Neighbors

Most of my experience of the neighborhood around Gonzaga was as an observer. Day-to-day life in poverty was on full display outside the windows of the school, complete with shouting, crying, and laughing.

My direct experience early on was confined to being jumped twice. In one case, I was trapped in the boys room by a couple of locals, but Coach Joe Kozik arrived in the nick of time to chase them away.

The second time was more alarming. I’d stepped between the Notre Dame building and a raised p...