NowComment
2-Pane Combined
Comments:
Full Summaries Sorted

[5 of 5] Dear Martin, Chapters 20-23, by Nic Stone (2017)

Author: Nic Stone

“Chapters 20 - 23.” Dear Martin, by Nic Stone, Ember, 2018, pp. 125-161.


0 General Document comments
0 Sentence and Paragraph comments
0 Image and Video comments


CHAPTER 20

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 1 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 1, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Mrs. Friedman looks so shocked to see Justyce standing on her doorstep, he peeks over his shoulder to make sure there’s not a ghost or something behind him.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 2 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 2, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Justyce?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 3 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 3, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Hey, Mrs. F. Is Sarah-Jane home?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 4 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 4, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Sure. Come in, come in.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 5 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 5, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 5, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

As Mrs. F stands there with her eyes popping out of her head, Jus thinks maybe he shouldn’t have just shown up with no notice. Not that he made a conscious decision to do that…He got back to school from Martel’s, hopped in his car, and let his instincts lead.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 6 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 6, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 6, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

This is where he ended up.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 7 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 7, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I should’ve called,” he says. “I’m sorry—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 8 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 8, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 8, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“No, no, that’s not it at all, I’m just— Well, we’ve really missed you around here.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 9 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 9, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

They missed him?

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 10 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 10, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“SJ’s up in her room, but do you mind saying hello to Neil? He’ll be thrilled to see you.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 11 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 11, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 11, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Uhh…sure.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 12 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 12, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Mrs. F leads him around to the living room where Mr. Friedman is kicked back in his recliner watching reruns of the Final Four. “Neil, look who’s here,” she says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 13 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 13, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 13, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

When Mr. Friedman sees Jus, he sits bolt upright. “Jusmeister!”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 14 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 14, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 14, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Hey, Mr. F.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 15 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 15, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“It’s really you!” Mr. Friedman jumps up to hug Jus, who winces a little from the pressure on his shoulder. “How are you? We’re so glad to see you, son!”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 16 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 16, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 16, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 16, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 16, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I can see that.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 17 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 17, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

The Friedmans laugh.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 18 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 18, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus swallows. It’s a little overwhelming, all this…love.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 19 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 19, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 19, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Sarah’s in her room if you want to head up, Justyce,” Mrs. F says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 20 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 20, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Thank you. And thanks for the warm welcome. Promise I’ll call first next time.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 21 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 21, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 21, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 21, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Oh, don’t be silly.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 22 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 22, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus smiles and turns to head upstairs.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 23 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 23, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Hey, Jusmeister, if you need anything—anything at all, I mean it— don’t hesitate to call us, all right?” Mr. F says from behind him.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 24 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 24, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 24, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

At first, Jus recoils. If there’s one thing he can’t handle right now, it’s pity.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 25 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 25, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 25, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

But as he looks over his shoulder into the faces of SJ’s parents, he knows this is different.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 26 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 26, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He clears his throat. “Thanks so much, sir. That really means a lot to me.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 27 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 27, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 27, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 27, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You betcha, kiddo.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 28 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 28, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Okay, we’ve embarrassed ourselves enough,” Mrs. F says. “Go on up.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 29 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 29, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 29, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

As Jus climbs, he gets nervous. What if SJ isn’t as cool with him dropping in as her parents were? What if she’s busy? What if she’s asleep? What is he even going to say to her?

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 30 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 30, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 30, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 30, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 30, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 30, Sentence 5 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

The door is cracked, and he can hear what sounds like NPR and Carrie Underwood playing simultaneously inside SJ’s room.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 31 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 31, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Typical.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 32 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 32, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He knocks.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 33 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 33, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Come in.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 34 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 34, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She’s stretched out on the bed in her Bras Prep lacrosse shorts and a T-shirt, with an open calculus book in her lap. When she sees it’s him, she sits up just like her dad did, wearing the same expression her mom had.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 35 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 35, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 35, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

It makes him smile.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 36 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 36, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Hey,” he says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 37 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 37, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Hey! Uhh…” She scrambles around for a second like she can’t figure out what to do. Shuts the calc book, sets it aside, and swings her legs around so she’s sitting on the edge of the bed. “Oh!” She grabs a remote from the nightstand and points it at the speakers attached to her computer on the desk. NPR and Carrie go quiet. “So…You’re, uhh… you’re here.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 38 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 38, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 38, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 38, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 38, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 38, Sentence 5 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 38, Sentence 6 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 38, Sentence 7 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus laughs. “That’s what your parents said.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 39 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 39, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 39, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Oh god, did they totally attack you? I’m so sorry.” She shakes her head. “You’re literally all they talk about these days. I would’ve warned you if I’d known you were coming.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 40 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 40, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 40, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 40, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 40, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 40, Sentence 5 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus laughs again. “It’s all good. Actually felt pretty nice.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 41 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 41, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 41, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 41, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She smiles. “Wanna sit?” Points to the empty space beside her.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 42 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 42, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 42, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 42, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He sits so close that their shoulders and legs are touching. She’s warm.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 43 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 43, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 43, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“So…what brings you to la casa de Friedman, Mr. McAllister?” She nudges his knee with her own.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 44 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 44, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 44, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He turns to look at her. “You.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 45 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 45, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 45, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Me?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 46 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 46, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yeah, I…umm…” He looks away. “Well—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 47 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 47, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 47, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Everything okay, Jus?” She touches his forearm just past his wrist, and the memory of handcuffs overwhelms him even all these months later.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 48 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 48, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 48, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

His eyes drop to her hands, and he feels a weight slip off his shoulders. They’re chipped now, but her nails are still painted his favorite color.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 49 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 49, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 49, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus stands, pulls SJ up, and wraps her in a hug that lifts her off her feet.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 50 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 50, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Umm…okay,” she says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 51 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 51, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He inhales a whiff of her fruity shampoo. “I almost joined a gang today,” he says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 52 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 52, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 52, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Huh?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 53 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 53, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I almost joined a gang.” He puts her down. “Remember the guys I told you about from the Halloween party?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 54 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 54, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 54, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 54, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You mean the ones who threatened to shoot you?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 55 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 55, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yeah. I went to see their leader.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 56 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 56, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 56, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You what?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 57 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 57, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I was thinkin’ about, uhhh…well, joining their crew.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 58 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 58, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She just gapes at him.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 59 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 59, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

They both sit back on the bed, and he tells her about visiting Quan in juvie, and the sequence of events that led him to Martel’s doorstep. At some point he starts crying. Which he’d normally be embarrassed about. But he’s not because it’s the best he’s felt since…well, since before he can remember.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 60 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 60, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 60, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 60, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 60, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Granted, part of feeling so good probably has to do with being wrapped in SJ’s arms with his head on her shoulder. Jus has no idea when that happened, but here they are.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 61 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 61, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 61, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He can imagine Manny calling him a punk for letting her hold him while he cries like a big-ass baby, but instead of making him sad, the thought makes him smile—he can also imagine Manny saying Took you long enough, fool.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 62 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 62, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

After a few minutes of silence, SJ lets him go, and he sits up. “Thanks for that.” He smiles at her.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 63 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 63, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 63, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 63, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She doesn’t smile back.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 64 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 64, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You okay?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 65 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 65, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Justyce, do you like me?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 66 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 66, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Huh?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 67 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 67, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

SJ clasps her hands in her lap. “Like…I know you’re going through a lot right now…”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 68 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 68, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 68, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“But?” he says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 69 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 69, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She looks at him. “I can’t keep doing this to myself, Jus.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 70 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 70, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 70, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“What are you talking about, S?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 71 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 71, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She sighs. “Okay, this is the thing: I’ve had a crush on you since tenth grade.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 72 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 72, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 72, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“For real?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 73 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 73, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yes. At first, that’s all it was, didn’t expect anything to come of it.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 74 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 74, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 74, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

