precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish but punish with impunity.
Kobe is a good friend of mind, since I was 5.
He was the son of our family's personal chef.
I came from the Ginobilli family from the southern part of Argentina.
A family of basketball realm.
Good and amazing players -- MVPs.
A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes the redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself as such to him has done the wrong. Neither by word or by deed had I given Kobe cause to doubt my good will. I am still me, I continued, as was my habit, to smile in his face, play and practice with him.He did not percieved that my smile was at the thought of my defense and the thought of his immolation.
This Kobe was my playmate until now, we play basketball.
He became my best friend and brother. We went to the same school.
He is bright -- not quite far from me, he enjoys scholarships and so me.
He is my teammate, my colleague. He is undeniably masculine and girl-magnets, feared and idolized by many.He is happy. He just have it all. He prided himself in the sport. His enthusiasm to this makes him MVP which is adopted to suit the time and the opportunity. Kobe was indeed sincere in his athletic career. In this respect, I did not differ from him materially -- I was skillful in basketball as well, in fact I earned my 3 consecutive MVP awards before he do.
It was dim part of twilight, when I encountered this friend of mine at the locker room after the heavy trainings during summertime. He approached me first, wearing only the shorts and a towel wiping all over his sweat. I was so pleased seeing him that I thought I should never have done wringing his hand.
"It's good to see you again!" I said.
"Same here, I just came from a one month training for the New York Huskies, I was given a chance to be trained by their amazing players and hopefully to play with them this coming season." he proudly said.
"That's a good news. Hope you can make it. You're good, just be cautious with your health."
I replied
"Yah, I constantly and religiously take my vitamins and my energy drink." he added.
"Good! Talking about energy drinks, Dad has stocked much of the newest and most expensive and good drink in town, would you mind if I invite you to drink it with me?
It's been months when I last shared a drink with you."
"What's that drink?"
"It's the newest Mojitos"
"The Mojitos! Quite expensive. Stocked by your dad? Amazing! "
"Come let's go!"
"To your house?"
"Yes, to the place where we once play the whole day."
Our tree house, it was intentionally made for the two of us, not above the tree but inside the tree, a big tree, the trunk open, cave-like tree under the stony woods 50-meters away from home.
Thus, Kobe came with me. We got the drink and started walking towards our playing habitat.
We brought flashlights, walk and walk..A picture of tiredness masked his face.
"Are you tired? We can go back, I am concerned with your health, you are good, respected,idolized like I once was.
You are about to play for the next season." I said.
"No this is nothing, it won't kill me. No one died because of fatigue."
"Yah right!" I replied
"Perhaps, this tiredness I felt will be gone after I drink the Mojitos." he surely said.
And so we arrived on the place where our childhood years were painted.
We got inside the tree, it became a smaller space for us, we indeed grew. We sit.
"Drink,"I said presenting him the drink.
He raised it to his lips with a leer. He paused and nodded to me familiarly.
"I drink," he said, "to the trees and woods and ghosts around us. and to our childhood memories!"
"And I to your long life and basketball career."
"This tree is terrific and awesome. It is indeed made for us. Amazing!"
"The Ginobilli,"I replied, "made this for us, my great family."
"And your basketball realm!"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
He seemed to enjoy the drink, it seemed taste good on his unconscious taste buds.
"Here, more mojitos."
"Relish with it my friend, its good for you." I said
"Just continue and I'll get some woods to produce fire to give heat to this place."
Kobe didn't mind my exit. I carefully piled stones, boulders and medium sizes in front of
the tree. Partly conscious, he asks;
"What's that my friend?"
"Nothing! Just go on. I will do things for you now, I'll be pleasing you here." I said.
For a brief moment I hesitated, I trembled. Unsheathing my rapier, I began to grope with it about the recess; but the thought of an instant reassured me.
As I said those words I busied myself in piling the stones. While realizing that Kobe has been 75% intoxicated. I continued doing my thing, I did it vigorously to wall up the entrance.
A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the inside of the tree, seemed to trust me violently. For a moment I hesitated to continue, I trembled. But the thought of an instant reassured me. I surpassed them in volume and strength. I did this.
It was now midnight, and my task was drawing to a close. I had completed the eighth, the ninth and the tenth stone. I had finished a portion of the last and the eleventh; there remained but a single stone to be fitted and plastered in. I struggled with its weight; I placed it partially in its destined position.
"What are you doing to me my friend? A joke?" he shouted.
"Yes a very good joke my friend, a joke that would fit with your mojitos."
"The mojitos are about to be done and gone."
"Yes my friend, and let you be gone too my friend!"
"I beg you, for God's glory!"
"Yes, for God's glory. ha-ha-ha!"
"The moji...tos..." with the voice losing its sound.
"Kobe!"
I grew impatient.
"Kobe!"
No answer.
I called again but no answer again.
I got my gasoline and lighted the match.
A fire came around the tree.
Slowly eating it all up.
"Farewell to you my friend!" I said.
"You may now take your break forever!
"May you rest in peace!"
