Prepared for the attack, he wore his bathing suit, an old T-shirt, a snorkel mask, and flippers. The large group that gathered roared at the costume. Vince smiled and bowed. He knew how to gin up a crowd. Ayo stepped up first, likely feeling his oats having bested Vince at hoops earlier. So, basketball wasn’t Vince’s game. Did the youth pastor need to bring him down another notch? Ayo pitched the ball. It flew past the target. “Whoa. Gettin’ a little tired there ole man?” Vince always knew how to goad the kid who barely looked old enough for his new bride. Ayo squinted, tossing the ball in one hand, bouncing it off his bicep, and catching it. “Well, aren’t you talented?” Ayo wound up and missed again. John lobbed him another ball. “One more makes three.” Ayo pitched just as someone yelled in the distance. It flew off course and that was the end of that. Vince lifted the snorkel mask. “D’you forget your glasses.” Ayo grabbed another ball from John. “Hey,” Vince called.