But then last semester, we started talking more and spending more time together, and it like…evolved.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 75 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 75, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus doesn’t know what to say.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 76 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 76, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Problem is, I don’t really know how to read you. Sometimes it seems like you’re into me, but other times you’re kinda withdrawn. Sometimes you look at me in a way that makes me wanna put the world on a platter and hand it to you, but other times, you won’t look at me at all.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 77 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 77, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 77, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 77, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Damn, S.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 78 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 78, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“As much as I enjoy your friendship and company, I can’t keep giving myself over to this hope we’ll become something more. I need to know where you stand. So tell me the truth.” She looks him right in the eye. “Do you like me, Jus?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 79 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 79, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 79, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 79, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 79, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 79, Sentence 5 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He gulps. “Uhh…I, uhh…”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 80 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 80, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 80, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Oh my god. You totally don’t.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 81 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 81, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 81, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Huh? I didn’t sa—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 82 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 82, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 82, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You hesitated!”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 83 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 83, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus peers down at his brown hands and sees Manny’s watch.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 84 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 84, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You know what? It’s fine,” she says. “We can still be frien—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 85 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 85, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 85, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 85, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“S, I like you.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 86 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 86, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She glares at him. “Don’t just say it to shut me up, Justyce.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 87 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 87, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 87, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I’m not! I do like you, I swear! More than I’ve ever liked any girl.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 88 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 88, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 88, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 88, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 89 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 89, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He sighs.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 90 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 90, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Melo, right?” she says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 91 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 91, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“What? No! Melo and I are done. As in never-gonna-happen-again.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 92 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 92, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 92, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 92, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 92, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“So what is it? Is it me?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 93 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 93, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 93, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“No! It’s…” He looks around the room. Anywhere but at her. “It’s complicated.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 94 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 94, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 94, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 94, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 94, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She drops her chin. “Just forget it.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 95 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 95, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 95, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Wait! No!”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 96 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 96, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 96, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

It’s now or never, dawg, Manny says in his head.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 97 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 97, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus turns to face her fully. “S, I’m sorry. For confusing you. You’re right. I never said how I felt cuz I was scared to.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 98 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 98, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 98, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 98, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 98, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 98, Sentence 5 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She fiddles with her hands and doesn’t respond.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 99 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 99, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus takes a deep breath. “This is the thing,” he says. “My mom… Well, she’s not real keen on me, uhh…dating girls who aren’t African American.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 100 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 100, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 100, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 100, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

SJ draws back. And then her head cocks to one side. “Really?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 101 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 101, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 101, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 101, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yup. It’s been since I was little, but she’s gotten more adamant about it since—” He cuts off.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 102 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 102, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 102, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Since the shooting,” SJ says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 103 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 103, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yeah.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 104 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 104, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She sighs.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 105 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 105, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“But I don’t care anymore,” Jus says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 106 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 106, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Huh?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 107 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 107, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“About what she thinks. I don’t care.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 108 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 108, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 108, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

SJ lifts an eyebrow and crosses her arms. “And I’m the Easter Bunny.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 109 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 109, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 109, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus laughs. “Okay, I care but…” Jus takes in her face. Sees what he’d be passing up. “I can’t let it stop me,” he says. “Life is too short.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 110 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 110, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 110, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 110, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 110, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 110, Sentence 5 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She bites her lip. It drives Jus absolutely crazy.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 111 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 111, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 111, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Let me make it clear right now,” he says. “I like you, Sarah-Jane. No matter my mom’s opinion, you mean a lot to me, and if you’ll have me, I’d love to take you out sometime.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 112 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 112, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 112, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 112, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Her eyes narrow.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 113 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 113, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Like on a date.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 114 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 114, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I know, numbnuts.” She rolls her eyes. And smiles. “You’ve never called me Sarah-Jane before.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 115 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 115, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 115, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 115, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 115, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He grins.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 116 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 116, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She blushes.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 117 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 117, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Can’t lie: it’s real fun making your cheeks all red,” he says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 118 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 118, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Shut up!” She punches him.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 119 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 119, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 119, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

It makes him laugh and want to kiss her. “So? What’s up? We doin’ this?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 120 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 120, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 120, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 120, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 120, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She covers her face. “Will you stop making me blush!”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 121 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 121, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 121, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Nope.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 122 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 122, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Ugh!” She huffs and drops her hands. “You’re all in?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 123 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 123, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 123, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 123, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I’m all in, girl.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 124 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 124, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Her eyes narrow for a second, and then: “Okay.” She smiles again.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 125 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 125, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 125, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus shakes his head. “Had to make me sweat for it, huh?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 126 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 126, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 126, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Just returning the favor.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 127 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 127, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Touché.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 128 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 128, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

A beat passes, and then: “Can I tell you something?” she says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 129 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 129, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You mean there’s more?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 130 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 130, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Shut up. This is serious.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 131 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 131, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 131, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Okay…” And now he’s nervous.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 132 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 132, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She takes a really deep breath and shifts her gaze across the room. “Seeing you with all those tubes in your body was probably the lowest moment of my life, Jus. To think I spent all that time being stupid, then almost lost you?” She shakes her head.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 133 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 133, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 133, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 133, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 133, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I felt the same way when I saw you at the funeral.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 134 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 134, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Silence.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 135 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 135, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Then: “Justyce?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 136 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 136, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yes, Sarah-Jane?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 137 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 137, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Can we agree not to be that stupid again?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 138 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 138, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He smiles and drapes an arm around her shoulders. “Sounds like a plan to me.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 139 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 139, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 139, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Transcript from nightly news, May 21

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 140 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 140, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Anchor: Good evening, and welcome to the Channel 2 Nightly News.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 141 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 141, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

In our top story tonight, investigators say a fire at the home of former Atlanta Police officer Garrett Tison was deliberately set.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 142 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 142, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Investigator: Arson was our initial suspicion due to the number of threatening phone calls and letters Mrs. Tison has received during her husband’s detainment. We’re now able to confirm that this fire was started from the outside.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 143 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 143, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 143, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

(Cuts to picture of house’s charred remains.)

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 144 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 144, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Anchor (v.o.): Police have apprehended three teenage boys who were seen in the area on the night of the incident. Beverly Tison, Garrett’s wife, sustained multiple second-degree burns, leaving her in serious condition.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 145 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 145, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 145, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 145, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Anchor (cont.): Tison’s trial in connection with the January shooting that left one teenager dead and another wounded is set to begin approximately five weeks from today.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 146 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 146, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 146, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

More on this story as it continues to develop.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 147 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 147, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

CHAPTER 21

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 148 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 148, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

For the most part, Jus isn’t surprised when a pair of cops approach him and Mama after Bras Prep’s commencement ceremony. Since Blake’s “Justyce assaulted me” stunt fell flat—even the pundits were smart enough to ignore a kid photographed in a KKK robe—Jus figured it was only a matter of time before he got accused of something else.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 149 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 149, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 149, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

And he was right: not twelve hours after news broke that the fire at Garrett Tison’s house was set by someone outside it, the same newspeople who instigated “Thug-Gate” were speculating about Justyce’s “involvement in the arson plot.” Despite having nothing to do with it, for four days now, he’s been waiting for someone—cop, reporter, angry mob—to come after him.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 150 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 150, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 150, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Just sucks that he’s still in his cap and gown, surrounded by his classmates and their families, when someone does.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 151 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 151, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Justyce McAllister?” the female of the pair says. She’s black. Slacks and a button-down. Badge on her belt.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 152 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 152, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 152, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 152, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 152, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yes?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 153 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 153, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I’m Detective Rosalyn Douglass, and this is Officer Troy.” She points to the white guy in uniform. “You mind if we ask you a few questions?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 154 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 154, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 154, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 154, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Mama steps forward and crosses her arms. “I’m his mother, and he’s a minor. What can I do for you, Officers?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 155 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 155, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 155, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 155, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“We mean your son no harm, ma’am,” says Officer Troy. “Just have a few queri—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 156 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 156, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 156, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I don’t give my consent.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 157 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 157, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Detective: Ma’am, your son is seventeen years of age, and therefore an adult according to Georgia criminal law—

