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Her eyes darkened “Oh, dear,” Mrs Brooks said “What is wrong with kids these days? If he wasof hitting a lady in the face with a ball I mean, who does that for no reason? Anie,” she turned to Mr Brooks, “we should’ve homeschooled”

Carson’s lips quirked at that, laughter sparkling in his eyes as he aze

“Yeah, who does that?” I asked,

“How do you knoas on purpose? That’s a pretty big presumption,” Carson said

I scoffed “Puh-lease Like his aiht at ht add”

“Ninety miles an hour, huh? Wow” Carson widened his eyes comically “Who is this kid? We need to call soer for the Charlotte Hornets on the phone This kid could play for the NBA right now”

I trained ht he was so clever and cute

“Not funny,” Mr Brooks said, but he grinned, and his tone said otherwise

Carson covered his smile with his napkin, and just as I turned to Mrs Brooks, ready to deliver the final blow, to reveal it was actually him, he said, “Mia, I’m curious What did you do after the ball hit you?”

I froze, the words on the tip of ue “I don’t see how that’s relevant,” I said, then took a sna

“Soree I think we need the full story here I sense so Some other piece of the story” He folded his hands under his face, looking co their patient

“I don’t think—”

“Humor us,” he said

I pursed ht make him spontaneously combust

“Oh, honey Did you cry?” Mrs Brooks reached over and squeezed ot spiked in the face with a volleyball in junior high Brought instant tears to my eyes No one will remember tomorrow”