Chapter 18. Before the Attack

“Hey, man!” a guy with a towering frame and chestnut blonde hair hollered at Mark from the bleachers. He put a hand on his forehead to block out the sunlight rays and tried to recognize the guy.

“Maybe it’s just one of these college dudes,” he mumbled with a shrug.

He stood there and waved at the anonymous guy. He refocused on the basketball net, tossing the basketball into it and retrieving it. It was a simple habit that produced relaxing effects on his mind. Hitherto, his head felt heavy, but now it had lightened up.

The anonymous guy approached him, smiling more brightly than the sunshine. They fist-bumped, the guy sizing up Mark.

Mark noticed that he had some freckles scattered on his nose and under his chin. He looked at the guy weirdly, “Do I know you?”

“Naw, man. You’ve probably seen me around, but there are a million and one faces around here, so I thought I’d come over and introduce myself for a lasting impression.”

“Okay-y?” Mark replied