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 158 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 158, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“My son isn’t a criminal, so that law doesn’t apply to him.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 159 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 159, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

The detective sighs and looks around before taking a step forward and lowering her voice. “Ma’am, we know this is a big day for your son. We’re trying not to make a scene here. If he’s willing to cooperate and

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 160 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 160, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 160, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 160, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 160, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

answer a few questions for us, we might be able to avoid this going any further than it has to.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 161 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 161, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“So lemme guess,” Mama says. “You’re good cop, and whitey over there is bad?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 162 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 162, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 162, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Ma, stop,” Jus says. “Let’s just hear them out so we can lea—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 163 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 163, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 163, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Do you officers have any idea of the kinda hell my boy’s been through at the hands of people like you? He’s been falsely accused and unlawfully held under arrest. He’s lost his best friend. He’s been shot —”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 164 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 164, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 164, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 164, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 164, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Detective: We’re well aware of your son’s background, Ms. McAllister. Our goal is to make this as painless as possible.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 165 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 165, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 165, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus: What’s this about?

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 166 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 166, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Mama: I did not say you could talk to these people, Justyce!

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 167 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 167, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus: Ma, if they wanna treat me like an adult, I’m gonna act like one.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 168 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 168, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She doesn’t say anything.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 169 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 169, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus steps around her and looks each cop in the eye. “You were saying, Officers?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 170 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 170, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 170, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

The detective nods as the white cop pulls out a notepad. “We appreciate your cooperation, Mr. McAllister.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 171 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 171, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 171, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Justyce almost laughs.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 172 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 172, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Detective: On the night of May twentieth, there was a fire at the home of Garrett and Beverly Tison. The blaze was started at around eleven-forty-five p.m. You know anything about that?

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 173 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 173, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 173, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 173, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus shrugs. “Only what I’ve seen on the news.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 174 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 174, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 174, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

The detective’s eyes narrow, and Justyce wonders if he’s being too nonchalant. He’s telling the truth, of course, but they obviously don’t know that.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 175 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 175, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 175, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Detective Douglass examines Justyce’s face—which makes him feel like a cockroach under a magnifying glass. “Will you excuse us for a moment?” she says, gesturing to the officer.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 176 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 176, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 176, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Sure.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 177 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 177, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

The moment they step away, Mama rounds on Jus. “I don’t appreciate you speaking to me that way in front of those police officers.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 178 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 178, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 178, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

You should’ve let me handle it.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 179 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 179, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“No offense, but I don’t think this is somethin’ you could ‘handle,’ Mama.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 180 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 180, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Well, if you woulda kept your mouth shut—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 181 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 181, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You realize once they said I don’t need your consent, refusing to talk would’ve made it look like I had something to hide, right? I turn eighteen in three weeks and head to college in ten. You can’t protect me forever.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 182 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 182, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 182, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 182, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Mama’s jaw drops, but before she has a chance to respond, the cops come back.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 183 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 183, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Okay, Justyce,” the detective says. (So he’s Justyce now, huh?) “This is the deal: we arrested three young men caught on camera siphoning gasoline from cars in a Walmart parking lot near the Tison home. Two of them…” Officer Troy passes her the notepad. “ ‘…Trey Filly and Bradley Mathers,’ ” she reads, “named you as an accomplice.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 184 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 184, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 184, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 184, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 184, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus shakes his head. Of course it was Black Jihad. Jus can’t believe he considered joining up with those fools. “I promise I had nothing to do with it, Detective.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 185 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 185, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 185, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 185, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 185, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She nods. “Well, we’re hesitant to believe these guys. For one, they’ve both tried to implicate innocent parties before. For two, the third young man did not mention you, which, considering the circumstances, is a little odd.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 186 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 186, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 186, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 186, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 186, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Okay…”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 187 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 187, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I’m going to ask you a series of yes-or-no questions. Just answer truthfully and this should go pretty fast.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 188 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 188, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 188, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus nods.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 189 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 189, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Were you aware of an arson plot involving the home of Garrett Tison?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 190 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 190, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“No.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 191 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 191, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Have you had any contact with Trey Filly or Bradley Mathers in the past two months?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 192 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 192, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yes.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 193 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 193, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Mama gasps—Jus is sure she knows both of those clowns by name— and the cops exchange another glance.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 194 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 194, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“How many times have you had contact with either of these boys in the past two months?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 195 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 195, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Once.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 196 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 196, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“And what was the nature of this contact?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 197 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 197, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Justyce gulps. “I went to meet someone, and they were there.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 198 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 198, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 198, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Who were you meeting?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 199 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 199, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“If they’re not connected to the arson, does it matter?” Mama cuts in.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 200 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 200, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 200, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

The detective clears her throat. Jus is so relieved, he could kiss Mama.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 201 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 201, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 201, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Detective Douglass continues: “Did you have any contact with either Trey Filly or Bradley Mathers on the night of May twentieth?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 202 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 202, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Absolutely not. Haven’t seen or spoken to either of those guys since April twentieth.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 203 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 203, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 203, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Officer Troy’s eyebrows rise. “That’s pretty specific.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 204 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 204, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 204, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“It was a pretty memorable day.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 205 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 205, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“What was memorable about it?” Detective Douglass asks.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 206 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 206, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 206, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Something unrelated to what we’re talking about.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 207 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 207, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus can feel Mama’s gaze burning into him.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 208 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 208, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Where were you on the night of May twentieth?” the detective goes on.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 209 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 209, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I can assure you, it wasn’t anywhere near those guys or that fire.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 210 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 210, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Is there someone who can verify your whereabouts?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 211 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 211, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Ye—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 212 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 212, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I can,” Mama says. “He was with me.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 213 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 213, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 213, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus could leave it at that. He knows he could. Yes, he can tell the cops are suspicious, but he knows that to dig deeper, they would need a warrant.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 214 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 214, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 214, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 214, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

But lying to the police after everything he’s been through?

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 215 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 215, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Nah.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 216 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 216, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You’re getting confused, Ma. I wasn’t with you. We went to visit Daddy’s grave on the twenty-first, not the twentieth.” And this is true.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 217 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 217, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 217, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 217, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 217, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“But—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 218 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 218, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“On May twentieth, I was at my girlfriend’s house. We were celebrating her parents’ twentieth wedding anniversary.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 219 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 219, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 219, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Mama says nothing.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 220 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 220, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I see,” Detective Douglass says. “Would your girlfriend happen to be around here to verify that?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 221 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 221, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 221, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Justyce looks past her and the officer at the parting crowd.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 222 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 222, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“She would,” he says. “She and her mom are headed right this way.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 223 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 223, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 223, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 224 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 224, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Mama doesn’t say a word the entire trip home. When they pull into the driveway and she tries to get out, Justyce reaches over and pulls her door shut.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 225 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 225, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 225, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He locks it.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 226 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 226, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Oh, so you holdin’ me hostage now?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 227 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 227, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You have somethin’ you wanna say to me, Ma?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 228 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 228, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I certainly don’t.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 229 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 229, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You sure about that?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 230 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 230, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I don’t have anything to say to you, Justyce.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 231 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 231, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Well, I have some things to say to you—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 232 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 232, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“That’s funny. I’ve learned more about my son in the past two hours than I’ve known in four years, and now he wants to talk to me?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 233 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 233, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 233, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Mama—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 234 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 234, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Tell me somethin’…did you ever plan to let your mama know about this ‘girlfriend’ of yours?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 235 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 235, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Ma—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 236 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 236, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I can understand you not wantin’ to bring up your recent contact with the neighborhood gangbangers, but if you actually care about this girl, seems to me like you would’ve at least mention—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 237 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 237, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You know why I didn’t tell you anything, Mama!”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 238 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 238, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She doesn’t respond.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 239 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 239, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I’m not saying keeping it from you was the right thing to do. But I

