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laughing, kissing, and holding hands?
    â€œBuddy, let me explain.” Dad rushed over like he was putting out a fire
.
    â€œDaddy, who is she?” At ten, I didn’t understand all the rules of the adult world, but I knew this woman wasn’t my mother and that my father shouldn’t be kissing her
.
    â€œMick, listen, she’s an old friend of mine,” he’d said. “It’s not what you think, buddy.”
    â€œBut you were—” I started, not really knowing the right words to capture what I saw, not knowing what I should feel, only knowing my father wasn’t telling me the truth
.
    â€œYour mother doesn’t need to know about this, you understand,” he’d said, then put his hand gently on my shoulder. “You have to promise not to tell her about this, buddy.”
    â€œBut—” I stopped when Dad’s gentle touch turned to a hard squeeze
.
    â€œMick, look, I’ll explain all this later,” my father said, butI knew that was a lie, too. “Do I have your word? Your word, Mick, is your bond. I can trust you, right, buddy?”
    If I promised my dad, I let him betray Mom. If I told Mom, I was betraying him. My hands stayed by my sides, my eyes on the floor, and I walked away unsure what to think, feel, or do. If you were me, what would you have done?

Fourth Period
    I hated PE, but it was the only class in the day where I saw Brody, although he was late as usual. I guessed he was in the principal’s office. Since he was no longer on the football team, Brody caught crap from everyone for everything. I tried to make a quick change in the locker room, but Rex Wallace cornered me.
    â€œWhat’s up, 151?” Rex said to me, then smacked my arm.
    â€œWhy do you call him 151?” some stupid jock standing behind Rex asked.
    â€œIt’s because I’m so smart; it’s my IQ,” I said.
    â€œNo, it’s because he’s a drunk like Brody,” Rex replied, his voice loaded with contempt.
    â€œWhatever,” I said.
    â€œBob and Rusty told me they caught you staring at Whitney at the bus stop,” Rex said, his voice all puffed up like his chest. “Don’t even think about it.”
    â€œThink about what?”
    â€œYou already blew it with Nicole, but anybody could have seen that coming,” Rex continued, pushing his finger into my face. “Face it, loser, you’re out of your league.”
    I wanted to tell him,
I know that, Rex, but I’m trying real hard to forget it
.
    â€œJust let Roxanne do you again,” he said as he smacked my arm.
    Before I could respond, I heard Brody’s thundering voice. “Knock if off, Rex!”
    â€œRelax, Brody,” Rex said, then turned to face him.
    â€œDon’t tell me what to do,” Brody said, then spat at Rex’s feet.
    â€œYou have no discipline,” Rex shouted. “You cost us a state championship.”
    â€œAnd you have no dick,” Brody shouted back. “And no balls!”
    â€œTake it back,” Rex said.
    â€œYou take back what you said about me,” Brody shouted as he took one step closer.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Rex said, taking one step back.
    â€œI know it was you,” Brody said as he tilted his head to the left. He looked a little crazy.
    â€œWhat are you talking about?”
    â€œYou turned me in, you ratted me out.” Brody jabbed his finger hard into Rex’s chest.
    Rex took another step back. “Don’t blame me for something that’s your own fault.”
    â€œThat’s not the point,” Brody said. “You don’t rat out your friends.”
    Rex tempted fate and facial injuries by letting out a small laugh as he said, “Brody, you were my teammate, you were never my friend.”
    Brody responded not by shouting, but by whispering, “If it was you, I’ll kill you.”
    Rex staggered back, just as Coach Simpson arrived. He was