`` do you think this is just a game ? '' i stared at him , my eyes begging him to say the words . i grab my new cell phone that was delivered and punch in a few numbers . `` not like there 's a heck of a lot to do around here in the middle of winter . at twenty-three years of age he had ridden out of the carolinas along with other young , wet-behind-the-ear , dirt farmers . 