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 240 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 240, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 240, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

knew no matter how happy I was, you woulda had somethin’ negative to say. You reacted in the parking lot by frownin’ at Mr. Friedman’s hand like it was diseased!”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 241 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 241, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 241, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I’m not shakin’ no white man’s hand, Justyce. Not after what that other one did to you.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 242 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 242, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 242, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“But what does that solve, Mama? Mr. Friedman and Garrett Tison are totally different people.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 243 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 243, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 243, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Mama crosses her arms and turns to the window.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 244 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 244, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus shakes his head. “All my life, you’ve pushed me to be and do my absolute best. That’s what SJ brings out of me, Ma. She makes me better.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 245 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 245, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 245, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 245, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 245, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Don’t you sit over there and tell yourself that lie, Justyce.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 246 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 246, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“It’s not a lie!”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 247 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 247, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“It certainly is. I taught you a long time ago, only person can ‘make you better’ is you.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 248 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 248, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 248, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Justyce grips the steering wheel. “Mama, if not for her, I don’t know that I woulda made it through this school year. For ten months now, people have been trying to tear me down. SJ worked harder than anybody to make sure I stayed standing.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 249 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 249, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 249, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 249, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 249, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Hmph.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 250 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 250, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Whether you believe it or not, she brings out the best in me. When I’m with her, I want to overcome everything.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 251 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 251, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 251, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I get what you’re saying, son, but there are plenty of brilliant black women who can do the same—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 252 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 252, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus sighs. She doesn’t get it at all.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 253 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 253, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 253, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Ma, SJ is Jewish,” he says. Manny said it to him, and it’s a valid point, isn’t it? “I know you have issues with white folks, but her people have been through hardship too.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 254 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 254, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 254, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 254, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Doesn’t matter, son. You can’t see Jewish in her skin color. You tried to help that other girl and wound up in handcuffs. And her daddy is black, ain’t he? If it looks white, it’s white in this world.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 255 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 255, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 255, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 255, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 255, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 255, Sentence 5 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“But it’s not that simple—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 256 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 256, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yeah it is. You just refuse to accept it. I sent you to that school so

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 257 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 257, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 257, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 257, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

you’d have a chance at the best education. But with this foolishness you’ve got in your head now, I’m wonderin’ if that was such a good idea.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 258 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 258, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 258, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“So what you’re saying is after a lifetime of getting picked apart because of my skin color, I should dismiss the girl I love because of hers?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 259 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 259, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Mama turns. “Love? Boy, you seventeen years old. You don’t know nothin’ about love.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 260 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 260, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 260, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 260, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 260, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You were eighteen when you married Daddy—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 261 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 261, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“And look where it got me.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 262 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 262, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus leans back against the headrest and shuts his eyes.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 263 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 263, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

For a minute, neither of them says anything.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 264 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 264, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Then Mama sniffles.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 265 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 265, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Aww, Ma! Don’t cry—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 266 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 266, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 266, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I’m afraid, son. This world is hard enough for a boy like you without the extra obstacles. That man almost killed you, Justyce! And what for? What were you doing wrong? Listenin’ to some music he didn’t like?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 267 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 267, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 267, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 267, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 267, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 267, Sentence 5 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 267, Sentence 6 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus doesn’t respond.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 268 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 268, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He can’t.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 269 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 269, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I know you think I’m being unreasonable, but I—I can’t give you my blessing on this one,” she says. “I know you grown and you gonna do what you want, but you on your own here, baby.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 270 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 270, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 270, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Come on, Ma—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 271 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 271, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“As you made clear earlier, I can’t protect you forever, right?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 272 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 272, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She unlocks her door and gets out of the car.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 273 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 273, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

CHAPTER 22

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 274 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 274, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Sitting on the witness stand, Jus wishes he could go back to the days when all he had to worry about was his mama not liking his girlfriend. The DA’s—Mr. Rentzen’s—questioning is running pretty smooth, and Mama, Doc, the Riverses, and the Friedmans are all there in the gallery to support him. But testifying with his best friend’s murderer glowering at him from twenty feet away? It’s the hardest thing he’s ever had to do.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 275 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 275, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 275, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 275, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 275, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 275, Sentence 5 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

By the time Mr. Rentzen finishes his questions, the court has heard the tragic tale of two college-bound African American boys, gunned down at a traffic light by an angry white man who used a racial slur and fired his weapon at them when they didn’t comply with his demands.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 276 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 276, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus, with tears in his eyes, recounts the final minutes of Manny’s life, and for a second he’s tempted to relax, especially when Doc gives him a thumbs-up from where he’s sitting.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 277 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 277, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

But then the defense attorney, a short white lady with blond hair and an upturned nose, steps up to the podium. She and Jus lock eyes.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 278 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 278, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 278, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He can tell she’s out for blood.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 279 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 279, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Mr. McAllister,” she begins, all cool, calm, and collected. “Isn’t it true that at the beginning of your story, you stated that you and Emmanuel Rivers were ‘just driving around’?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 280 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 280, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 280, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“It is.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 281 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 281, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“That’s not what you originally intended to do, though, is it?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 282 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 282, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I’m not sure I understand the question,” Jus says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 283 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 283, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“When Mr. Rivers retrieved you from your dormitory on January twenty-sixth, you had no idea you were getting into his car for the sake of ‘driving around,’ did you?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 284 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 284, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“No.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 285 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 285, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“So there were other plans, then.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 286 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 286, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus gulps. “Yes, there were.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 287 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 287, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 287, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“What were they?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 288 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 288, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“We were supposed to go hiking.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 289 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 289, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“But you didn’t go hiking, did you?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 290 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 290, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“No.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 291 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 291, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Emmanuel Rivers didn’t really feel up to hiking anymore, is that correct?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 292 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 292, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Uhh…”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 293 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 293, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Let me remind you that you are under oath, Mr. McAllister.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 294 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 294, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus clears his throat. “No. Manny didn’t feel up to hiking.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 295 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 295, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 295, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 295, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Did he mention why?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 296 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 296, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“He did.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 297 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 297, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“He’d gotten a phone call that morning, correct?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 298 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 298, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yes, he had.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 299 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 299, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“And you’re aware of what that phone call was about?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 300 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 300, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus sighs and drops his head. “I am.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 301 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 301, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 301, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I’m sorry, it’s difficult to hear you when you don’t speak into the microphone. Can you repeat that?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 302 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 302, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 302, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I said I am.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 303 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 303, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You are what, Mr. McAllister?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 304 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 304, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I’m aware of what the phone call was about.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 305 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 305, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Enlighten us if you will, please.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 306 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 306, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus looks at Mr. Rivers, who has his jaw clenched so tight, it wouldn’t surprise Jus if his teeth were cracking.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 307 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 307, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“He’d gotten a phone call from his friend’s father,” Jus says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 308 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 308, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“That’s a bit vague. I’m sure you can be more specific. What could this ‘friend’s’ father have mentioned that would’ve been so distressing to Mr. Rivers, he’d no longer feel up to hiking?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 309 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 309, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 309, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 309, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus clenches his teeth. “A disagreement.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 310 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 310, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 310, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“A ‘disagreement’ involving whom?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 311 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 311, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Manny and the friend.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 312 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 312, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Interesting.” She shuffles her papers on the podium. “Your Honor, I’d like to enter into evidence a police report, filed on January twenty-sixth, that alleges Emmanuel Rivers physically attacked a Mr. Jared Christensen on Monday, January twenty-first.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 313 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 313, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 313, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 313, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Mr. Rivers is shooting eye-daggers at the attorney.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 314 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 314, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“It wasn’t like that,” Jus says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 315 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 315, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

