Noah

Schneider’s Field was alive with noise and heat.

The bonfire roared in the center of the clearing, sparks shooting into the night sky like fireflies on steroids. Music blasted from somebody’s truck, and clusters of people were spread out everywhere — sitting on coolers, leaning against cars, tossing footballs around in the dark.

It was a scene straight out of every small-town Friday night… except it was only Monday, and half the school had shown up anyway.

I stood with ...