The man in the red shirt had been defending Jason up until now. He took a sip out of his cup that was on the table before continuing.


    "Listen Jeff, I get that you''re a little salty as a 3D fan but your hot take is just a tiny bit too hot for me.


    I get that Kyle was a huge part of Jefferson''s defense. He locked down the paint and acted as a safety for the rest of the team.


    But Jason is the heart of their offense and defense. This kid is like a coach on the court whenever he''s out there.


    He sees ys before they even develop and he directs his guys on the best way to handle it. I get that their short roster is probably going to be their undoing.


    But I think they can go at least two games deep into the tournament. I think that Jason has that star yer quality and that alone is worth at least two wins."


    Jeff chuckled before waving his hands in denial "Hey hey cool it there Tucker. I might be a 3D fan but that doesn''t mean that I''m biased.


    I''m a born and raised Riverside boy okay? If anything my bias would be in favor of Jason. But I don''t let my biases affect my judgement unlike you and other people.


    In my opinion Jason is just too small and he''s just not athletic enough to force two wins at the state level."


    Tucker put his hands up helplessly "Sometimes talking to you feels like I''m talking to a stone wall. Let''s make a bet out of it.


    If Jefferson can get 2 games deep into the tournament then you have toe on the show in a chicken costume."


    Jeffughed as he shook Tucker''s hand "You know that I never run from a bet. Especially ones that I''m sure to win.


    When Jefferson gets bounced out of the tournament after their first game I want you to show up in a baby costume. Diaper and bottle, the whole thing. Does that sound like a deal?"


    Tuckerughed as he shook Jeff''s hand "Oh you got a deal. I hope you don''t end up regretting this Jeff."


    Tucker then looked at the camera "Thank you for tuning in folks. I hope you guys stay because after a quick break we''ll be talking about the new fish p challenge that''s been blowing up online. New Trend or potential health hazard? Come find out when we get back."


    - - -


    The restuarant was silent as both the kids and the adults didn''t know what to say after hearing what the Jeff had to say on the TV.


    Udonis looked at Kyle and saw that he was staring at the floor with a sad expression on his face.


    The rest of the guys were also feeling down as the conversations that had been going on previously were now dead.


    Trell pounded on the table with both of his fists "What the hell! That dude looked like he ain''t even touched the court once in his life. Why the fuck does he think he got the right to talk shit about us?!"


    DJ tapped him on the shoulder before pointing to the table with the parents "Yo chill out bro. You need to watch yonguage."


    Trell looked over at the parents table before putting his hand up "Sorry Ms. Robinson, my bad."


    Trell''s attention went back to his own table. This time he was talking a little more quietly "I meant what I said tho.


    All the pro yers had nothing negative to say about Jaya so why the hell does the guy with the huge beer belly think he can talk all this shit?"


    Udonisughed "Bro you know how it is. Real recognize real. All the people talking smack are just living room coaches."


    After everyone''s attempts Trell finally calmed down a bit. It was just in time too as the waitress began to bring in everyone''s orders.


    She had multiple tes stacked on her arm and shoulder as she walked around the table. When she got to Jason she was all out "Sorry hun I gotta make another trip for yours."


    When she came back she had another small mountain of tes on her arm and shoulder. She put all of them down in front of Jason.


    She wiped the sweat off of her forehead with the small towel in her pocket. She then put the towel away and smiled at Jason.


    "The boss told me to bring out a few extra tes. He said that he''s seen your appetite on TV and thought that you would appreciate it. It''s all on the house of course."


    Jason smiled brightly at the waitress "Wow! This is all for me?! And it''s free?!" The waitress found Jason irresistibly adorable as she lightly pinched his cheek.


    "You bet it is sweety. He also told me that dinner was on him tonight. He said that we couldn''t charge our own hometown hero.


    He just wanted to ask if it would be okay to get a picture after you guys were done with dinner."


    Jason didn''t seem to mind the waitress'' pinch as smiled and nodded his head. But after nodding his head he paused.


    "The picture is alright with me but I think you should double check with my parents just to make sure."


    The waitress found Jason''s thoughtfulness even cuter "I have a little boy and he just turned 3. I hope he turns into a fine young man like you when he gets to your age."


    The waitress walked over to the parents table and told them about how the owner was a huge fan of Jason''s and how he wanted to treat the team out tonight.


    At first the parents objected. Even though it was nice to be treated out they were feeding a whole team of basketball yers as well as themselves.


