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Ronde said. “Maybe it will work out fine.”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œTruth gets out one way or another, sooner or later. And since no one had the guts to tackle it face-to-face with Sugar, maybe this was the only way to move things forward.”
    â€œForward? I hope I didn’t just push things off the cliff!”
    â€œWell,” said Ronde, “if worse comes to worst, I guess I’ll have to be there to pick up the pieces.”

9
THE HEART OF THE MATTER
    For days, Sugar Morton had barely spoken to Ronde. Ever since they’d been interrupted by the sight of Sugar’s mom in the parking lot, it was as if Ronde was getting the silent treatment.
    Now, in the visitors’ locker room at Blue Ridge Junior High, getting suited up before their crucial game against the Bears, Sugar still kept his distance. He sat deep in thought, staring at his locker, his hands joined between his knees.
    â€œYou okay?” Ronde asked him gently.
    Sugar turned to him with a bitter expression on his face. “Yeah, man. I’m great. Fantastic. Never been better. Why?”
    It was a challenge more than anything. Obviously Sugar was far from fine. What he was really asking Ronde was Do you want to mess with me?
    Ronde backed off, but Sugar wasn’t finished. “Oh, and tell your brother I read his column, and that I’m not stupid.”
    â€œHe never said you were,” Ronde pointed out. “And who says that column is even about you?”
    Sugar repeated, “I’m not stupid.” And that was all he said. It was game time now, and any further talk would have to wait.
    Ronde, too, had to put all questions out of his mind and concentrate on the game. The Eagles really needed this one, after a string of defeats. In fact, they needed to win all their remaining games to finish with a winning record.
    That was the goal Coach Jackson had preached to them all week at practice. In all his years of playing organized ball, Ronde had never been on a team with such modest goals. Every team he’d ever been on—even in Pee-Wee League football—had made the play-offs at the very least!
    Suddenly, Ronde could feel the sting of it. He knew it was just a taste of how he would feel if this team didn’t finish above .500.
    Coach came up to Ronde and pulled him aside. “I’m not starting you,” he said, “even though I’d like to. You and Sugar won us the game last week.”
    â€œMe and . . . ?” Ronde couldn’t believe his ears.
    â€œYou play great defense, Ronde. Besides, Sugarseems to like you—or at least, he likes playing with you.”
    Ronde nodded. Coach Jackson obviously hadn’t heard the exchange he’d just had with Sugar.
    â€œIt’s just . . . I just can’t do that to Rory,” the coach finished. “You understand? He’s been the starter ever since Brian Reynolds left for military school. It would kill whatever’s left of his confidence.”
    â€œTotally,” Ronde said. “I’m down with that.” He’d been in Rory’s position too, and he knew what getting benched felt like.
    â€œBut be ready,” Coach Jackson said, squeezing Ronde’s shoulder. “You won’t be sitting long. We’ve got to win this game. When you get your chance, you have to be ready and run with it.”
    Well, thought Ronde. That much is good, at least. The coach was acting like he cared, like he wanted victory with all his heart. And that, as Ronde well knew, was how you built a winning team.
    Ronde watched as the game began. Bobby Dominic was getting pushed around by the Bears’ center under the basket. He kept yelling for the officials to call a foul, but Ronde could tell that Rory was just too skinny and weak to hold off the pressure of the big players Blue Ridge had up front.
    Rory was having trouble getting free. The Bears’ shooting guard was on him every step of