Cedi Osman stood outside the door to the visitor’s locker room, arguing with the security personnel who guarded it. “I need to see LeBron,” he repeated, not wanting to sound like he was pleading but not being able to help it.
“Yeah, you and everybody else,” said the portly, sunglasses-wearing man.
Cedi pointed at his Cavaliers jersey. “But we played together last season. We’re friends.”
“Doesn’t matter,” replied the guard shortly.
Cedi Osman walked to the wall opposite the locker room door. “Then I’ll just sit here and wait,” he announced. So there he sat, back leaning against the wall, waiting for LeBron James and the rest of the Lakers to emerge for the game.
Finally, the door opened and a player emerged. Cedi got to his feet, ready to greet his old friend. However, the player was only Brandon Ingram, so Cedi sat back down, disappointed. He noticed the guard snickering at him, and, feeling his face grow red, he vowed not to get up again until he was sure that LeBron was walking through that door.
Many more minutes passed, and it seemed like most of the Lakers team had left the locker room. But there was still no LeBron. Just as Cedi was beginning to think that he had somehow missed him, the door opened one more time. There he was.
“LeBron! LeBron! It’s me!” Cedi exclaimed, running towards his former teammate. The security guards immediately acted, standing between the two players.
“Cool it, I know him,” LeBron said to the guards, who had been lightly holding Cedi back with their arms. “‘Sup Cedi. How’s the team without me?”
Cedi’s immense happiness at seeing LeBron was dampened slightly be the reminder of how poorly the Cavaliers were faring. “Not good,” he answere sadly. “I don’t know how we’re ever going to win another championship without you around.”
“You’ll figure out a way,” LeBron replied, patting Cedi on the shoulder.
“When are you coming back?” Cedi asked. “Did you request a trade yet? I bet we still have your old jersey you could wear.” Then a thought occurred to him. “You could even play for us tonight!”
LeBron laughed and shook his head. “I think they’d fine me, man. Anyway, I gotta go. See you on the court.”
“Yeah! See you LeBron!” Cedi said, his positive spirit having returned. “I’ll be so clutch, you’ll wish you had just paid the fine to be on my team instead of yours!”
“I bet,” LeBron said with another laugh. Then, he walked down the hallway and disappeared. Cedi, meanwhile, went back to his own locker room. He was going to play so good that LeBron would definitely want to come back to them.