“HEY!” A voice echoed through the stadium.

Daniel’s heart thumped as his hands fumbled around the inside of the bag. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw them approaching. Crap, they were not supposed to be back yet. A mixture of fear and anxiety raced throughout his body. 

“What are you doing?” the voice shouted again. This time it was closer and accompanied by more voices.

Daniel popped up and swung the bag over his back. The polyester straps hugged his shoulders as tiny beads of sweat trickled down his forehead. He was trapped. Going up was not an option, and going down would inevitably lead to an unpleasant and painful encounter. The only way out was over the side of the bleachers, and Daniel understood that he would be long gone by the time his pursuers managed to get up and over the fence. 

“Mom assured them that life would be better in the U.S., but she was wrong.”

He bolted towards the end of the bleachers, and his pursuers quickly followed. The repetitive banging of feet on the metal bleachers reminded him of when the April storms would beat the tin roof of the shack he shared with his family in Haiti. Mom assured them that life would be better in the U.S., but she was wrong. With each step, the edge of the bleachers drew closer, and the pounding of feet behind him grew further and further away. Without breaking stride, he planted his right foot and burst into the air, heat scorching his palms as he gripped the railing and swung his feet over. Daniel prepared his feet for the soft landing below, but his body jerked back and slammed against the fence. He slid down to the ground with a thud. Disappointed, he watched as the bag dangled above. Leaving without it meant that he would avoid getting caught. But he wanted that bag; he needed that bag. A rush of adrenaline jolted him to his feet, and with newfound energy, Daniel jumped and swatted the bag. But it didn’t come down. The combination of voices and the banging of feet grew louder as the boys barreled down the bleachers. It was now or never; he jumped and swatted again. This time he loosened one of the straps. One more strap and he was home free.

Daniel’s head suddenly snapped forward; something struck him. A sharp pain shot from the back of his head to the front, and the bright world around him suddenly turned dark.