Being even more aggressive on defense than the other guys were on offense was another big thing with Gramps.

“I don’t want you to be afraid to take chances, or make mistakes,” he said. “Everybody makes mistakes in this world, and not just in basketball. The best you can do is keep taking chances, and hope not to make the same mistake twice. The great Red Auerbach used to tell his shooters, ‘If you miss a few, keep shooting.’ ”

At the end of practice they scrimmaged less than usual. Lucas had no problem with that, either. This was the best way for them to get their minds right for the Grisham Mavs. It was another example of what a good coach Gramps was, Lucas thought. He could get a bunch of twelve-year olds this fired up about defense.

Lucas’s mom had asked Gramps to drive him home when they were finished. Before they headed for the parking lot, Lucas helped Gramps collect the basketballs and the pinnies they’d used for the scrimmage.

The other players were gone by then. It was just the two of them in the gym. It had been an early practice. It was just a few minutes past seven.

“You coming for dinner?” Lucas said to his grandfather. “Mom’s making turkey burgers.”

“I do love those turkey burgers your mom makes,” Gramps said.

“So you’re in?”

“Already told that to the best cook in Claremont.”

He smiled. Lucas smiled back at him.

“Ask you something?” Lucas said.

“In my life,” Gramps said, “I don’t think I’ve ever met a boy as full of questions as my grandson.”

“How else am I gonna learn?” Lucas said. “That’s what my coach is always telling me, anyway.”

Lucas’s backpack was on the floor near the bleachers where he’d dropped it before practice. He went over and unzipped a side pouch and took out the picture of Joe and Tommy and brought it with him to where Gramps was standing at mid court, car keys already in his hand.

“I want to show you something I found in one of Dad’s old Chip Hilton books,” Lucas said.

He handed his grandfather the picture.

Gramps took it. Lucas could see the slight tremor in his hands, but there was nothing unusual about that. Gramps just called it one more old-man thing he had to deal with. Lucas would notice it sometimes when he was lifting a drinking glass, or holding a piece of paper up to show Lucas a new play.

He studied the picture before handing it back to Lucas.

“What did you want to ask me?” he said.

“I wanted to ask you if that’s you in the picture,” Lucas said. “Mom thinks it might be.”

“Tell me again how you found it,” Gramps said.

“I wasn’t looking for it, I promise,” Lucas said. “It just fell out of a book in the attic.”