The attorney’s eyebrows rise. “Oh, it wasn’t?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 316 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 316, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 316, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“No.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 317 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 317, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Which part of the report is incorrect?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 318 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 318, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Manny didn’t attack Jared.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 319 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 319, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“So you were there to witness this ‘disagreement’?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 320 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 320, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus drops his head again. “No.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 321 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 321, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 321, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“We can’t hear you, Mr. McAlliste—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 322 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 322, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I said no.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 323 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 323, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“So you can’t be completely sure Mr. Rivers didn’t attack Mr. Christensen.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 324 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 324, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Manny wasn’t that type of guy.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 325 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 325, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“What type of guy?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 326 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 326, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“The type who ‘attacks’ people unprovoked.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 327 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 327, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“So you’re suggesting there was provocation.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 328 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 328, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yes. There was.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 329 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 329, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 329, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“What makes you so sure?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 330 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 330, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Because Manny told me…”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 331 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 331, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus sees SJ close her eyes, and he realizes his mistake.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 332 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 332, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I mean—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 333 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 333, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“So Mr. Rivers did, in fact, inform you that he’d assaulted Jared Christensen?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 334 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 334, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus doesn’t respond.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 335 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 335, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Mr. McAllister?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 336 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 336, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Justyce just stares at her.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 337 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 337, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Your Honor?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 338 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 338, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Answer the question, Mr. McAllister,” the judge says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 339 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 339, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Justyce clears his throat. “Yes. Manny told me Jared made an inappropriate joke, so he hit him.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 340 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 340, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 340, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 340, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Who hit whom?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 341 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 341, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Manny hit Jared.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 342 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 342, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Hmm.” The attorney nods. “Sounds like a fairly familiar set of circumstances, doesn’t it, Mr. McAllister?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 343 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 343, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 343, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 343, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Objection,” Mr. Rentzen says. “The question is ambiguous.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 344 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 344, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 344, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Sustained,” says the judge.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 345 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 345, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I’ll rephrase,” she says. “You were involved in a similar altercation on the night of January eighteenth, correct?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 346 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 346, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 346, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You’ll have to be more specific,” Jus says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 347 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 347, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

The attorney doesn’t miss a beat. “I have a statement here from a Mr. Blake Benson alleging that you assaulted him and Jared Christensen, unprovoked, at Mr. Benson’s home the night of January eighteenth.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 348 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 348, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 348, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

SJ bites her lip.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 349 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 349, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Do you deny this accusation, Mr. McAllister?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 350 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 350, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“It wasn’t unprovoked.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 351 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 351, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Are you saying you didn’t assault Blake Benson at his own birthday party?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 352 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 352, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“No…”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 353 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 353, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“So you did assault Blake Benson and Jared Christensen.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 354 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 354, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Well, yes, but I was provoked.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 355 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 355, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She actually smiles. “You arrived at Blake Benson’s house with Emmanuel Rivers, and within ten minutes, you’d started an argument with Mr. Benson, correct?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 356 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 356, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 356, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I didn’t start the argument. He did.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 357 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 357, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 357, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

She looks down at the podium. “It says here that Mr. Benson asked

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 358 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 358, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 358, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

you and Mr. Rivers to come meet a young lady he was interested in. Is this true?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 359 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 359, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 359, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“No.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 360 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 360, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Oh, it’s not?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 361 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 361, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“He wasn’t ‘interested’ in her. He just wanted to get her in bed.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 362 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 362, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 362, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Mr. Benson said those exact words?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 363 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 363, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“No…but he implied.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 364 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 364, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I see, so the young lady was a friend of yours, and you were defending her honor, then?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 365 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 365, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I didn’t know the girl, but—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 366 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 366, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You were jealous, then.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 367 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 367, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“What? No!”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 368 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 368, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 368, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“For whatever reason, you didn’t like that Blake Benson wanted to take this girl to bed. So you assaulted him?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 369 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 369, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 369, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“That’s not how it happened.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 370 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 370, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Ah, that’s right. Jared Christensen came over to defend Blake Benson, whom you were threatening at his own birthday party, and so you assaulted both of them.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 371 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 371, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 371, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“That’s not what happened!”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 372 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 372, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Maintain your composure, Mr. McAllister,” the judge says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 373 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 373, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus breathes in deep and looks at SJ. She nods.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 374 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 374, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 374, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Tell me something,” the lawyer says. “After you attacked Jared Christensen and Blake Benson, Emmanuel Rivers reprimanded you, correct? He sided with the victims of your unprovoked assault—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 375 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 375, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 375, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 375, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I already told you I didn’t attack them.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 376 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 376, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Well, you certainly didn’t wish Mr. Benson a happy birthday, did you?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 377 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 377, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Some words were exchanged that led to an altercation.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 378 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 378, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Can you be more specific, Mr. McAllister?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 379 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 379, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus looks at Garrett. “A lot has happened since then. Can’t say I remember very clearly.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 380 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 380, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 380, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 380, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Hmm…are you having difficulty remembering due to more recent events, or because you were illegally intoxicated?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 381 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 381, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Objection, Your Honor!” says Mr. Rentzen.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 382 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 382, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Overruled.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 383 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 383, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Had you been drinking on the night of January eighteenth, Mr. McAllister?” she presses.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 384 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 384, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus sighs. “Yes, I had.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 385 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 385, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 385, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“And you hit Jared Christensen and Blake Benson, correct?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 386 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 386, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“They were making racist comments—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 387 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 387, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“A simple yes or no will do.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 388 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 388, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus can feel Mama’s gaze. “Yes.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 389 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 389, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 389, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

The defense attorney nods. “Mr. McAllister, now that we’ve established that both you and Mr. Rivers had a history of responding violently to perceived verbal slights, let’s return to January twenty-sixth of this year. How familiar are you with the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 390 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 390, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 390, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 390, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Not very.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 391 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 391, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Your Honor, I would like to enter the following into evidence.” She pulls a sheet of paper from her stack and walks over to the witness stand. “Mr. McAllister, read Article Four, section seventy-four-dash-one-thirty-three, aloud for the court, please. It’s highlighted there for you.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 392 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 392, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 392, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 392, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 392, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus looks into the crowd. Mama and Mrs. Friedman both seem on the verge of hopping the rail and smacking Garrett’s attorney.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 393 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 393, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 393, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He reads: “ ‘Above certain levels, noise or noise disturbance is detrimental to the health and welfare of the citizenry and the individual’s right to peaceful and quiet enjoyment. Therefore, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the city to prohibit noise disturbances from all sources.’

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 394 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 394, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 394, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 394, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Would you say your loud music was in violation of this ordinance, Mr. McAllister?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 395 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 395, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“What does this have to do with your client shooting me and my best friend?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 396 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 396, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Judge, please advise the witness that I am the one asking the questions.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 397 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 397, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Now even Doc looks pissed.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 398 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 398, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Watch your tone, Mr. McAllister,” the judge says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 399 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 399, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“My client is an officer of the law, Mr. McAllister. By refusing to lower the volume of your music, you were in direct opposition to a police order.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 400 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 400, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 400, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“We didn’t know he was a police officer. He didn’t show us a badge —”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 401 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 401, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 401, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“And yet the ordinance clearly states that noise disturbance violates the rights of others to peace and quiet. But of course you and your friend couldn’t have cared less about anyone else’s rights, could you?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 402 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 402, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 402, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus doesn’t respond.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 403 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 403, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Mr. McAllister, did your friend, Emmanuel Rivers, turn the music up when he was asked to turn it down?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 404 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 404, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yes.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 405 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 405, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Did the music you were listening to contain the line Here comes the fun…wait for the sound of the gun?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 406 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 406, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yes, but that’s out of contex—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 407 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 407, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Did Mr. Rivers use foul language and make an obscene gesture toward my client that you would’ve perceived as threat?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 408 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 408, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I don’t know what your client thought. I’m not him.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 409 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 409, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 409, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Are you aware that my client witnessed the shooting death of his partner by a young man physically similar to yourself?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 410 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 410, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“That doesn’t have anything to do with me—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 411 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 411, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Oh, but it does,” she says. “Because you had contact with this young man back in March, didn’t you?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 412 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 412, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 412, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus sighs. Dr. Rivers shuts her eyes and shakes her head.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 413 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 413, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 413, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yes, I did, but—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 414 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 414, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“And that young man—Quan Banks, I believe his name is— connected you to a group of young men with extensive criminal records and known gang affiliations, yes?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 415 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 415, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yes, but—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 416 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 416, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“And you met with these young men shortly before they deliberately set my client’s house on fire, is that correct?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 417 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 417, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“It is, but I didn’t have anything to do with that—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 418 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 418, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“No further questions, Your Honor.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 419 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 419, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Garrett Tison: MURDERER?

