Stuart and Dylan had been inseparable since kindergarten. Now 16, the two boys were known throughout Jefferson High as the kind of students every teacher wished they had more of.
Stuart, with his quiet intelligence and gentle manner, tutored younger kids after school without ever asking for a dime. Dylan, broad-shouldered and athletic, spent his weekends coaching Little League instead of showing off on the varsity field.

Both came from families that struggled to make ends meet. Stuart’s mother worked double shifts at the diner, while Dylan’s father had been laid off from the factory three years running. Despite their circumstances, neither boy complained. They studied hard, played harder, and carried themselves with a humility that made them beloved by everyone who crossed their path.

“You think Coach will let us skip practice on Friday?” Dylan asked as they walked home one afternoon, their backpacks slung over their shoulders.

“For what?” Stuart glanced at his friend.