David and Cheeto resumed their way to the center. It was almost 3 P.M. when they arrived and most of the kids were there by then. The scene was chaotic as usual. Cheeto and David reached the front desk where they had to sign in.

"Hi Cheeto!" said the Cleo at the desk.

"Hey girl. How's your pretty-self doing?" asked Cheeto leaning on the desk with a suave smile.

"Shut up Cheeto. Don't try to be smooth. You're not smooth," said Cleo jokingly as she smiled at Cheeto. David fought to keep from cracking a smile having just heard this not long ago.

"Chingao (Damnit)! You all be communicating or what?" Cheeto asked out-loud. Cleo keep smiling not understanding what he meant.

"If you are looking for Claudia, she's not here," said Cleo, certain of Cheeto's longings.

"Psh! I ain't even here to see her," replied Cheeto, indifferent of the thought.

"Ni me preocupa donde este (don't even care where she's at). I got other business to handle know-what-I-mean," he said winking at Cleo then looking at David for corroboration. David returned a blank gaze and shook his head while Cleo continued to smile at Cheeto politely. Neither knowing what Cheeto meant.

"Shup up Cheeto!" Cleo squeaked with the mannerisms of a jubilant fourteen year old, pleasantly amused by him. Cheeto flashed his smile, which he seemed used to end every sentence with.

"Pero si no esta? (So she's not here?)" broke down Cheeto and asked discretely.

"Cheeto you are so helpless," replied Cleo sympathetically.

"No, she's not here. I think she's running late from one of her classes. She'll be here though, don't worry," she reassured him.

"I guess we'll go see what the enanos (dwarfs) are doing then," said Cheeto referring to the kids.

"Oh-my-god you're so mean!" Cleo said as Cheeto and David made their way inside.

The two walked in to kids clamoring to greet Cheeto as was always the case. Only this time David too was greeted by them. The children took notice of his bruises and bandages as children are prone too. Some became frightened of his 'deformities' as the children understood them.

Others would stare at him as if he had monkeys growing on his face. And some would straight up asked him what happened and if it hurt and was he a monster or if he was going to die like Michael Johnson's older cousin whose cuts looked just like David's and his brains leaked out of them and he dieded when he laid down.

Of course there was no such kid Michael Johnson, and David only had a few cut and bruises. After a few minutes of this, the kids move on to something else. Cheeto and David then made their way to the playground where once again kids played ball and some danced and sang.

On an isolated patch of grass played Sammy with the luchador that David had given him. Sammy played not so much with the toy as along with it. He talked to it as if it were alive. He had even named the toy 'Paul'.

Sammy played unaware of the rest of the world around him. He was immersed in a world all to himself. The rest of children left him alone for the most part.

Sammy noticed Cheeto and David come out into the yard and with his new found courage, and Paul, braved the crowd of kids and walked up to the guys.

"Hola mi (Hello my) Sammy! Y ahora (And now)!?" said Cheeto surprised to see Sammy push his way through.

Sammy paid no attention and pushed Paul in the direction of Cheeto.

"Tu y tu mono (You and your toy)," said Cheeto indifferently.

Sammy didn't care. He shrugged Cheeto's comment and made his way to David to show off Paul. David for his part nodded approvingly and with this, Sammy ran off with Paul on hand pleased with his accomplishment.

Cheeto continued to bask on the attention being given to him by the rest of the kids leaving David to look around. It was a habit he developed while on patrol in his deployments. It wasn't something he did intentionally, just a reflex.

As he did, he caught a glimpse of a group of older teens walking around the fence on the far side of the playground. They were on the outside and their stance and demeanor were such that it made it seem as if they were stalking the kids inside.

Maybe it was just David's imagination or paranoia. He thought of what the Capt'n said about leaving the issue alone so he ignored the older teens. He noticed the group stopped across the street and figured that was the end of it. A few minutes later he saw a familiar group of kids coming the same way. It was the jocks that Cheeto had played against and their little leader Allen.

David figured they were on their way into the center when he saw the older teens call on them. Only Allen responded, not unlike a younger brother responded to an older brothers calling. Allen hesitated and tentatively approached the caller, while the rest of the children in the yard kept playing.

Cheeto was lost somewhere else but his voice could be heard while David continued to focus on Allen and the group of teens. David could not see Allen anymore as the older teens had engulfed him, blocking David's sight, who only saw their backs now.

After a minute, Allen emerged looking around him, holding his back pack with extra care. David again reverted to his time patrolling the cities of Baghdad.

"The more you try to act natural the more attention you call to yourself," he thought.

David found a bench to sit down as he fought a sudden urge of anxiety. He tried to remain calm. He didn't want to jump to any conclusions, as if he was expecting something in particular. So he sat, tried to distract himself by looking at the rest of the kids play.

A few minutes later, which felt much longer, David heard the group of kids emerge, a familiar voice amongst them.

"What-ever, that fool don't scare me! I be like 'Detention?' You can detain diz nutz!'" said Allen exuberantly grabbing at his crotch.

"You're such a liar. You never said that. Stop lying!" replied one of the jocks in the squad.

"Yeah I did! You don't know, you weren't there!" adamantly replied Allen.

"Then why aren't you in detention?" challenged the same kid.

"Because Mr. Green is too much a bitch to do anything," replied Allen with a smug grin.

The squad then laughed and cheered on their ring leader. By this point they were well into the playground. Their voices lost in the sea of chatter as other kids came up to them and the group continued to walk in further.

The group of kids made its way to the basketball court which was not in use, as if on reserve for them. They settled down as more kids joined and eventually even Cheeto found himself seeking their company. David too decided to make his way over to them at this point.

"He too old. He can't hang with the league no mo'," David heard Allen arguing with someone, most likely Cheeto.

"He's still in his prime. Plenty of other athletes be playing at that age," said Cheeto.

"Yeah like who?" tauntingly asked Allen.

"Lot's of soccer player son," replied Cheeto.

"Soccer! Nobody cares about soccer. We talking about real sports here. Men sports!" replied Allen as the rest of the group scoffed at Cheeto who was losing the argument to a child.

"Yeah Cheeto, come on soccer?" butted in David into the conversation not sure what it was about.

"You too? Don't knock on the number one sport in the world. Come on man, you Mexican you know better," said Cheeto appealing to David's heritage.

"Woah, look at you! You got your ass beat!" said Allen as he and his squad saw David's bruises.

"Yeah, yeah you kids are late to the party. Everyone already commented," replied David getting annoyed at all the remarks.

"Yeah well, you still look like crap," replied Allen.

"Old man maybe you can help settle something since this fool don't know nothing 'bout sport," said Allen referring to Cheeto.

"You think Jordan would be able to hang in the league with all the better players of now?" asked Allen.

"What makes you think they are better?" asked David.

"Come on man they are younger, bigger, stronger," replied Allen.

"Don't count the old man out yet. Old guys can still surprise young pups every now and then," replied David alluding to their earlier encounter.

"Whatever, he'd still get worked," conceded Allen not wanting to re-live that episode.

"How's that shot coming along? You still owe me," asked David casually.

"I'm working on it. Don't worry I'll get it down. It aint even that hard," replied Allen.

"Well then show me," challenged David.

"Chill'ax man! When I'm ready. Don't wanna do nothing half-ass alright. Wanna perfect it, get it down before I be busting things out on the court. This is sacred ground you know. Gotta respect it," replied Allen.

"Ok little man, I can respect that. Take your time, I'll be around," replied David walking away.

yZ˯