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 420 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 420, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

THE JURY IS STILL OUT

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 421 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 421, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

By: Ariel Trejetty

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 422 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 422, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Yesterday morning, a Georgia jury found former Atlanta police officer Garrett Tison guilty on three of the four charges related to the January incident in which he was accused of shooting two teenage boys after an argument over the volume of music.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 423 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 423, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

After 27 hours of deliberation, Tison was convicted of two misdemeanors—disorderly conduct and discharge of a pistol near a public highway—and aggravated assault, the less severe of the two felonies. The jury was unable to reach a consensus regarding the felony murder charge, and a mistrial was declared on that count.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 424 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 424, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 424, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Tison testified that he feared for his life, citing 27 years of law enforcement experience in support of his ability to detect a genuine threat. Though Tison’s claim that the teens had a gun was unsupported by evidence, the surviving teen, Justyce McAllister’s, exposed connection to known gang members, including sixteen-year-old Quan Banks, the young man charged with murdering Tison’s partner last August, cast a considerable pall over the proceedings.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 425 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 425, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 425, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Mr. Tison will be retried on the murder count and sentenced on all convictions at a later date.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 426 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 426, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

CHAPTER 23

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 427 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 427, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

It’s been two days.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 428 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 428, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Two full days, and the words unable to reach a verdict and mistrial and later date are still bouncing around in Jus’s head.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 429 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 429, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He and SJ have been watching National Geographic pretty much nonstop since they got back from the announcement of the verdict, but every time he blinks, Jus sees the third juror from the right in the back row, eyeing him like he shoulda been on trial for murder.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 430 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 430, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

A hung jury.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 431 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 431, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

No verdict.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 432 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 432, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

No sentence.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 433 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 433, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Another trial.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 434 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 434, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

SJ sighs like she can read Jus’s mind. She’s stretched out on the couch with her head in his lap, looking at a documentary about the migration of monarch butterflies, but Jus doubts she’s actually watching. Nothing in the world frustrates Sarah-Jane Friedman more than a “miscarriage of justice.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 435 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 435, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 435, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 435, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

It’s all so messed up. In two weeks, he and this gorgeous girl are supposed to get into his car and drive up the East Coast together. They’re supposed to go to Yale first and get Jus set up in the dorms— Mama wanted to come, but she can’t get off work, so it’ll be just the two of them. Once Jus is in, they’re supposed to take the train from New Haven to New York, where they’ll meet Mr. and Mrs. Friedman and get SJ settled at Columbia.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 436 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 436, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 436, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 436, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 436, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

They’re supposed to be moving on. Starting the next chapter. Never looking back.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 437 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 437, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 437, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 437, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

But at some point in the next six months, he’s going to have to come back here. He’s going to have to relive the afternoon he got shot and lost Manny.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 438 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 438, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 438, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Again.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 439 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 439, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“What are you thinking about?” SJ says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 440 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 440, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 440, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He could tell her, but from the bags under her eyes, she’s got enough on her mind. “Just the fact that you’re the best thing in my life,” he says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 441 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 441, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 441, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Oh god, Jus. Rom-com much? Le barf.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 442 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 442, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 442, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 442, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He laughs, and she smiles, and for a moment, everything’s fine.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 443 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 443, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Course it doesn’t last.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 444 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 444, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Jus, I think I hate everything,” she says. “Why can’t we all get along like butterflies?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 445 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 445, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 445, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He tucks her hair behind her ear. Tries to shift his focus to the TV, where layer upon layer of monarchs cover the trees in some Mexican forest. While he appreciates her sentiment, Jus wonders if she notices that all those butterflies look exactly alike.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 446 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 446, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 446, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 446, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

His cell phone rings. It’s Mr. Rentzen.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 447 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 447, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 447, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

He declines the call. The longer he can go without having to speak to the DA, the better.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 448 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 448, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 448, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Now all he can think about is how exhausted Mr. Rivers seemed as they said goodbye outside the courtroom. As much as Jus hates that the death of his best friend was minimized by the hung jury, he can’t begin to imagine what Manny’s parents must be going through.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 449 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 449, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 449, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Voice mail notification chimes.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 450 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 450, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Then a text message: “Justyce, call me ASAP.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 451 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 451, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus erases it.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 452 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 452, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

The phone rings again.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 453 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 453, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Who is that?” SJ asks.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 454 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 454, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 454, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“It’s Rentzen.” Jus declines the second call.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 455 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 455, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 455, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Oh god,” SJ says. “Can we change your number?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 456 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 456, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 456, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Mrs. F comes in from the kitchen with a phone to her ear.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 457 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 457, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Justyce, Mr. Rentzen is trying to get ahold of you—What’s that?” she says into the phone. Her eyes go wide. “You can’t be serious, Jeff.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 458 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 458, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 458, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 458, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

That can’t be good.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 459 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 459, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

SJ sits up. “Mom? What’s the matter?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 460 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 460, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 460, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 460, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Mrs. F holds up her index finger and continues to speak into the phone: “Mmhmm…Oh good lord…This is…And the perpetrators?…I can’t believe this, Jeff….”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 461 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 461, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Justyce can’t breathe. He lets his head fall back against the couch and closes his eyes.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 462 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 462, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 462, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Mom, can you take it to another room?” SJ says, putting her hand on Justyce’s knee. “You’re gonna give Jus a frickin’ heart attack!”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 463 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 463, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 463, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 463, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Jeff, I’ll call you back. I need to talk to the kids….Yeah….Strictly confidential, I understand.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 464 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 464, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 464, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Things can’t get worse, can they?

