Want to go upstairs and play ball?""Now, you're talking. Naked basketball. Always my favorite.""Loser gets fucked first.""Jesus, Thursday, every time you set that rule you cheat.""What do you mean, I cheat? I usually lose.""That's exactly what I mean.

I've never bonded with anyone before. I didn't know that day on the field that standing up to him the way I did could earn his respect. He might have been an asshole homophobe but he was my asshole homophobe and probably the first real friend I ever had. I love him. Don't tell him. He wouldn't want to hear it.

My default button was set to self-destruct. It had been since birth.

Lord Ironman, please play tonsil hockey with me, just this one time. There, does that make you happy?

It's why I went into teaching in the first place. I like the sound of my own voice. Well that, and I am addicted to the smell of chalk and white-board markers.