Marty Smith was born in Accident, Maryland, and his whole life reflected it: he missed the game-winning free-throw junior year, got chicken pox twice in grade school, even lost his mother to cancer. To break this supposed curse, he fled Accident as soon as he graduated high school.<br><br>Now, ten years later, Marty must face his past when he's forced to care for his suddenly-immobile father. Marty knows his close-minded hometown hasn't changed, but seeing an old classmate named Colten Williams makes him wish things were different. The more time he spends with Colten, the more he wants to stay. Accident isn’t so bad when viewed through Colten’s eyes.<br><br>Or is it just the curse lulling him into a false sense of security before it pounces again?

The Accident Curse

Two months ago, and I would have been the one making that joke, I realized. I hated everything about back home, thinking all the people were stupid and simple. But I’d been proved wrong. Beyond wrong. I had taken all my fears and worries—mostly of the curse—and reflected it on everyone back there. I was so afraid they’d judge me and my lifestyle when I’d already done it to them. How insensitive was I? How hypocritical?


“We mostly watched television,” I said, focusing on the here and now. I could do deep meditation later. “And I bought Dad Netflix, so we watched movies. I also took him to a Pirates game in Pittsburgh. It was amazing. They beat the Cubs easily.”


“Glad to see your baseball lust hasn’t diminished,” Jason said.


“Of course not. It was fantastic to see the stadium again.” I sighed, missing Colten and Dad and Maryland all over again. “What about here? Anything happen?”


Chapter 49