“Point is, this is how we roll.” A gnat hovered between us, and Kendra swatted it away. “If there’s a need, we usually know someone who can help. I’m sure you’re the same way?”

I recognized it for what it was—an offering and a challenge.

“I’m always willing to help,” I said.

“Then you’ll fit right in here. It’s that kind of place,” Kendra said. “It’s why we’ve all been here forever, right, Bettina?”

“Sure.” Bettina sat back, loosening the purple scarf around her neck, and that’s when I saw it affixed to her jacket. The green ivy leaf pin, same as Kendra’s the night of the school welcome party.

When I peered over, I saw the same pin peeking out from under Alice’s jacket. I was willing to bet Pia had one, too.

They sparkled in the stadium lights like a dangerous promise.

“I’m so lucky to have landed here,” I said.

When there were five minutes left in the third quarter, I said my goodbyes and made my way to the concessions stand under the bleachers for lollipop duty. The lollipops were homemade by members of the Parent Team and the Booster Club, and apparently they were famous. “People go nuts for them,” Kendra had said proudly. “You’ll see. It’s always packed.”

Indeed, there were two lines, several people deep, when I arrived to relieve the third-quarter volunteer. She gave me a brief tutorial on how to use the cash register, then grabbed her purse and ran. Not a good sign.

The booth was small, four folding tables in a square that we volunteers stood inside. On the back table were several trays filled with lollipops of various shapes—a W for Woodard, a lion for the mascot, and a football—and in different flavors—cinnamon, fruit punch, strawberry, root beer, cherry, watermelon, and grape.

“Hey there.” I turned and saw Georgeann joining me behind the tables. I was glad to see someone I knew. “Looks like we’re it now, eh?” she said.

“I guess. You can teach me the ropes?” I’d already forgotten most of the details the prior volunteer had thrown at me before rushing off.

“Sure. It’s easy. Just watch and learn.” She fanned herself with a Booster Club brochure and then started waiting on customers.

Georgeann and I were a team. She gathered the lollipops; I handled the money. It was a bit of a cluster at first, but after a while I got the hang of it.

Near the end of my shift, I was rearranging the root beer, which seemed to be the most popular flavor, when a voice to my side startled me. “Well, hello stranger.”