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 465 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 465, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Mrs. F hangs up.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 466 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 466, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Mom?” from SJ.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 467 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 467, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“There won’t be a second trial,” Mrs. F says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 468 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 468, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus rockets up, and SJ grabs his hand. “What?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 469 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 469, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 469, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Mrs. F looks at the phone in her hand. Then at the two of them.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 470 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 470, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 470, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Garrett Tison is dead.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 471 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 471, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Transcript from morning news, August 9

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 472 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 472, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Good morning, and welcome to Rise ’N’ Shine Atlanta on Fox 4.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 473 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 473, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

In our top story this morning, a mere forty-eight hours after a mistrial was declared in the proceedings against him, former APD officer Garrett Tison was found dead inside his cell at the Clarke County Jail.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 474 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 474, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

While details about the incident are being withheld pending investigation, three men have been implicated in the matter, two of whom were already awaiting trial on murder charges.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 475 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 475, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

In a statement to police, Garrett Tison’s attorney claimed she received a phone call from Mr. Tison alleging that guards refused to put him in isolation despite his complaints about receiving threats.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 476 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 476, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

The sheriff’s office is also conducting an internal administrative review.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 477 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 477, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

More on this story as it continues to develop.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 478 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 478, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

August 25

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 479 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 479, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

DEAR MARTIN,

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 480 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 480, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Welp, I’m here.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 481 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 481, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

The illustrious Yale University.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 482 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 482, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

I’m actually writing this from beneath a picture of you that SJ hung over my desk. It was a going-away gift from Doc.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 483 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 483, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 483, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

I gotta be honest, Martin: your picture is making me a little uncomfortable.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 484 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 484, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Actually, no. I take that back. It’s not your picture. It’s being here at this school.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 485 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 485, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 485, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 485, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 485, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

A lot has happened since I last wrote to you, most of which I haven’t really had time to process. Hard to believe that this time last year, I was starting my whole experiment.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 486 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 486, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 486, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

What I find most interesting reading through the letters: I can’t figure out what I was trying to accomplish. Yeah, I wanted to “be like Martin,” but to what end? I wasn’t trying to move mountains of injustice or fight for the equal rights of masses of people…

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 487 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 487, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 487, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 487, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

So what exactly was I trying to achieve? I’ve been thinking about it for days and haven’t come up with an answer.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 488 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 488, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 488, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

On the one hand, I feel like I should thank you: while there were black students at Yale as early as the 1850s, I doubt I would be here without all you did to “challenge the status quo,” as Doc put it.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 489 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 489, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

On the other hand, though, I feel crazy outta place. I’m in a four-person suite broken down into a living room and two bedrooms, and while I was in here setting up my half of the room, my roommate came in looking like he stepped straight out of a Ralph Lauren ad. Blond, blue-eyed white dude with a deep side part and comb-over, wearing a blindingly white polo tucked into plaid shorts, and a pair of tasseled loafers. After staring at your picture for a few seconds, and then giving me the type of once-over that would’ve made the guys from my neighborhood

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 490 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 490, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 490, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 490, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 490, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

throw a punch, dude finally stuck out his hand. “Roosevelt Carothers,” he said.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 491 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 491, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 491, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Now, okay, Martin. I tried not to judge the magazine by the advertising, but standing there with this guy looking down his pointy nose at me made me wish I were rooming with Jared Christensen (he’s going to school here too). At least then I would’ve known what I was dealing with.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 492 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 492, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 492, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 492, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

But this Roosevelt guy?

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 493 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 493, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“So where you from…is it Just-ICE? Like rhymes with ‘price’?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 494 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 494, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 494, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Martin…

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 495 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 495, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“It’s Justice, man. Just with a ‘y.’ I’m from Atlanta.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 496 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 496, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 496, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 496, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Everything went downhill from there because he put two and two together—my name and face were all over the news until like a week ago. Then when SJ came back in from the bathroom and I introduced her as my girlfriend, dude’s entire demeanor changed for the negative. I know I wasn’t imagining it because as soon as he left, SJ said, “What the hell is his deal?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 497 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 497, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 497, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 497, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Martin, I just— It never ends, does it? No matter what I do, for the rest of my life I’m gonna find myself in situations like this, aren’t I? It’s exactly what Mr. Julian told Manny and me, but there’s a part of me that still doesn’t wanna believe it.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 498 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 498, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 498, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 498, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

And all right, benefit of the doubt: maybe I’m making this a race thing when it’s not. I’ll admit my filter’s a little tainted after the past eight months…scratch that: after the past year.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 499 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 499, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 499, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

But that’s the thing, Martin. I CAN’T not notice when someone is eyeing me like I’m less than, and at this point, my mind automatically goes to race.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 500 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 500, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 500, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

No clue what to do about that.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 501 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 501, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Which brings me back to my original point: What was my goal with the Be Like Martin thing? Was I trying to get more respect? (Fail.) Was I trying to be “more acceptable”? (Fail.) Did I think it would keep me out of trouble? (Epic fail.) Really, what was the purpose?

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 502 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 502, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 502, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 502, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 502, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 502, Sentence 5 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 502, Sentence 6 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 502, Sentence 7 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 502, Sentence 8 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

What I do know: I just went from being one of three black students in a class of 82 to one of…well, very, very few in a much larger number. Yeah, Garrett Tison is gone, but like Mr. Julian said, the world is full of people who will always see me as inferior. Roomie Roosevelt just proved that.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 503 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 503, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 503, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 503, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

I keep coming back to something Doc said during “Thug-Gate”: If nothing ever changes, what type of man am I gonna be? Chewing on that over the past few days, I’ve started to wonder if maybe my experiment failed because I was asking the wrong damn question.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 504 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 504, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 504, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Every challenge I’ve faced, it’s been What would Martin do? and I could never come up with a real answer. But if I go with Doc’s thinking—Who would Martin BE?—well, that’s easy: you’d be yourself. THE eminent MLK: nonviolent, not easily discouraged, and firm in your beliefs.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 505 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 505, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 505, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 505, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

And maybe that’s my problem: I haven’t really figured out who I am or what I believe yet.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 506 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 506, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

I found this letter you wrote the editor of the Atlanta Constitution where you said, “We (as in Black people) want and are entitled to the basic rights and opportunities of American citizens…” It’s from 1946, which means you were seventeen when you wrote it. That’s the same age I was when I had that exact thought for the first time.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 507 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 507, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 507, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Not sure if you were the Martin the world is familiar with by seventeen (prolly not, right?), but knowing you were my age gives me hope that maybe I’ve got some time to figure things out.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 508 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 508, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

At least I hope I do. If not, this is gonna be a long four years. Hell, a long rest of my life.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 509 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 509, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 509, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 509, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Anyway, I gotta run. SJ and I have a train to catch.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 510 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 510, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 510, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Thanks for everything.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 511 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 511, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Until we meet again,

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 512 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 512, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Justyce

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 513 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 513, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

FOUR MONTHS LATER

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 514 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 514, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

There’s already someone standing over Manny’s grave as Justyce approaches. Part of him wants to turn around, go sit in his car until the person leaves—but he knows that’s not what Manny would want him to do.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 515 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 515, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 515, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“ ’Sup, dawg?” Jus says as he steps up.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 516 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 516, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 516, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

EMMANUEL JULIAN RIVERS

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 517 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 517, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

BELOVED SON

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 518 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 518, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“YOU HAVE SORROW NOW, BUT I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN,

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 519 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 519, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

AND YOUR HEARTS WILL REJOICE.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 520 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 520, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jared looks at Justyce, and then back at the headstone. He wipes his eyes. “How’s it goin’, man?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 521 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 521, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 521, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 521, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Sorry for interrupting,” Jus says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 522 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 522, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“It’s cool. Kinda nice to have someone else here. Merry Christmas, by the way.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 523 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 523, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 523, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 523, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Same to you.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 524 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 524, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jared exhales. It fogs up the air in front of his face. “I still miss him so much, dude,” he says, his voice breaking. “It’s been almost a year and I still just can’t—I’m sorry, man, you don’t wanna hear all this.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 525 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 525, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 525, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 525, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 525, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Nah, it’s cool.” Now Jus’s eyes are moist. “I understand, man. I really do.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 526 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 526, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 526, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 526, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 526, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“He’s never gonna visit me at college or be my best man, you know?” Jared shakes his head. “When I first got to the dorms, my roommate was already set up in our room. Guy looks up at me and goes ‘ ’Sup, homie? Name’s Amir Tsarfati. Call me A.T.’ ”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 527 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 527, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 527, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 527, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 527, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 527, Sentence 5 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 527, Sentence 6 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

The impression Jared does makes Justyce laugh. A.T. was his chem lab partner this past semester.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 528 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 528, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Anyway, he’s got some music on, and I kid you not, Justyce, the guy’s playlist went from Deuce Diggs to Carrie Underwood.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 529 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 529, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“For real?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 530 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 530, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yeah, bro. I thought to myself, ‘Manny would love this guy.’ ” He sighs again. “It’s just hard. My grandma died when I was a kid, and my mom told me, ‘She lives on inside of everyone who loved her.’ Prolly

