Chapter 12

“Are you sure you want to go south?” teased Jared, as if perhaps that was the wrong answer. He could see that Shai was always trying to do what was right, but never really thinking about the answers himself.

“Don’t tease me. South!”

They walked side by side, not speaking at first, but gazing on the street below and westward toward the fading sky preparing for the winter sunset. The park was fairly empty, lacking too many footprints. Early snow had drifted around the withered plants, and frost lined the branches of the short naked trees. Occasionally a gust of wind blew up from below, causing Jared to shiver.

“So I realize I don’t know anything about you, really,” said Jared, opening the conversation. “I mean, you play basketball like a champ, you’re tall and good-looking, you’re into computers, and you’re modern Orthodox. But what else? Tell me about Shai Goodhart?”