"Tex?" I called, when I got out of the shower.

"In my room," he hollered.

I walked through the house, drying my hair. I stopped in his doorway, where I could see that he was stretched out on his stomach on his bed. There he had his math textbook open and was working problems out in a spiral notebook.

"Homework?" I asked.

"Nah," he said, not looking up. "It's the lesson I'll miss tomorrow. I don't want to get behind."

"Smart," I said. I walked over and sat on the floor, watching him work, until he looked up and stared at me.

"What's up, Mace?"

"Tex, I worry about you. You're smart, funny, kind. You've gotta good head on your shoulders, but you don't use it much."

My brother listened, looking serious. I'd thought he might tell me that I was overreacting, but he didn't.

"Anyway, I decided a whupping wasn't enough. You need discipline and direction. So I have arranged for you to join the track team and for you to work for Mr. Saunders. In fact tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday, you'll be working on his farm. He expects you to be at his front door at 6 AM tomorrow. Understand?"

"You got me a job? On the Saunders' farm!"

"Yes."

"Wow, Mace. That sounds great. Thanks! …I thought this was part of my punishment. Shouldn't I have to do something I hate like weeding the garden for eight hours."

"You know we don't have a garden, right?" I teased.

"You know what I mean!"

"Well, discipline and punishment aren't always the same thing," I explained. "Punishment is meant to teach and discourage you from doing something stupid or dangerous or illegal again. It usually involves pain or a hated activity, like weeding a garden. It's gotta be something bad enough that you'll stop and think before you do something like it again. Make sense?"

Tex nodded, so I continued. "Discipline teaches too. But it's about helping you learn how to control yourself so you can reach the goals you set. Part of the problem you seem to be having now is that you have a lot of free time and not enough direction. I aim to change that. Once you're off suspension, you'll start your day at the Saunders' farm at 6 AM, where you'll work until 7:30 AM. Then school, of course, from 8-3. Right after school, you'll have track practice most days until 4:30. I think Mr. Saunders wants you back at the farm by 5 for evening chores. You'll be done by 7."

"Whoa. Busy day," Tex exclaimed. He thought for awhile. "But I like being busy. It sounds okay, except for one thing. Mace…I don't think Coach Taylor likes me much."

"He's giving you a chance, isn't he? But, be warned. I gave him permission—not that he needed it, mind you—to paddle you if you get a smart mouth. I speak from experience that you don't want that to happen. Coach has a strong arm." I grimaced.

"I'll keep my mouth shut," Tex said confidently.

I got up and started toward the door. "I'm going to make dinner. Tacos sound good?"

"Sure."

As I walked out, Tex called out, "Mason?"

"Yeah?" I stepped back in the room.

"Thanks... For the job. For getting me on the track team. You work hard for me. I appreciate it."

I nodded and blushed a bit. "Hey, you want to go fishing after dinner?"

"Ain't I grounded?"

"Yeah, but maybe that can start tomorrow too."

"Sure," smiled Tex. "That'd be great."