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 531 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 531, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 531, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 531, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 531, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 531, Sentence 5 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 531, Sentence 6 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

sounds stupid, but I really want that to be true about Manny. It’s why I come here every time I’m home. He was my first real friend. I thought we’d grow old together and shit, you know?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 532 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 532, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 532, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 532, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 532, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus doesn’t respond. There’s nothing to say.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 533 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 533, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 533, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

For a few minutes they stand in silence. Then: “It’s good to see you, man,” Jared says.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 534 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 534, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 534, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You too, dawg.” And Jus really means it.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 535 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 535, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 535, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Is it weird that we don’t see each other at school more?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 536 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 536, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus shrugs. “It is a pretty big place.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 537 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 537, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 537, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“That’s true. How do you think you did in Marroni’s class?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 538 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 538, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 538, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I did all right. Probably A-minus at the worst.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 539 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 539, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 539, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Figures.” Jared looks at Jus and grins.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 540 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 540, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 540, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Which makes Jus smile. Just a little.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 541 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 541, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 541, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“So…” Jus clears his throat. “Did you pick a major yet?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 542 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 542, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 542, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“I did,” Jared says. “I decided I wanna go into civil rights law instead of business—”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 543 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 543, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 543, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You did?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 544 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 544, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yeah. My dad just about shit himself when I told him. Anyway, I took an Intro to African American Studies course, and it really blew me away, dude. I’m thinking about minoring in it.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 545 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 545, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 545, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 545, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 545, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Damn. That’s pretty dope,” Jus says. “So you’re liking Yale overall, then?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 546 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 546, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 546, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 546, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Loving it. How ’bout you, man? You enjoying it so far?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 547 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 547, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 547, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 547, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“For the most part. My roommate’s kind of an asshole, but you can’t win ’em all, I guess.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 548 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 548, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 548, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Carothers, right?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 549 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 549, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“That’s him.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 550 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 550, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jared nods. “He was in my calc class. I’ve heard some things. Your suitemates are cool, though?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 551 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 551, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 551, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 551, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 551, Sentence 4 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Yeah. They’re great. Prolly wouldn’t survive without those fools.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 552 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 552, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 552, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 552, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jared laughs. “That’s awesome. Mine are cool too.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 553 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 553, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 553, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 553, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Glad to hear it.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 554 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 554, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“So how’s SJ?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 555 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 555, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus can’t help but smile now. “She’s great, man. Loving New York.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 556 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 556, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 556, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 556, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You two still going strong?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 557 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 557, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Oh yeah. That girl is gonna have my babies one day, dawg.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 558 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 558, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 558, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jared laughs even harder. “Awesome.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 559 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 559, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 559, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Don’t tell her I said that. I’d never hear the end of it.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 560 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 560, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 560, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“My lips are sealed.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 561 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 561, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“You got a girl up there yet?”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 562 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 562, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Nah, bro. Lotta fish in that Ivy sea. Can’t limit myself.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 563 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 563, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 563, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 563, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus snorts. “You sound like Manny.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 564 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 564, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 564, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“Pffft. I wish. That dude was a titan with the ladies.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 565 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 565, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 565, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 565, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“He really was.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 566 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 566, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

They settle into a comfortable silence, both staring at the headstone. A cool wind blows around them, and it’s like Jus can feel the EJR on his watchband pressing into the skin of his once-swollen wrist.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 567 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 567, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 567, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

“We should chill sometime,” Jus says. “You could come with me to New York one weekend or somethin’.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 568 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 568, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 568, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

There’s a beat and then: “I’d really like that, Justyce.” Jared turns to Jus and smiles.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 569 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 569, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 569, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Jus reads the words on Manny’s headstone: I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice. “Me too, Jared,” he says. “Me too.”

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 570 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 570, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 570, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 570, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 571 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 571, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

It goes without saying that a lot of time and effort and energy went into this project. My list of thanks to those most directly involved:

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 572 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 572, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 572, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
  1. God—for everything.
  2. New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 573 0
    No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 573, Sentence 1 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
  1. Nigel—for believing in me and taking care of the children.
  2. New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 574 0
    No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 574, Sentence 1 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
  1. Pop, Marcus, Jeff, Jason, Jordan, Rachel W., Tanya, Shani, Becky, Reintgen, Michael, Ange, Jay, Wesaun, Elijah, Sarah H., Brandy, Dhonielle, Brendan, Ryy—for reading and encouraging.
  2. New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 575 0
    No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 575, Sentence 1 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
  1. Jodi—for…honestly there’s way too much to list, so I’m gonna go with for YOU.
  2. New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 576 0
    No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 576, Sentence 1 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
  1. Dede—for pushing and praying.
  2. New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 577 0
    No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 577, Sentence 1 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
  1. Jordan (again)—for keeping me on my toes.
  2. New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 578 0
    No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 578, Sentence 1 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
  1. Rena—for being my fairy god-agent AND my friend, and never letting me get ahead of myself. And letting me be annoying. And stubborn.
  2. New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 579 0
    No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 579, Sentence 1 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 579, Sentence 2 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 579, Sentence 3 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
  1. Elizabeth—for helping Phoebe rip me a new one.
  2. New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 580 0
    No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 580, Sentence 1 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
  1. Phoebe—for making me cut the thing in half and talking me down from multiple ledges. And for still loving me when I was being a jackass. (Seriously could not ask for a better editor, good lord.)
  2. New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 581 0
    No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 581, Sentence 1 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 581, Sentence 2 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 581, Sentence 3 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
  1. Mom and Dad—for making me.
  2. New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 582 0
    No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 582, Sentence 1 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
  1. Kiran and Milo—for being the reasons I do any of this.
  2. New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 583 0
    No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 583, Sentence 1 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
  1. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—for starting the fire. I hope I stoked the flames so it continues to burn.
  2. New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 584 0
    No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 584, Sentence 1 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 584, Sentence 2 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
    New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
    Paragraph 584, Sentence 3 0
    No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 585 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 585, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Nic Stone was born and raised in a suburb of Atlanta, and the only thing she loves more than an adventure is a good story about one. After graduating from Spelman College, she went on to work extensively in teen mentoring and lived in Israel for a few years before returning to the United States to write full-time. Growing up with a wide range of cultures, religions, and backgrounds, Stone strives to bring these diverse voices and stories to her work.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 586 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 586, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 586, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 586, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Dear Martin is her first novel and is loosely based on a series of true events involving the shooting deaths of unarmed African American teenagers. Shaken by the various responses to these incidents—and to the pro-justice movement that sprang up as a result—Stone began the project in an attempt to examine current affairs through the lens of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s teachings.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 587 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 587, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 587, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 587, Sentence 3 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

Stone lives in Atlanta with her husband and two sons. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @getnicced or on her website at nicstone.info.

New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 588 0
No paragraph-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 588, Sentence 1 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.
New Thinking Partner Conversation New Conversation
Paragraph 588, Sentence 2 0
No sentence-level conversations. Start one.

DMU Timestamp: September 03, 2020 08:33

General Document Comments 0
New Thinking Partner Conversation Start a new Document-level conversation

Image
0 comments, 0 areas
add area
add comment
change display
Video
add comment

Quickstart: Commenting and Sharing

How to Comment
  • Click icons on the left to see existing comments.
  • Desktop/Laptop: double-click any text, highlight a section of an image, or add a comment while a video is playing to start a new conversation.
    Tablet/Phone: single click then click on the "Start One" link (look right or below).
  • Click "Reply" on a comment to join the conversation.
How to Share Documents
  1. "Upload" a new document.
  2. "Invite" others to it.

Logging in, please wait... Blue_on_grey_spinner