Walter learns how to play sports for the first time.

Walter starts to understand his interests. Some he has to keep a secret and some he does out of pressure.

Walter becomes obsessed with books and wants the whole world to know.

Walter starts to gain interests in girls and has a crush on Lorrell.

"Athletes were

highly respected in the black community, and boys my age were

encouraged to play some sport.'

"Books were special and said something about me

that I didn’t want to reveal."

"Being a boy meant to me that I was not particularly like girls."

"Sometimes on rainy days I would sit

in the library and read."

"I liked other sports as well and even followed the New York

Rangers hockey team..."

"As much as I enjoyed reading, in the world in which I was

living it had to be a secret vice."

"I loved playing ball."

"A teenager, Lorelle Henry, was leading

the group, and she was pretty, so we sent a few woo-woos her way."

"I felt a connection with these

readers but didn’t know what the connection was."

"Sometimes Eric and I would go down to the courts

on Riverside Drive and play there."

"When I brought a book home

from the library, I would sometimes run into older kids who

would tease me about my reading."

"I liked dancing, too, but I had to pretend that I didn’t like it. No big deal."

Boys should always play sports because they are built to play.

Reading will make you successful in life and is the best hobby to have.

Boys and girls can do whatever interests them. They should not be limited based on their gender.

Basketball is the greatest sport and is better than hockey.