Gabe flew best when he didn’t think about it too much. Mom had been a ballet dancer turned teacher and Dad had been a wide receiver for the Houston Oilers for eight years back in the day before coaching college ball. Gabe had grown up in Mom’s studio, and playing endless practice games with Dad’s Houston Cougars. He and Mom had season tickets to the Houston Ballet, he and Dad to the Houston Texans.
As a wide receiver for the Air Force Falcons, Gabe had been light enough afoot to play in two Bowl games himself, plus an All-Star Bowl. The NFL had scouted him but he’d always dreamt of flying. And the Lightning II was like the best dance across the sky there ever was.
Instead of focusing too hard, he trusted his honed instincts of the natural flow of the flight. And he thought of Falisha as
