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the school board—”
    I leaned forward, a spark of an idea gaining flame. “What if we asked to use the town hall? Some schools do. Much more floor space in there.”
    â€œIt’s worth a try. I don’t think there’d be much issue with the boys, but I don’t know how people will feel about the girls playing in such a public venue.”
    I thought of Blaze’s girlfriend, Nannie Byrd, and her teammates. Those girls had spunk. And my friend Giles, their coach, would be up for any challenge.
    â€œI feel sure we could persuade them once they agreed to a venue change for the boys. But we need another incentive. Football is still the bigger draw as far as spectators.”
    What would bring people to a game in a time of war? Spontaneous energy pulled me to my feet. I paced the small space as my thoughts ran in circles, honing in on a proposition that would multiply our chances of gaining the town hall for our games as well as increase support for the basketball program.
    I looked down. A flyer on the corner of the desk caught my eye.
    If you can’t enlist—invest
    Buy a Liberty Bond
    Defend your country with your dollars
    I snatched it up, held it out toward Principal Gray. “Liberty bonds. A patriotic community initiative, spearheaded by the boys’ basketball team. Nickels turned to dollars. Dollars that will defend our country. ”
    â€œWhat?”
    An excitement I hadn’t felt since Clay boarded the train for camp and left me behind stirred my blood. “The new war bond campaign began two days ago. What if we convinced the town to let us use the hall without charge and donated the admission nickels toward buying liberty bonds at the end of the season? The town hall holds more people, so more money would be raised. Our team would become allies with those serving in France.”
    I couldn’t stand still. Already I pictured the community’s support. “The war bonds could be held in trust for the school district to use when they mature. Thirty years, well out of range for when we’d need a new gymnasium, but it might give them an incentive to at least consider a new gymnasium when the war ends, knowing they have this bit of savings for the future.”
    It could work. For our team. For our school. And if we had success on the court, it could be the reason God wanted me here in Dunn. Or at least redeem me in the eyes of my mother. Maybe even justify Blaze’s time and effort in his father’s estimation.
    Principal Gray tented his hands and tapped them against his mouth. “It could work. It could actually work.”
    I’d already leapt beyond the venue, beyond the money. Now I pictured Blaze’s skill and leadership, the teamwork of the seniors and the burgeoning talent of the underclassmen. If I could inspire them with the idea, sell it as their contribution to their country and to future generations in Dunn, Oklahoma, perhaps we could do more.
    I knew the schools we’d play. We’d be evenly matched—infact, I believed we could beat several of them. It could be our own challenge to ourselves: raise funds for the war, for our school, and leave a legacy of the first basketball team in Dunn to log more wins than losses.
    â€œIt’s a gamble whether the school board will agree to any of it, but nothing lost by trying.” Principal Gray was focusing on a point far away. His thinking look. Then his eyes returned to me. “If you want to propose this, I’ll support you. But you’ll have to take the lead.”
    I dropped into the chair I’d abandoned, suddenly spent. “Absolutely. I’ll enlist Brian Giles’ help, as well.”
    Before Principal Gray could answer, female chatter drifted in from the reception area. I eased from my seat and escaped the gathering in the outer office with nothing more than a tip of my hat.

5
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    I couldn’t shake Jewel’s great sorrow. Not in my