Howie meets Eddie in middle school, and upon first sight, knows how close they will become. The two bond over baseball. Eddie is not bright, but he is gifted as an athlete. Everyone encourages Eddie to pursue sports, but obstacles block Eddie’s success. His potential is eventually wasted as he accepts the simple life of working at a butcher shop and being a family man. Howie, of all people, realizes this path that Eddie accepts, that he thinks is the only path for him. Eddie’s mother lied to him and said that he had a heart condition, which prevented him from joining varsity teams. Howie, however, becomes a basketball player for his college, and lives out his dreams of playing ball as a pro. He bears the knowledge that Eddie still has the dream of playing sports, but they both know that he will not attain it.