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talk would have to be done later on, privately.
    Maybe I wasn’t the quickest person in the world, but as I spent the rest of that day thinking, I was pretty sure I knew what we were going to be talking about—steroids. It was the only thing that made sense. What else could make me stronger? What else would hewant Tony to talk to me about—especially in private?
    We’d learned about steroids in health class. They could help you build bigger muscles and get stronger, but they had side effects. Things like bad skin and baldness—was Tony bald? The way his head was shaved and shiny, who could tell? I also knew there were long-term effects of steroids. Couldn’t they cause kidney problems? Or was it cancer? I should have paid more attention. I could still look it up, but not now. Maybe he was going to talk about something else. Maybe.
    A car’s horn startled me out of my thoughts. It was a big black SUV, and as I watched, the darkly tinted driver’s window glided down. It was Tony.
    â€œGet in!” he yelled.
    I climbed in.
    â€œNice wheels,” I said as I settled into my seat.
    â€œThanks. You want to drive?”
    â€œMe? I don’t have a driver’s license.”
    â€œDo you want to drive anyway?”
    â€œI think it would be better if I didn’t.”
    â€œSuit yourself, but sometimes you have to push those boundaries a bit.”
    We started driving. It was strange seeing him someplace other than the weight room. It was almost like he’d been living there, sleeping on the exercise mats. We drove along in silence, music playing softly in the background.
    â€œDid Coach tell you what we’re going to talk about?” Tony asked.
    â€œA way to get stronger.”
    â€œDid he tell you what that would involve?”
    I shook my head. “But I think I have an idea.”
    â€œGo on,” he said.
    Now I felt like I shouldn’t talk. What if I was wrong? “Maybe I shouldn’t say it.”
    â€œMaybe you should.”
    I swallowed hard. “Steroids,” I said. My voice was barely loud enough to be heard over the CD.
    â€œAnd what do you think about them?” he asked.
    â€œI don’t know exactly what to think.”
    â€œYou know that I take them,” Tony said.
    â€œI thought that maybe you might have,” I admitted.
    â€œNobody gets this big and strong without them. Have you heard about the health issues?”
    â€œSome.”
    â€œWhat have you heard?” Tony asked.
    â€œThey can cause baldness, kidney problems, cancer and skin problems.”
    â€œJust for the record, my skin was bad before I took steroids, and I shave my head because the babes love their men to be bald and built.” He paused. “You must find the babes go after you, right?” he said. He laughed and reached over and gave me a little tap on the arm.
    â€œAnd all that other stuff, cancer, kidney problems. Do you know where all those results came from?”
    I shook my head.
    â€œStudies on rats. They gave them gigantic doses and kept giving it to them until they croaked. Most of those studies are just garbage. I know lots and lots of people who are on the juice, and none of them have any problems.”
    That was encouraging to hear.
    â€œBesides, nobody’s talking about you doing anything long-term. A twelve-week cycle. Maybe a second twelve-week cycle in the spring in the playoffs when the college scouts are all there. That’s all. Do you think Coach Barnes would ever recommend anything that would hurt you?” Tony asked. “You should hear the way he talks about you—like a son—like he still talks about Jessie.”
    â€œJessie McCarthy?”
    â€œCoach says he’s the best captain he’s ever had, but he said that might change.”
    â€œWow,” I said softly. “Could I ask you a question?”
    â€œShoot?”
    â€œJessie…did he? Does he