When our story opens, Stacy drops out of school. His mother, exhausted from days at WalMart and nights waiting tables, is not pleased. But his hostile stepfather Cal chortles over his decision. Frustrated by Cal's contempt, Stacy leaves home as well. He heads down to the liquor store to phone his friends to come get him.

He considers calling Ange with whom he would love to be "exclusive." But something holds him back: what will the others say? So he calls Lamar. It's a fateful decision. He ends up ... Please click for full review of Stepping Up to the Plate on ObsidianBookshelf.com. ( )