    They had ordered a lot of food. But after some convincing on the waitress'' part they agreed to having the owner pay for their dinner.


    And when they heard that all the owner wanted was a photo with Jason and the rest of the team after they were done with dinner they happily agreed.


    And so the whole team as well as their parents were treated to dinner by the owner of the restaurant.


    The boys had a wonderful time as they stuffed their faces with delicious American Italian food.


    Afterwards the waitress even brought out some freshly made chocteva cake with a scoop of vani ice cream for each of the tables.


    After everyone was done eating a man dressed in a white tee shirt and blue jeans walked toward their tables.


    He was about 5''8 (1.72m) and his body seemed to be in pretty good shape. His bald head shined under the lights of the restaurant almost as brightly as his sparkling white teeth.


    He walked over to the table of the parents first. He smiled at them "Thank you guys for choosing Valentino''s as the location for your celebration.


    My name is Valentino Morelli and yes I named the restaurant after myself haha. As a huge basketball fanatic and a born and raised Riverside kid I am a huge fan of Jason and Jefferson''s team.


    I hope that I''m not being too pushy but I would love to get a photo with Jason and the rest of the team. The photo would be the pride of this restaurant.


    Jason''s parents as well as the others happily agreed to letting Valentino take a photo with Jason and the rest of the team.


    He was clearly excited as he stood next to Jason along with the rest of the team. It almost seemed like he was fangirling.


    Afterwards everyone walked out of Valentino''s with smiles on their faces as their stomachswere stuffed.


    Everyone began walking toward their own rides. As Jason was about to walk with his parents to the car he realized something.


    Trell had gotten a ride from the school to the restaurant with DJ and his parents. Jason walked over to Trell "You''re not gonna catch a ride with DJ and his parents again?"


    Trell smirked "Nah bro. DJ and his folks is from a nice neighborhood. I wouldn''t want to give em ate night spook havin em drivin down to my ce."


    Jason frowned after hearing that "I know that you''re tough and that you can take care of yourself Trell but you shouldn''t be taking the bus thiste at night by yourself.


    Even if you got the body of someone that''s grown you''re still just a kid. Why don''t you just get a ride with me and my parents."


    Trell shook his head "Nah dude don''t do that. I''ll just take the bus." Jason looked Trell straight in the eyes.


    "Why don''t you just let us do this for you? Remember what Coach Swendel and Udonis said? This team is a second family. And family always got each other''s backs."


    Trell sighed "Jason.... That''s why I don''t want you and yo folks to give me a ride." Jason was surprised by what Trell had said.


    Trell continued "You and yo folks have been nothing but great to me. Same thing with Kyle and his mom.


    But that''s even more of a reason for me to not want you to give me a ride. I didn''t want to ask Kyle for a ride because I didn''t want to remind him and his mom that I''m a street dude livin in a ghetto ass ce.


    And I don''t want your folks to see where I came from. I don''t want them to see that part of me." Jason was caught off guard by what Trell had to say.


    Jason was putting his brain into overdrive as he thought of a solution. After a few seconds a name popped into his mind.


    Jason pulled out one of his phones and dialed a number "Yo Amare. How you doing bro? Nice nice, hey I know it''ste but could I ask you for a favor?"


    Jason got the quickest yes that he had ever gotten. After Jason gave his location Amare hung up the phone.


    Jason looked over at Trell and smiled "I got you bro. One of my friends ising over to give you a ride. And you don''t have to worry about anything because he''s from the same neighborhood."


    Trell nodded his head "Amare, that''s one of Marcus'' guys right? Sometimes I forget that you got some of your own connections."


    Jason waited for Amare to show up. After seeing Amare and Trell drive off Jason made his way over to his parents.


    He smiled at them as he apologized "Sorry about that. Trell didn''t have a ride and I didn''t want him to have to take the bus thiste."


    Both of his parents smiled back before hugging him. Jason''s mom patted him on the head "There''s nothing to be sorry about sweety. You were just taking care of your friend."


    Jason''s dad nodded his head "There''s nothing moremendable than a man taking care of the people that he values."


    The three of them walked to their cars before driving off in satisfaction. On the way home Jason couldn''t help but look up at the sky through his window ''Wow. Does the moon always look this pretty?''


    - - -


    A few dayster. The sounds ofughter and excited chatter mixed inside the arena as Jasonced up his shoes.


    ''First game of the state tournament. Let''s go Jaya. Let''s show these haters what kind of team they were talking smack about.''