Tyreke Evans walked into the locker room before the game holding a large box. He set it down and opened it, revealing a purple, green, and yellow cake.
“Look what I got us! A little something special for Mardi Gras! A kingcake! I thought we could have maybe a little snack before the game. Everyone grab a piece!” There was much commotion as the assorted members of the Pelicans grabbed pieces for themselves.
“No, Alexis, you don’t get that one. That big piece is for AD. He’s the best player, he gets the best piece.”
Anthony Davis raised his unibrow. “Uh, thanks Tyreke. I really appreciate it.” He grabbed the large slice of king cake from his teammate and began to scarf it down noisily.
Greg Stiemsma looked digusted. “Man, have some manners. You eat like a pig. Didn’t your mother ever tell you to keep your mouth closed while eating?”
Davis shoveled down the cake without pause as he responded. “I like food. This is how I enjoy it. It makes the flavors come out so much… OUCH! What the hell?” He dug into his mouth and pulled a small plastic figurine of a baby, covered in purple frosting and cake bits. “The hell is this? Yo, ‘Reke, is this your idea of a joke? Get the franchise player killed?”
Tyreke was laughing. “That’s the whole point of a kingcake, man. There’s a little baby inside and whoever gets the slice with it wins the prize!”
“I like prizes. What do I get? A night with your girlfriend?”
Tyreke went over to the door. He motioned, and from it came the Pelican’s kingcake baby mascot, its plastic eyes painted a demonic red and its mouth agape with blood dripping onto its bib. The terrifying vision lasted only a second before the lights went out. A low and distorted voice emanated from the baby.
“You’re the winner, Anthony! Congratulations! You receive… THE PRIZE!!!!!”
In the now darkened locker room the baby made its way to where Anthony Davis stood. The baby grabbed him and began to perform a mockery of a dance with him.
“Come on! Don’t you like to dance? I’ll make you dance if I have to!
The now very distressed superstar’s eyes went wide as he felt the baby’s scrawny arms made their way towards his neck, and start to grab hold. He screamed, pushed the nightmare baby out of the way, and ran. He slammed into several teammates and walls before locating the exit. His silhouette could briefly be seen fleeing the room before the door slammed behind him.
Tyreke turned the lights back on. Luke Babbitt reached up and took the head off the baby suit, revealing the Darth Vader helmet, microphone, and amp used to create the vocal effects. He took off the helmet as well, as the Pelicans laughed.
“It’s lucky that this head is so damn big so I could fit all the gear in here. But damn, this suit is warm! I don’t know if the human body is meant to have that many things on its head. Tyreke, couldn’t you have moved that along a little quicker? I feel like I’m gonna die. And where’s my piece of cake?”