Yes, you've been an underachiever. I've read what the columnists
wrote about you. Actually, I think I've been calling you that in
my mind. But know what?"

"What?"

"You're an idiot," Lauren said. "You've been an idiot. You know
you can do better. I know you can do better. Everyone knows you
can do better. Why don't you do better?"

"Are you okay?" Lauren said, a little later. Rick had been silent
since her last remark, breathing rather rapidly, gripping the
wheel firmly and looking straight ahead.

"Yeah," Rick said slowly, after letting out a long sigh. "I have
been an idiot. But I've also been trying to do better. I will do
better. I will. I promise you I will."

"That's good," Lauren said, smiling. "I'll buy you a beer mug if
you win the MVP."

Rick began choking as he laughed.