V GKKKKLKKKLKKKLKKKLKKKLKKKLKKKLKKKLKKKLKKKLKKKLKN on the cover GKKN 39 trouble with the law and acted out constantly. Now, when he’s angry with Cheng — which is still fairly often — Martin no longer says, “I’m going to fucking kill you,” but, “Get out of my face.” “This is the progress that’s really critical to these kids,” Cheng says. “However rude saying ‘Get out of my face’ might be, it’s a step in the right direction, and I’m proud of him.”
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omus Academy loses the basketball game. With four minutes left, the Phoenixes trail by seven points. Javon moves easily through three players, weaving in across the court. On the sidelines, Domus’s supporters shriek in excitement as he whips the basketball behind his back. But Javon’s fourth fake fails.
He stumbles, loses control, and the ball is stolen and carried away. Javon, head hung, is slow to run back. Still two feet onto the court, Cheng nags him, “Come on, play some defense!” It’s too late. The deficit grows to nine points. A tall, husky boy from Domus dribbles forward and hands the ball off. Javon drives in angularly, perhaps too hard, and the ball bounces out of his control. He falls to the ground and stays there. Eleven points. “Are we quitting or are we playing?” Cheng barks. Javon is lying with his back flat on the floorboards, hands hiding his face. At Cheng’s encouragement, he stands up, but slowly, with the deliberateness of an elderly man. The clock hits zero before he makes it back to the defensive end.
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“All right. All right, good job guys. Shake hands.” Cheng claps his players on the back as they trudge to meet the other team, shaking hands and even, on Javon’s part, bumping chests with a few other star players. When they return to the sidelines, the Domus Academy Phoenixes are greeted with applause and cheers. From their teachers, there are hugs. The boys press their arms against their sides and turn sheepishly away, but they are smiling, despite themselves. Today, there were no fights. No outbursts. Not even a curse word.
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