Show up.
Stay clean.
Don't lie.
The man lasted.
Cody's grades improved.
He gained twelve pounds.
Brian moved him from scout team to the regular freshman rotation.
Then, late one Thursday, Cody came home holding an envelope.
Jackson was underneath a 1972 Chevrolet Nova in the garage.
"Jax."
"Yeah?"
"You busy?"
"Car's trying to kill me."
"Okay."
Cody started leaving.
Jackson rolled out immediately.
"What?"
"You said you're busy."
"You sounded weird."
Cody held out the envelope.
Jackson wiped his hands on a rag and opened it.
Oak Creek High School Football Program.
End-of-Year Awards Banquet.
Jackson looked up.
"What is this?"
"Coach nominated me."
"For what?"
"Comeback Player."
Jackson smiled.
"That's my kid."
"I'm not your kid."
"Basically are."
"You're my brother."
"Technicality."
Cody looked embarrassed.
"Will you come?"
Jackson's expression changed.
"Of course."
"There's one problem."
"What?"
"You can't wear that."
Cody pointed toward the leather cut hanging near the garage door.
Jackson stared at it.
"You ashamed of me?"
"No."
"Then..."
"Principal's replacement has a no-gang-symbol policy."
Jackson considered the irony.
"Fair."
Cody smiled.
"You have a normal jacket?"
"No."
"Seriously?"
"I have hoodies."
"We're buying you a jacket."
"Absolutely not."
Three days later, Cody forced him into a department store.
Jackson hated every second.
At the banquet, Coach Brian stood at the podium.
Families filled the decorated gymnasium.
Jackson sat near the back in a black sport coat that Cody had chosen.
It fit badly across the shoulders.
Cody thought that made it even funnier.
Brian announced several awards.
Then finally:
"Comeback Player of the Year, Cody Sullivan."
Applause filled the room.
Cody stood.
For a second, he froze.
Crowds still made him nervous.
Then he saw Jackson.
His brother stood first.
Clapping.
No leather vest.
No motorcycle.
No threatening phone calls.
Just Jackson.
Cody walked toward the stage.
Brian handed him the plaque.
"Say something."
Cody's eyes widened.
"You didn't tell me there was a speech."
"Character building."
"I hate you."
"Microphone's live."
The audience laughed.
Cody stood behind the podium.
He looked at the plaque.
Then at the people.
"I don't really know what to say."
He paused.
"I didn't have a great year."
The room became quiet.
"Actually, part of it was pretty terrible."
More silence.
"But Coach Matthews told me something."
Brian looked surprised.
Cody continued.
"He told me I wasn't in trouble."
His voice softened.
"That sounds like a small thing."
Jackson watched.
"But sometimes when bad stuff keeps happening to you, you start thinking maybe you're the problem."
Several parents lowered their eyes.
"I thought asking for help would make everything worse."
Cody glanced toward Jackson.