"I always liked school. I was pretty good at it." Yes, Sam was that kid in school. One of the ones who actually enjoyed going. Though that was at least partly because it was better than his real life had been going.

But he'd also had a big brother to deal with the bullies, too.

"Dad wasn't always around, but he was raising us on his own. I think that just happens." There were a lot of reasons why John hadn't been around much, but nothing he wanted to talk about. "And...I mean, Kansas has corn. We're just not as known for it as Nebraska is."