“So, how was your weekend?” Mr. Crenshaw looked up from his desk, where he was reading a book that Danny sounded out as Master and Commander.

Danny sat down on the couch and took out the Playaway as well as a paperback copy of Maniac Magee. Then he got right to it. “Do you believe in heaven and the other place?”

Mr. Crenshaw put his book down. “You went to church? Nice.”

“No. My weekend was the other place.”

“So, bad?”

“Maybe worse,” Danny said. “And she didn’t help matters.”

“‘She’ is either your mom, Janey Kurtz, or Ms. Rait.”

“Your girlfriend, and her test.”

Mr. Crenshaw looked at him blankly.

Danny huffed. That was Mr. Crenshaw’s go-to whenever Ms. Rait came up—a blank face. “Ms. Rait.”

Danny told him the story of yet another practice test he’d failed, how he’d studied English instead of going to the bonfire, and the disaster of Saturday’s practice.

“That’s tough. Coach Kinen’s a tough customer.” Mr. Crenshaw moved to the chair facing the couch across the low table where the checkerboard now lay.

“You know him?” Danny asked.

“Faculty meetings. Also, when you were sent to see me, he worked me over pretty good about helping you, so I know he’s on your side.”

“Was on my side,” Danny said. “Everyone was until I got hurt. Now, it’s like I’m nothing.”

“Your real friends don’t think that.” Mr. C moved a checker to kick off a game. “I don’t think that.”

Danny looked at the piece and shook his head. “No, thanks. I’m tired of games.”

Mr. Crenshaw raised an eyebrow. “Some people say life’s a game.”

“Well, there you go. I’m sick of that game too. I’m sick of losing.”

Mr. Crenshaw sat back in his chair. “Come on, Danny. That’s not like you, talking about losing, down on yourself. Life is full of challenges and obstacles. It’s about how we respond when we get knocked down. If someone tackled you on the field, I can’t believe you’d stop playing. You’d get up, take that guy’s number, and run over him the next time, right?”

Danny frowned. “I can’t get on the field. That’s the problem. I’m not gonna get the chance to knock anyone down unless I push someone and they trip over the bench.”

“Things change, Danny. We never know what tomorrow holds.” Mr. C pointed at the book beside Danny on the couch. “I bet you didn’t think you’d be able to read just a few weeks ago.”

Danny looked down at the book and snorted. “When I saw the cover I sounded it out as ‘man-i-ack.’ I had no idea what a man-i-ack was. Then I turned on the Playaway and ta-da! It’s ‘mane-ee-ack.’ How does an ‘i’ make an ‘ee’ sound? The only thing that’s a bigger mess than my life is the English language.”