The paper skeleton above the bus aisle had already lost a foot when Coach Mercer lifted an orange pumpkin bucket. “Trick-or-treat.” Nolan sank into his seat. He was a college freshman now, traveling to a wrestling tournament, and apparently still eligible for a goodie bag. Across the aisle, Dev adjusted his plastic vampire fangs. “If there’s a toothbrush in mine, I’m transferring.” Coach handed him a black pouch with his name in silver. “With those teeth? There should be.”

Nolan found a chocolate bar and a folded card. He opened the card behind his seatback, expecting a reminder about making weight. Instead, Coach had written, I saw you stay after practice to walk Eli through that drill again. You remember what being new feels like. Keep that. Nolan looked toward the front. Eli was on his first tournament trip, sitting stiffly with his headphones on but nothing playing. Nolan hadn’t thought anybody noticed those extra ten minutes. He folded the card along its original crease and slipped it into the zipped pocket of his jacket.

Dev leaned over. “What’d yours say?” “That you owe me your peanut butter cup.” “That’s a suspiciously specific coaching instruction.” Nolan held out his chocolate bar, then called up the aisle, “Eli. Important team business. Are you a peanut butter cup guy?” Eli pulled off his headphones. “Obviously.” “Excellent. Dev’s accepting offers.” Within a minute, Eli was negotiating like a man who had trained for this all season. Coach sat down while the candy market got louder behind her. When Nolan caught her eye, he tapped his jacket pocket once. She gave him a little nod, then reached across the aisle to rescue the skeleton’s other foot.

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