2. T.J. grows close to a young girl named Heidi who is emotionally and mentally abused by her racist stepfather, Rich. Child Protection Services got involved through an anonymous report when Rich decided Heidi had earned twenty-five “spanks” with his belt (Crutcher 73).
3. T.J.’s goal for the swim team is to have the entire team letter. The swim coach comes up with a letter requirement that makes that possible. “How about anybody who hits his best time each time he swims, gets a letter” (Crutcher 97).
4. T.J.’s father, John, shares with T.J the story of how he unintentionally murdered the baby boy of his girlfriend by running over him. “Why didn’t I look under the truck? It would have taken three seconds to save his life” (Crutcher 115).
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Heidi and her mother, Alicia move into the Jones household to get away from Rich. “Think she’ll be at our place a long time?” (Crutcher 120).
6. Rich begins stalking the house and even threatens T.J. with a gun. He pulls up his T-shirt, exposing the butt of a pistol (Crutcher 174).
7. Alicia takes the kids to see Rich and is kicked out T.J.’s house for breaking putting Heidi at risk. Dad tells Alicia she’d better pack her stuff, because when her caseworker in the morning, she’ll surely have to move out (Crutcher 192).
8. The athletic council has many meeting debating the letter requirements. In the end, the entire team letters except T.J. by choice. “Then Simet hand out our letters, never mentioning the controversy…” (Crutcher