Black Brother, Black Brother

The Ellison garage has transformed into a training room with mirrors on the wall where Trey, Donte, and their dad work out. They train every day at the Boys and Girls Club. After the team practices, Donte fences with Coach. When they finish, Coach repeats their now-shared mantra: “Courage, honor, integrity, and chivalry” (189).

Zarra asks Donte to fence, and he knows that she knows that he really likes her. He also thinks that it’s inevitable that she’ll beat him one day.

Many students tryout for the Middlefield Prep fencing team, including Trey and Donte. It’s likely that others want to join because the two boys started fencing.

The current team helps to test tryouts. Most work to show the new kids how to fence, but Alan and his friend Danny tease the newbies. Donte keeps his distance from the others. The headmaster stands near him on the bleachers, asking if he’s going to try out. The headmaster adds that the coach had seen Donte at the preseason meet and that Donte would be good for the team.

Donte looks at the blue banner reading “Non Nobis Solum” in the gym and asks what it means; the headmaster says that it translates to “Not for ourselves alone” (194).