the basketball on the cracked asphalt behind the high school gym. Th

hird chance.

. My brother, Leo, had looked at them, his face unreadable. That night, he' d locked me in my room. The

in the stands just for me. The night before, Leo made me a glass of water. Said I needed to b

was s

ith a top scout. He believed in me. He was the closest thing

turning in early, exhausted from practice. I faked sleep until I heard the

I m

d played the game of my life. The scout, a woma

h, Maya," she said

that meant

was breathing free air. This was it. The ticket out of this ru

ed the f

ing in the d

d up. In his hand was the thick lea

" he asked, his

. I got it. I think I

rward. "I told y

my voice cracking. "You ca

cross the shoulders, and a hot, sharp pain seare

dn' t

house. They must have carried, because

g okay in there?" It was

door and opened it. Mrs. Gable and her husband st

greement," Leo said

Gable said, trying to peer

lled out a folded, worn piece of paper.

it. Concern melted away, replaced

ook at me. She handed

aya," she said, her voice soft and sa

ed away, leaving me