Alexey excitedly punched the familiar number into his phone and waited with a big smile as it rang. After much ringing, it was answered. “Hi Shabazz! This is Alexey!” he greeted to his best friend Shabazz Muhammad.
“Oh hey man what’s up, you actually kinda got me at a bad time, I really can’t talk right now, sor-”
Alexey interrupted his best friend’s explanations. “Guess what, friend Shabazz! Alexey gets trading to New York Knicks! I was thinking, to celebrate, I invite my best friend out to dinner in new city so that I can telling you all fun thing that happen in my life since we last time hanging out.” He had already dressed himself in his fanciest suit for the occasion, so excited was he to meet up with his friend.
“Alexey, I don’t know if you understand,” Shabazz began. “But it is really inconvenient for us to hang out when I’m here in Minnesota and you’re there in New York.”
Alexey continued to smile. “Houston was far away. New York is much closer, yes?”
There was a pause and a sigh on the other end. “Yes, technically, New York might be a bit closer. I don’t know. But, Alexey, we can’t go out for dinner. It’s just not happening.”
Looking down at his fancy clothes, Alexey’s smile turned to a frown. “Oh. I understand friend Shabazz is having busy life. Maybe tomorrow we can-”
Abruptly, Shabazz disconnected, and Alexey sadly pushed the end call button. Immediately, he dialed the same number again. The smile had returned to his face as he imagined what a fun time he and Shabazz would have, for they were the best of friends.