Dominique tried the door. “Justin, open the door.”

“I don’t want to. Go away!”

Dominique’s eyes widened as she looked at the mahogany wood that separated her from her heartbeat. Did my eleven-year-old angel just tell the person who paid mortgage on this door to go away from it? Dominique understood Justin being upset, but she was still Mama and this was still her house.

“Justin, open this door. Don’t make me ask again!” Losing her patience, Dominique rapped on the door. “Justin!”

Seconds later, the door opened. Without looking at or speaking to his mother, Justin skulked back to his bed and plopped down on it.

Dominique took a deep breath and stepped inside the room. “Justin,” she began calmly, “what’s wrong?”

Justin grabbed a pillow from his bed, hugged it to his chest, and kept sulking.

Dominique walked over to where Justin was and sat. She reached down, took off her heels, and moved farther onto the bed. “Something happen at school today?” Instead of going from what she knew, Dominique figured she’d start dealing with this from her son’s point of view.

“Coach picked four boys to go to a Raiders game. He didn’t pick me.” A solitary tear rolled down Justin’s face, which otherwise was fixed in a fierce scowl.

Dominique’s heart broke.

She knew she had to tell the truth. She couldn’t have her son feeling like he was unwanted. But where to begin? “Baby, how did you hear about the trip? Did Jake tell you?”

Justin shook his head. “No, Travis did. He wasn’t supposed to say anything but he thought I was going, so he told me.”

Oh, Lord. What have I done? “Justin, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Justin’s eyes rose to meet hers—sad, searching.

“I know about the trip to Oakland. Jake called and told me about it.”

“Did he tell you why he didn’t pick me? I scored two touchdowns last weekend. Mom, I work harder than everybody!”

Dominique reached out and placed her hand on Justin’s leg. She was thankful when he didn’t flinch or pull away. “It wasn’t Jake, baby. He asked me if you could travel to Oakland.”

A smile broke through the storm that was Justin’s countenance. “Yes!” he exclaimed, rising to his knees. “So I get to go see the Raiders?”

“I told Jake that you couldn’t go.”

“Why, Mom?” Justin jumped off of the bed. “Why did you say I can’t go?”

“I just didn’t think it was a good idea. Oakland is so far, and you wouldn’t get back until late. I didn’t know who all would be going...” As she rambled on, the excuses sounded lame to Dominique’s own ears.

“But it’s the Raiders, Mom. My favorite team!”

“I know, baby. We’ll go another time.”