“Your mother and I, we’re having some problems is all. It’s nothing that can’t be solved, but every day isn’t a good day.”

“It’s your father who has the problems, Zach, not me.”

“Christ, Karen. Not in front of him, okay?”

“Dad,” I say loudly, “you need to get it through your head that there’s not a chance in hell of me getting a football scholarship. I hate the game and I’m horrible at it. You know that, but you refuse to admit it.”

Mom turns toward me. “Wait, Zach. I talked to you about—”

“And you’re the one who just said there’s no use hiding anything.”

She looks down, turns away.

I say to Dad, “The only reason I play is because of you, to please you.” I pause, finding it hard to believe the words are coming out of me. “Only now, Dad, I really don’t care if I please you or not.”

“That’s it,” he yells, his face red with anger. “I’m out of here. This is a family of goddamn quitters. You and your brother quit everything you try. Quit, quit, quit. Well, I’ll tell you something. You’re both on your way to Loserville real fast.”

“And what about you?” I bite back. “You proud of your life? I mean, what do you really do, Dad? Hey, I’m sorry you got laid off or whatever, but maybe in a way that’s a good thing, because Mom’s right, after working inside that factory all day, all you do is come home and smoke and drink in front of the TV all night.”

“Stop it, Zach,” Mom says. “That’s enough.”

“I’m leaving,” Dad says.

He turns and walks toward the front door.

“Divorce,” I yell.

Dad stops, turns.

“That’s what’s gonna happen, isn’t it?” I ask. “You two will get a divorce, like everybody else around here.” I turn to leave. Walking past Dad I say, “By the way, Coach Horton’s not the man everybody thinks he is. You’ll know that soon enough.”

I walk to work with my head down.

————

I’m rolling a cart into the back room when Huey comes in and tells me about Brenda, saying she called to let him know she was finally quitting, not even giving him the standard two weeks’ notice. My heart skips a few beats, but I continue working because I still don’t feel comfortable speaking with Huey about anything. As for Brenda, I’m actually happy she’s left this depressing place. I mean, I hope I see her again and all that, but I sure as hell hope it’s somewhere other than inside this party store. I guess she never did tell Huey about me stealing the case. She saved my job, and I’m totally in debt to her for that.