The Crossover

Coach comes over

to my table

during lunch,

sits down

with a bag

from McDonald’s,

hands me a fry

and Vondie a fry,

bites into his

McRib sandwich,

and says:

Look, Josh,

you and your brother need

to squash this beef.

If my two stars

aren’t aligned,

there’s no way

the universe is kind to us.

Huh? Vondie says.

My brother and I

got into a bad fight

when we were in high school,

and we’ve been estranged

ever since.

You want that?

I shake my head.

Then fix it, Filthy.

Fix it fast.

We don’t need any distractions

on this journey.

And while you’re working

on that, give your mom

something special this holiday.

She says you’ve served

your sentence well

and that she’ll consider

letting you back

on the team

if we make it

to the championship game.

Merry Christmas, Josh.