He looked down at his printed clipboard, tracing the line with his pen.

“From Oakridge Public High School, Eli and Owen,” the director said.

The entire auditorium broke into applause.

Parents from a dozen different elite academies stood up to clap for the underdog public school team.

Claire rubbed her hands together over her lap.

The rough yarn of her cardigan caught on her thumbnail.

Eli and Owen stood up.

They didn’t look at Daniel as they walked past his frozen figure in the aisle.