with a vengeance, evidence that his tumor was on the move again. He lost his sense of taste, could no longer drive or leave the house. Dana was beside herself because now it was harder than ever to be alone with him.
She practiced relentlessly for the upcoming state competitions, driving herself to new levels of excellence. Bobby was her sole diversion. Their friends headed off to Florida for spring break. “I can't leave Steve,” Bobby said. “Go if you want to.”
“No,” she said. “I don't want to. I wouldn't have a good time without you, knowing you were here alone.” It was a partial truth. She couldn't leave Steve either.
In late March, SAT scores arrived for their high school. Dana scored high enough to meet Juilliard's academic standards, which pleasedher parents and sealed their promise to send her there, scholarship or not. But Bobby Harrod earned 1600—a perfect score. He was one of only seven hundred high school seniors to do so in the entire country.
Nine
obby's SAT score brought him instant fame. The city newspaper called for an interview, and once the reporter picked up on Bobby's relationship to Steve, the great FSU quarterback struck down by cancer, other reporters came. “CNN showed the video clip from our local station last night,” Bobby told Dana at school. “It about blew us away. We're all used to seeing Steve on the screen, not me. Dad didn't know what to say.”
“Sorry I missed it. Did you like seeing yourself bragged about?”
He shrugged. “Face it, it's only news because I'm Steve's brother.”
“No, it's news because only seven hundred other people in the country made a perfect score on their SATs.”
A group of Bobby's friends walked past and made a ceremony of bowing toward him. “Knock it off, wise guys,” Bobby said.
His friends laughed, but Dana could see that the attention pleased him. “So how should we celebrate your first national news coverage?” she asked.
“Celebrations will have to wait until after I get home from Brain Bowl.”
Jackson High's team had advanced to the state finals, so Bobby and his teammates were headed off to Charlotte for the weekend.
“With you there, I'm sure we'll win,” Dana told him. “And then we'll have two things to celebrate. The finals will be televised.”
“On cable access,” Bobby said dismissively. “But you will watch, won't you?”
“I wouldn't miss it. There's supposed to be a big party in the cafeteria with the whole school invited to watch. Maybe I'll have a seat of honor because I'm Bobby's girl.” She grinned impishly.
“I want you to watch it at my house—withSteve. He asked if that would be okay with me and I told him sure … that is, if it's okay with you, Dana.”
She hadn't seen Steve in more than two weeks, and her heart leaped in anticipation, “It's okay with me,” she said, hoping her voice didn't betray her eagerness.
“Steve doesn't see many people these days, so count yourself among the lucky few.” Bobby adjusted his armload of books. “I want Steve to be happy, and if spending an afternoon with my girl will do the trick, I'm for it.”
“Then your girl will be pleased to return the favor.”
“I do it all for love,” Bobby said, kissing her forehead.
She watched him walk away, ashamed of her deception but ecstatic about the opportunity to spend more time with the one she loved.
The Harrods had turned their family room into a hospital room just for Steve. He had a special bed, a TV, videos, and a laptop computer, as well as a table, sofa, and fireplace all to himself. Dana was impressed with the setup and told him so.
“I told Mom and Dad it wasn't necessary, but they insisted. I think they needed something to do, something else to think about.” He gestured. “Besides, it's big enough for all of us to be together at the same time. No crowding.” He held out his hand. “Come here. Let me look at you.”
Her heart hammered. His illness was taking its toll. He was
She practiced relentlessly for the upcoming state competitions, driving herself to new levels of excellence. Bobby was her sole diversion. Their friends headed off to Florida for spring break. “I can't leave Steve,” Bobby said. “Go if you want to.”
“No,” she said. “I don't want to. I wouldn't have a good time without you, knowing you were here alone.” It was a partial truth. She couldn't leave Steve either.
In late March, SAT scores arrived for their high school. Dana scored high enough to meet Juilliard's academic standards, which pleasedher parents and sealed their promise to send her there, scholarship or not. But Bobby Harrod earned 1600—a perfect score. He was one of only seven hundred high school seniors to do so in the entire country.
Nine
obby's SAT score brought him instant fame. The city newspaper called for an interview, and once the reporter picked up on Bobby's relationship to Steve, the great FSU quarterback struck down by cancer, other reporters came. “CNN showed the video clip from our local station last night,” Bobby told Dana at school. “It about blew us away. We're all used to seeing Steve on the screen, not me. Dad didn't know what to say.”
“Sorry I missed it. Did you like seeing yourself bragged about?”
He shrugged. “Face it, it's only news because I'm Steve's brother.”
“No, it's news because only seven hundred other people in the country made a perfect score on their SATs.”
A group of Bobby's friends walked past and made a ceremony of bowing toward him. “Knock it off, wise guys,” Bobby said.
His friends laughed, but Dana could see that the attention pleased him. “So how should we celebrate your first national news coverage?” she asked.
“Celebrations will have to wait until after I get home from Brain Bowl.”
Jackson High's team had advanced to the state finals, so Bobby and his teammates were headed off to Charlotte for the weekend.
“With you there, I'm sure we'll win,” Dana told him. “And then we'll have two things to celebrate. The finals will be televised.”
“On cable access,” Bobby said dismissively. “But you will watch, won't you?”
“I wouldn't miss it. There's supposed to be a big party in the cafeteria with the whole school invited to watch. Maybe I'll have a seat of honor because I'm Bobby's girl.” She grinned impishly.
“I want you to watch it at my house—withSteve. He asked if that would be okay with me and I told him sure … that is, if it's okay with you, Dana.”
She hadn't seen Steve in more than two weeks, and her heart leaped in anticipation, “It's okay with me,” she said, hoping her voice didn't betray her eagerness.
“Steve doesn't see many people these days, so count yourself among the lucky few.” Bobby adjusted his armload of books. “I want Steve to be happy, and if spending an afternoon with my girl will do the trick, I'm for it.”
“Then your girl will be pleased to return the favor.”
“I do it all for love,” Bobby said, kissing her forehead.
She watched him walk away, ashamed of her deception but ecstatic about the opportunity to spend more time with the one she loved.
The Harrods had turned their family room into a hospital room just for Steve. He had a special bed, a TV, videos, and a laptop computer, as well as a table, sofa, and fireplace all to himself. Dana was impressed with the setup and told him so.
“I told Mom and Dad it wasn't necessary, but they insisted. I think they needed something to do, something else to think about.” He gestured. “Besides, it's big enough for all of us to be together at the same time. No crowding.” He held out his hand. “Come here. Let me look at you.”
Her heart hammered. His illness was taking its toll. He was
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