James took a seat at the lone metal table in the middle of the room and looked at the empty chair across from him. The impact of where he was—and why he was here—hit him like a sledgehammer to the ribs, and his resolve almost caved. Lord, please help me get through this. Help me get to the bottom of this mess.

Why was he praying? God had quit listening to him a long time ago. The stark fluorescent lighting did nothing to cheer the drab cinderblock walls, and James closed his eyes to them. An image of Travis lying on the autumn earth, head-to-head with James and looking into a beautiful sky emerged in James’s mind.

“What do you s’pose is up there, Travis?”

“You mean besides clouds and God?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t know. Maybe Mrs. God.”

Their laughter reverberated in James’s mind even to this day, bringing with it the warmth of the friendship he shared with Travis. Pieces of his heart shattered with those memories. This…this thing of which Travis was accused, no way could he have done it.

In James’s mind’s eye, Travis grew into a teen. Varsity football water boy and overall morale-booster. He took pride in his simple duties, pride in being part of the team.

“I just can’t connect, Travis. It’s like my arm’s a lead weight. It won’t do what I’m asking it to.”

“Then quit talking to it, Jimmy, and play the game. Play the game.”

Who’d shown leadership insight that day? James-the-star-QB or Travis-the-waterboy? Even in matters Travis couldn’t possibly know first-hand, he’d held a wisdom that belied his mental acuity. Maybe it was his innocence and simplicity that made it so, but whatever it was, it had helped Travis become James’s voice of reason on more occasions than James could count. Would they have even won that game that day if it hadn’t been for Travis’s basic, but somehow profound, advice?

The door opened, drawing James’s attention. Guided by the orderly, Travis shuffled in with his head bowed and his scruffy hair shrouding his face. The standard-issue coveralls hung loose on his body, making him look like a child playing dress-up. He lifted his head a little and set his gaze on James. Eyes the color of rich chocolate reflected the innocence and joy James remembered, and Travis’s perpetual smile gave no hint that he might be feeling the pressure most would experience at being incarcerated.

The orderly pulled out the chair opposite James and then guided Travis to sit. “I’ll be outside,” he said. “You behave, Travis.”

Travis looked up at the man, an amused glow lighting his features. “Aye aye, Cap’n.” He turned his attention to James and beamed a grin that shot joy across the table and wrapped James in a cocoon of assurance.

It was strange how Travis could have such a calming effect on people without even trying.

“Pretty messed up, huh?” Travis said around a tongue that seemed too big for his mouth.