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says.
    Liam sets a screen and Staley hits a wide-open shot.
    â€œNice work.” Staley slaps his hand.
    Plainview turns it over on a traveling call, their third in three trips down the floor. Seth is right. They’re terrible. It’s easy to see why they haven’t won a conference game thisyear. Gund shoots from the top of the key with his lips puckered and the ball bounces off the rim. Liam grabs it and goes back up for two.
    â€œGood board,” Gund calls.
    On defense, Liam boxes out his guy to keep him away from the hoop. He watches the shot and anticipates where the miss will bounce off. On offense, he fights for openings and pushes past his guy to grab the ball. So much of rebounding is desire, about wanting the ball more than anybody else.
    Drake fumbles a pass in the post and Liam dives for the loose ball. Hands reach to take it away from him. “Time-out. Time-out,” he calls.
    The ref blows his whistle. “Time-out, Red.”
    â€œThat’s the way to fight for the ball.” Coach pats Liam on the back. “That’s the type of hustle we need.”
    Liam sits with the starters as Coach diagrams the out-of-bounds play on his whiteboard. “Time for one shot. Drake, set a back screen for Staley. Staley, break to the corner. Bergie, hit Staley with the pass when he comes off the screen.”
    Staley turns to Liam. “After you pass it, go straightto the hoop. You can beat your guy for inside position if I miss.”
    â€œOkay.” Liam nods. He feels more a part of the team than he did last game.
    â€œRed ball.” The ref points to the spot. Liam takes the ball and waits for his teammates to set up in their four corner positions. He slaps the ball to start the play and Nielsen sets the screen. Staley flies to the corner. Liam delivers the pass and then rushes to the hoop for the rebound. Staley buries it.
    â€œThat’s the way,” Coach shouts. “Team basketball.”
    As the first-half buzzer sounds, Drake approaches Liam. “Good hustle.”
    â€œThanks.” Liam wipes sweat off his face with his jersey.
    â€œWe missed you this morning.”
    â€œWhat?” Liam panics. Was there an early practice?
    â€œHAF,” Drake says as they walk to the locker room. “I told you about it.”
    â€œSorry. I forgot.”
    â€œDon’t forget. Every Thursday morning at my house. I expect you to be there.”
    In his room, Liam picks up the framed picture of Mackenzie from his desk. Her dark hair hangs down to her shoulders and her mouth is half open in a sexy smile. He looks into her brown eyes and imagines kissing her good night.
    A raw-red floor burn stings his left knee. He must have picked it up diving for the ball. He didn’t feel it during the action, but now it hurts. It’s a small price to pay for such a good game.
    He burrows under his duvet as the wind whips against the window. “Hail Mary, full of grace,” he recites the words Mom taught him as a kid. He’s said them so many times that their rhythm is comforting. He’s grateful to Coach for giving him so many minutes. He’s grateful that he played well. He’s grateful that they won by twenty-two and nobody got hurt.
    He thinks about his day and how he treated people and what he could have done better. He didn’t get into any major arguments with anyone. Mom was sleeping by the time he got back, so he didn’t argue with her about cleaning up his room, preparing for his future, or wiping up cat vomit.
    He rolls over onto his back. He could have gotten up early this morning and gone to see Grandma. She might have liked that. There’s lots more stuff like that he could do to be a better person.
    He prays a final Hail Mary and gives thanks for his first varsity win, even though Plainview stinks.

06
HWJC
    â€œDid you get my package yet?” Mackenzie asks the second Liam answers his phone.
    â€œNo. What is it?”
    â€œA