The first quarter was over by the time Joe got home. As the game played on, he could not shake the feeling he that something in his life was about to change, big time and it had something to do with Brother Greene. Time passed, the Texans were ahead, and won easily. He should have been happy, but he wasn't because Mama was still not home. Where was she and why had she not called him? He went to the window and looked out. A huge green sedan drove up to the complex and stopped. It was the preacher and Mama. Moments passed, then minutes before she got out of the car. She was laughing. Her whole body jiggled with laughter. Joe couldn’t remember the last time he had seen her laugh like that. What could be so funny?

  Mama closed the door and headed up the sidewalk. She was radiant, beautiful. Joe felt like he was seeing his mother for the very first time, not as Mama, but as a woman. It made him feel squirrelly inside. He rushed to his room, pulled out his neglected Calculus book and pretended to be doing home work.

  His mother was humming when she entered the apartment. Joe waited tensely for her to come in and explain herself. She didn't.

  *

  Usually the only good thing about working Sunday evenings was that it meant Joe did not have to go to church. Tonight he would much rather be in church, keeping an eye on Brother Greene. Here, at the store he was sure to run into Mr. Thorton. His mind was filled with possible scenarios about what Christy may or may not have told her dad. Each time he went up front to sack groceries, Shirley, the checker, would ask, “You all right?” and he would lie.

  While he restocked pinto beans he glanced at his watch. Mr. Thorton hadn’t come in yet. Mr. Thorton always came in on Sunday Nights. Always. The minutes ticked away. His shift was almost over. Still, no Mr. Thorton. Joe started humming under his breath. It looked like he would make it home without any contact with the boss. He took the empty boxes to the back of the store and flattened them. As he placed them on the box pile, the double doors swung open and then closed. Joe froze. He didn’t even have to turn around to know who it was. Mr. Thorton’s expensive cologne filled the room with sickening sweetness.

  “Evening Joe.”

  Slowly, Joe turned around. His voice squeaked when he said, “Evening Mr. Thorton."

  Mr. Thorton’s eye brows were furrowed in a V. He said, “I’d like a word with you Joe.”

  This was it. This was the moment he had been dreading all day. He was either about to get fired or killed.

  “Come into my office.”

  A tremor shuddered through Joe as he walked into the office. He could feel and hear the rhythm of his accelerated heart. Breathing became difficult and then impossible. Once inside the office, Mr. Thorton closed the door. The click of the door sounded like a gun being cocked. Mr. Thorton went to his desk and sat down on the edge of it. His eyes took in Joe from head to foot. In a single instant, unveiled hatred flared out at Joe. Mr. Thorton blinked and the hatred disappeared. He asked, “So you and my daughter are friends?”

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  Joe gulped in some air before he spoke. “We go to school together, but I don’t consider us friends.”

  Mr. Thorton squinted his eyes. “Would you like to date her?”

  Carefully he said, “No, offense sir, but I do not want to date your daughter. We don't have anything in common.”

  The light in Mr. Thorton’s eyes shifted. “Really?”

  From this moment, right now and never again, would he ever even spend time with Christy Thorton. “Yes.”

  “I will have to believe you.” The emotion in Mr. Thorton’s eyes changed again. He said, “I hear you are pretty good at running the ball. Any schools interested in you?”

  Uneasily Joe shifted his feet. “There have been some scouts from Texas A & M and Oklahoma University.”

  “Fine schools.” Mr. Thorton’s voice took on an odd quality. “Seems like I remember another player, who ran like you.”

  All the air seemed to leave the room.

  “What was his name? Mmm…Reginald Johnson. Got mixed up in dope. You mixed up in dope boy?”

  “No Sir.”

  “Rumor has it, he used to play skipped out on acid. Some say that’s why he ran so fast.”

  Joe had heard this rumor too.

  Mr. Thorton rose from his desk. “I remember Reginald wasn’t too bright. How are your grades Joe? You think you can make it at A&M?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I hope so. It was an embarrassment to the town when Reginald dropped out and ran away from college.”

  “Excuse me sir, but my mama’s waiting for me.”

  “Oh, sorry son. You can go.” Mr. Thorton crossed the floor and opened the door for Joe.

  Often Joe had heard the expression, like a bat out of hell. For the first time he understood what it meant. He clocked out, raced to the front of the store and through the doors. Mama’s car wasn’t waiting for him, but the Purple Bomb was. Though he did not want to deal with Darryl's curiosity, he rushed to the car and climbed in. He asked, “Where’s Mama?”

  “Church is running over again. I thanked the Lord Jesus when your mama asked me to come get you. If I had to listen to Brother Greene one more second, I would have converted to Satanism.” Darryl punched the gas. The car slammed backwards then squealed as it peeled out. As soon as they were on the highway, Darryl asked, "So how was last night? Don't leave out a single detail."

  In a flat voice, like it didn't matter Joe said, "Nothing happened. Her old man showed up."

  Darryl frowned, "Man, that sucks."

  It didn't, but Joe didn't say so