They came in Ali’s Magical Coach and left around 2:30, as the afternoon ice storm was coming in. Ali got out just in time, they all got home safely. Yesterday, I went to the Battenkill Bookstore and bought 18 books, one for every member of the soccer team.

The books varied from graphic novels about the Black Panther (a movie they loved) to trivia and quiz and mystical drawing books, there were books about geography and space and history and scary houses.

I used to think when dealing with these boys that we had to choose which book to give each one, so they would not quarrel or be envious of what someone else had. I was worried about squabbling, even fighting.

They get in the van quickly and all find seats, there is no jockeying or complaining, Ali does not tolerate it. The minute the kids saw the books, they put away their cell phones. Although everyone wanted the Black Panther novels, nobody demanded one or fought for one.

They simply distributed the books from one to another, and since they share everything, everybody knew they would get the book they wanted eventually. They each wanted the other to have what they wanted, in seconds, they were all quiet absorbed in reading.

Ali said he never heard a word from them all the way home. They would, he said, share the books with each other, and with their siblings at home. Everyone was part of a community, everyone shared. They all thanked me and waved to me for giving them the books, something I will try to make a habit of doing, money permitting.

I was glad to see these young men, sorry to see them go. They seem a part of me now, a new kind of family. I don’t see that often and can’t even pronounce all of their names yet. That is a goal of mine.

Books are a lovely thing to give them, for all kinds of reasons. It was a lift to see them all busy reading as they pulled away.