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“Hey, Mo, are you ready? We’re going to be ready for our boxing match. It starts at 8:00 pm,” Mina’s leather duffle bag was hanging on her left shoulder, she had her tight, black leggings on, and was waiting frantically by his front door while looking at her watch.
“Have you seen my Boxing shoes?” Mobo yelled out from the inside of his bedroom.
“Which ones?You have shoes that are from the Stone Age. I still don’t understand why you never throw out any pair of shoes,” she answered back, “or any pair of socks,” she mumbled, but that part he didn’t hear.
Mobo came out of his bedroom completely agitated, already sweaty, and looking like he was about to lose his mind. “I need to find those sneakers, they’re black, with orange soles, and bright green laces,” he stated.
“Why? Mo, you have a good thirteen more pairs of sneakers in your closet. Why do you specifically need those shoes?”
“You don’t understand. These are my lucky sneakers. If I don’t wear them then I will definitely get beat up today.”
“ You believe in luck? From a pair of really old, and smelly shoes?” Mina rolled her eyes and then thought about how that was the most disgusting thing Mobo did-save all his shoes and socks, regardless of age; he even had bags full of old and holy socks in one of his many closets and the old shoes in plastic boxes. And then there was that other new thing Mina noticed that was disgusting- Mobo putting the bag of open chips in the refrigerator making them lose their flavor and got stale quickly, which was something she noticed a few days prior when she dropped salsa on her new shirt. It was those little quirks that Mobo had that drove her absolutely insane and that completely grossed her out.
Upon hearing Mina’s statement, he stopped looking for his Boxing shoes, walked up to Mina, and gazed confusingly into her eyes. “Yes, Jas. I do. Every time I don’t wear them I get punched in specific places, usually the ribs, and they break. And you know how long it takes for ribs to heal...and it’s uncomfortable being anywhere with broken ribs,” he explained.
“Yeah, I know that too well. A few months ago I broke a rib during a match, I won’t tell you which rib, and I had the most grueling surgeries to do that month. AJ thought I was going crazy because I kept ‘walking funny’ according to him, but I know I wasn’t. That nut always sees things no one else does. He even made me do a bunch of tests and then scolded me when he found out about my ribs. He benched me for a week...and then un-benched me because he ‘needed help’. That nitwit.”
“Well, then you might understand why it’s crucial for me to find the pair.”
“No...I still don’t...but if it’s that important to you…” and she sighed, “then I will help you find these disgusting shoes.” And she dropped her duffle bag and started to look under the table, and then proceeded to look under his sofa. “I found them! And I’m not touching those nasty sneakers, who knows how much crap is on them.... Now let’s go,” and she went to the door.
“Oh thank goodness! I was getting nervous,” Mobo said and he rushed to the sofa.
“Why did you have shoes under the sofa anyway? You always put all of your shoes neatly in the closet and dirty clothes in the hamper. I don’t get it.”
“I must’ve been too tired and probably took them off there. Could’ve been the day I slept on the couch perhaps,” and he shrugged, sat on his couch, and proceeded to put his black sneakers on.
“Gross. Absolutely gross,” she said while shaking her head, “ You know...I can go with you to the store to buy you some new Nikes after I go meet with my immigration lawyer tomorrow, if you like.”
“Immigration lawyer?”And he walked up to Mina, who had her duffle bag back on and was waiting patiently by the door, and put his hand on her shoulder.
“Yeah...I need to go sign some documents and get some information.”
“On…?”
“My 0-1 VISA was approved. After three years I will need to extend it yearly. So... I no longer need to worry about having to be deported when my VISA expires. It’s actually very exciting.”
“Well, you don’t look so excited. You look-”
“-determined? Yeah, because all my focus is getting to the Match on time and kicking some a**. Let’s go already, Mo.”
“I’m going, I’m going. And no way in hell do I need new boxing shoes. Also, let's celebrate after the Match,”he said as he grabbed his duffle bag, that was next to the sofa, and headed out the door.