At first, the team members treat Paul harshly. On Friday, September 22nd, Paul gets to play in a soccer game for Tangerine Middle. He’s surprised when the coach puts him into the game, being a weaker player, and at one point his teammate Victor gets into Paul’s face to yell “If we lose this game, you’re dead!”
Later, Victor apologizes to Paul for getting so intense about it, and he even offers friendship and protection to Paul, essentially bringing him onto the team in a solemn, official way. Victor calls Paul a cool nickname (“Fisher Man”) and seems genuine.
Paul is stunned and isn’t sure what to think. Seeing how intensely the game is played and treated, Paul still isn’t sure how he feels about the other members of the soccer team. His friend Joey asks him about it afterward, and all Paul can say is that the team is “super-focused on the game,” as if it’s a “life-or-death” situation.
But on Tuesday, September 26th, Paul gets to play in the game again when another player gets hurt. He does well, and his teammate Victor calls him “Fisher Man” again and gives him a high five. By this point, Paul feels like he belongs, and the teammates treat him like a close friend, even a brother.
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