PROLOGUE
Thomas Warren stood by the window of his second-floor office in the community center.The window looked down on the basketball court in the recently renovated gymnasium—it had been a long time coming.Thomas never thought he would ever be the type of person to sit in an office doing paperwork, but that was what he had spent the last hour doing.
Not only had he never thought about it, but he hadn't considered it at all.He hadn't ever considered being stuck in an office and knew it was not for him; it was a foreign concept for him at one point in time.Everything was different now.He was responsible for numerous at-risk youths, and he would do everything in his power to give them the best chance at a better life.
As he stood at the office window, looking down at the basketball court, he watched one of those at-risk youth.
Mark strode around the basketball court like a fighter in the ring.There was no ball in his possession—the game was long over.Thomas couldn’t see the boy’s features from his vantage point, but he was sure the teenager’s eyes were filled with fire, and his nostrils were flared.
Thomas watched as Mark stormed over to the row of folding chairs that had been set up court-side.Mark didn't hesitate.He kicked the seat of the first one, knocking it over, and that fueled his fire.He picked up the second one and tossed it aside.His bravado grew, and the third one was tossed into another chair, knocking them both down.
Mark stopped and stared at the wall, breathing heavily.Only his shoulders moved up and down, and his chest puffed in and out.Then, he turned his head and looked up at Thomas, perhaps noticing him for the first time.Thomas held the boy’s gaze, feeling the anger radiating from the boy.Thomas didn't look away, even though he knew he was being challenged.
Eventually, Mark shook his head and looked away.He headed for the door, not picking up any of the chairs he had thrown, and when he reached the end of the row of chairs, he swiped the last couple with his arm, knocking them over before he stormed out.
Thomas remained at the window for a few moments more before he grabbed his keys from the desk and locked the door on his way out.He didn't leave immediately in order to find the boy, but he did hope to run into him on his way out.He made his way downstairs, smiling at the fresh paint in the stairwell.
It was another thing he had never imagined himself doing: smiling at fresh paint.
When he got to the main hallway downstairs, he walked slowly toward the exit.
Not long after, he heard a cough from behind, and then heavy footsteps as Mark walked past.
"Hey!"Thomas called before Mark reached the door.
Mark sighed audibly but turned to face the man assigned as his mentor, one of many at-risk kids Thomas tried to help.
"You doing okay?"Thomas asked.
"What do you care?"Mark shot back."What do you want?You think I’m going to stand here and apologize to you or something?You expect me to go back and pick up the chairs?"
Thomas shook his head."No, I don't expect any of that.I just want to know if you’re okay."
Mark scoffed."What are you?A shrink now?You want to get inside my head?You don't want to be in there."
"I’ve already been in there."Thomas tapped his temple."I used to be just like you."
"What, and that—" Mark began.
Thomas held up a hand."I’m not saying that I know what it’s like to be like you, Mark, and I’m not saying I had it as hard as you, I just want you to know that I understand some of what you’re going through."
Mark scoffed again before flashing a wry smile and shaking his head."You don't know crap, man.That’s all you grown-ups want to do.Lecture us about life because you have all this wisdom, right?"
Thomas chuckled."Don't come to me if you want any wisdom.That’s something I’ve lacked severely throughout my life.When I was your age, I was already in a gang.In another two years, I was in jail for assault.Three years after that, I was in jail again.This time, for possession.I had that sentence extended for almost killing a man in prison.Don't even know why I did it.The order came from outside."
Mark looked like he was trying to put on a brave face, but he had paled a little, and his wide eyes showed surprise.
"Yeah, well, none of that’s my problem, is it?"Mark asked.
"No, and I hope it never is."Thomas smiled."Listen, we all have stuff going on, yeah?The tournament’s tomorrow, and we’d love to have you play, but if you do anything like that during the game, you’re out, alright?I don't want to do that to you, but I will.I won’t tolerate any of what I saw back in the gym, okay?So, did you get it all out back there, or do you need to go back in and toss around some more chairs?"
"I can go back and clean up if that’s what you need.I just don't need you hassling me."
"Go home," Thomas ordered."I’ll pick up the chairs.Lord knows people had to clean up after me enough times.Just go easy on yourself."
"Yeah, whatever," Mark said.
He hesitated a moment, and Thomas thought the boy was going to apologize or say goodnight, but he turned and left, pushing through the door and escaping into the dark night.
