Bobby Brandon's days as a high-school football star are years behind him - but he never had to let them go. He teaches in his old school and has an easy life in the town that raised him, a town that is changing more quickly than he realizes. When a new teacher arrives and two unusual students come into his care, he discovers that his community thinks far less highly of him than he does of himself. Bobby tries to help his charges while attempting to live up to his own image, a mission that will have permanent consequences for them all.

Robert MacMillan has worked as a reporter and editor since 1995, covering the media business, local news, Indian current events and more. He is the author of "Haiku 61 Revisited: The songs of Bob Dylan, interpreted as haiku." This is his first novel.