If you want to coach a team of fighters, you better be one yourself. He had just parked and was making his way to the back double doors of the school when a gleaming, dark Mercedes-Benz came around, tinted windows, and stopped ten feet from him. A ...

Tommy meets his team. He sat on the front bleacher, Peter Benchley’s Jaws in hand. He read it without looking up. It was the first day of practice, 3:45 pm, fifteen minutes after it should have started. The lane lines were in, ready to go thanks to...

Tommy has the only interview that matters. The front of Ferndale High School featured a large swath of green lawn that fronted Tichenor Avenue. Students often took their lunch there when it wasn’t raining, sitting in small groups or throwing a Frisb...

Calling them as he sees them. He motioned him in with some impatience. “Come in. Please.” He held out his hand; the younger man took it. “Good to meet you,” the younger man said. “Have a seat,” Olander said, releasing his hand and walking back aroun...

They always watch the same three movies together on her birthday. He shuffled to the kitchen in his pajamas, a bathrobe over it to keep him warm. “Darnit!” he laughed. “I forgot about the popcorn!” He heard her giggle. “What kind of father forgets a...

The Ferndale High School girls swimming program is earmarked for its final budget. John Olander stepped out of his dark-brown vintage Mercedes coupe and closed the door. He gazed at his diaphanous, slightly warped reflection in the driver’s-side win...