“Christ, I don’t care how the boys came back,” Don Paul said. “Long as they’re back. If I had to guess, I’d say it was some kind of prank all along. Maybe someone had sunk a bus just like the Jackrabbits’ bus beforehand, filled it with dummies or something to throw off the rescue workers. Hell, could have been some kind of magic voodoo that brought ’em back for all we know.”

Bernice laughed. “Yeah. Right. Remind me to ask Black Mona ’bout that next time she comes in. She’s the expert, after all.”

Don Paul shrugged. “My point is, who gives a damn how the team got back. All that matters now is beating the Badgers tomorrow night. That and getting my patty melt. How ’bout it, Bernice?”

“All right, all right, it’s coming.” Bernice started for the kitchen but turned back. “There’s one other thing that doesn’t make sense to me. How come Savannah was sittin’ here Friday morning talking so ugly about the Logan kid, and now y’all’re telling me that the two of ’em are in cahoots. How can that be?”

“Why don’t you ask them yourself?” Kip nodded toward the door.

Cole felt their stares immediately.

Savannah said a curt hello to the waitress and the two men at the booth, calling each of them by name. The waitress was the same woman who had offered Cole her cigarettes the day before.

“Evenin’, Savannah.” Looking at Cole, the waitress said, “It’s good to have you back again so soon. Y’all just sit anywhere.”

Curious eyes followed them as Savannah led him to a booth at the back of the restaurant.

“How do you know those people?”

“Those people, as you call them, are my friends,” she said. “I come here a lot before school. Bernice runs the place. The other two are here all the time. They’re three of your biggest fans, you know.”

“Swell. So seeing as how you two are so chummy, how about calling the waitress over. I wanna order.”

“I haven’t looked at the menu.”

“Jesus, I thought you came here all the time.”

“Logan, are you aware that you’re being an asshole, or should I call you out on it?”

“Look, you offered me a ride. I told you to take me home. I didn’t tell you to bring me here.”

“Gee, sorry. It’s almost ten p.m. and I was hungry and I thought you might be, too. But if you want, we can go.”

“Good. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

“Look, Logan, I’m sorry my dad turned you down. But take it out on him, not me.”

“You could have helped me back there.”

“I couldn’t have done a thing for you back there.”

“Well, you could have tried, damnit!” His fist hit the table, rattling the silverware.

“Y’all decided yet?”