A High Five for Glenn Burke

Silas’s mom drives him to the trampoline park. He really wants to tell his mom about Glenn Burke but has not yet worked up the courage. Before he gets a chance to say anything, they arrive at the trampoline park. Erica tells Silas to behave as he runs inside.

The Renegades play trampoline dodgeball. Silas and Ben-Ben are the last two standing against Malik and Brayden, and Silas wins the game. Later, as the team gathers around a table for lunch, Coach Webb gets everyone’s attention. They discuss their strategy for their upcoming games and joke around a bit. Then, Webb gets serious. He tells the team he is proud of them for how they have dropped the monkey taunts. He also wants them to stop using the word “gay” in a derogatory way.

The team’s attention shifts to Theo and Kareem, the two boys who called Silas gay during the fashion show. Webb explains that they “shouldn’t use that word that way, and [they] shouldn’t tolerate others using it that way” (117). Webb continues to talk, but Coach Noles interrupts him, clearly uncomfortable. He invites the kids to start eating, despite Webb’s protests that he has not finished talking.