A Homebody

Hell's Kitchen Community School. The recent chaos in America—and the news that the president had been kidnapped today—hadn't affected this place at all.

Frank stood in the school courtyard, facing two boys with their heads bowed. Judging by how they looked ready to bury their heads in their pants, they must have done something pretty serious.

The black kid with thick lips glanced at his companion and said despairingly, "I knew we shouldn't have pranked Coach Bill. I thought that firecracker wasn't very powerful. That Gonzales guy tricked us. If Chinese firecrackers were really that powerful, how did they end up with so many people?

"Look at us. We're finished..."

His companion was a good-looking white kid. He listened to the complaint and managed a miserable grin. "Yeah, we're finished. My mom can date Bill openly now!

"This is the worst. I just made the high school team's reserve list, and now my mom's dating the head coach...

"Could anything be worse? What will everyone think of me?"

The black kid pressed his thick lips together and thought seriously for a moment. "I think it's fine. Your mom isn't dating Coach Steve!

"Bill only decides who makes the list. Coach Steve decides who gets to play."

The white kid furrowed his brow and said quietly, "That's exactly what I'm worried about. What if I make the list but don't get to play..."

The black kid put on a sympathetic expression and said softly, "Hey, buddy, look on the bright side. You'll make it!"

Then the black kid sneaked a glance at Frank, who was on the phone, and grimaced. "Too bad my mom isn't pretty. If she'd dated Frank, maybe we could've gotten out of detention."

The white kid looked at his companion as if he were an idiot. "Are