The only sheet he can find has flowers all over it. He feels like he's in the middle of a damned garden. They begin putting the frame together, Cody holding the female end of each half circle while Jordie slides in the male. They lay the hoop on the patio. There are eight collars welded to the frame, and they slide a leg into each one.
Kids start dropping by.
They'll all get a turn. Kyle's height, just a squirt, leans against the chain link gate a long time, not saying anything. Just like the preacher's boy that he is. He's just teasing, of course. The kid doesn't say anything back and in a while he starts off toward home.