Chapter 4

March 21^st, 2000

Tommy Baker was exhausted from practice, Coach Thorsen had run them more than usual, he seemed frustrated, distracted. The other kids had left twenty minutes ago. Tommy, Roger and Sam were held late because they messed up an easy three on one break away opportunity. He needed to run to his locker and get his pre-calc book before heading out to his car in the student lot. He felt strange, being in the school with almost nobody else, the motion sensing lights clicking on as he made his way to the east stairwell. Everyone knew this was the stairwell to smoke weed, make out and fight in, the camera hadn’t been functional in almost six months. Tommy is stopped by Coach Thorsen in the hall, he’s not his normal friendly self, he’s in coach mode.

“Good practice, Tommy,” Coach Thorsen looks over Tommy towards the east stairwell doors. “You gotta trust your gut, take the shot when you have it.”

“Yes, coach,” Tommy nods and brushes his shaggy hair out of his face.

“Have a good night, Tommy,” Coach Thorsen clasps Tommy’s shoulder.

“You too, coach,” Tommy turns and heads to the stairwell.

Good night Mrs. Lindquist,” he says while passing her, she looks at him and smiles in his direction. She’s his favorite teacher, she always highlights what he did well.

“You’re here late,” Mrs. Lindquist says, she’s still smiling.

“Coach had some of us stay late to work on some shooting form in the gym,” he feels nervous, students were supposed to be out of the building twenty minutes ago, “and I forgot my pre-calculus homework in my locker,” he quickly adds.

“No need to over explain yourself, sweetie,” he instantly relaxes. “Tell your mother I said hi and get home safe.”

Tommy beams, he’s relieved he ran into Mrs. Lindquist, not Mrs. Perry.

“I will, have a good night.” He hops down the stairs and pushes the door open to the first floor. Tommy pauses, maybe he should go ask her about the English project. He decides against it, he can get clarity tomorrow and doesn’t want to keep Mrs. Lindquist here longer than she already has been. He puts his overhead headphones on, and hits play on his CD player and skips to track three, Master of Puppets S&M Live version, he turns up the volume and walks down the hall. He doesn’t hear the crash.