The fact that I’d helped Nikki get enough signatures for a vote on the flag—and that Jack’s was one of those signatures—certainly didn’t bring us any closer. Somehow, they forgave him and blamed me. The night Nikki turned in our signatures there was a big celebration at her church. My whole family came, but Jack didn’t. I told myself it was okay. After all, he’d signed the petition in front of his friends. He mentored kids of all different colors who needed help. He was totally supportive of Black and White and Redford All Over; he’d even said he’d make some calls and try to get me an interview with the Klan guy. So what more could I possibly want from him? A voice inside my head answered: You want him to stand with you. Not just in front of his friends, but in front of everyone. You want him to choose. The next day, McSorley announced that the signatures were certified. After that, we waited all week for him to say when the vote on the new team name and emblem would take place.
