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his or her own opinion, Mrs. Ford. Now, I can’t promise you that I won’t defend my hometown or the teams that represent it, but I don’t think you can say anything that I would take as a personal offense.”
    Shaylynn looked toward Chase for a moment, and then for the first time since their conversation began, she gave Neil her undivided attention. “Well, Atlanta itself is overcrowded and riddled with crime. And once . . . just once , I’d like to go to my neighborhood post office without having an able-bodied man wearing a G-Unit shirt, FUBU jeans, and a pair of Air Force Ones standing out front begging for money, and then copping an attitude when I refuse to give him any.”
    â€œThat’s not just in Atlanta,” Neil rebutted. “That’s everywhere and always has been. Even the Bible tells us that the poor will be with us always.”
    â€œThe Bible also says that if a man doesn’t work, he shouldn’t eat. I know there are some who have not because they cannot, but since I’ve been in Atlanta, I’ve seen countless people who have not because they do not.”
    She knew the Bible, and to Neil, that was a good sign . He nodded slowly and decided to move on. “And why do you dislike our sports teams?”
    â€œI didn’t say I disliked them. I said that they’re overrated.”
    â€œIn what way?”
    â€œLet’s take your baseball team for instance.” She didn’t miss a beat.
    â€œThe Braves.”
    â€œUh-huh.” Shaylynn nodded and removed the clip that held her neatly woven braids in a ponytail, and then replaced it after freeing some of the braids and allowing them to fall to the sides of her face. Then she threw him a brief side look. “They’ve only won one national championship, but if I recall correctly, just a few years ago, Atlanta wanted to make a very public stink about the fact that the Braves weren’t chosen as the baseball team of the century.”
    â€œWell, they had valid grounds to feel slighted, don’t you think? I mean, they’d won more consecutive pennants than any other team in baseball history.”
    â€œBut they’d won only one World Series, whereas New York had won several.”
    Neil’s right eyebrow arched. He was impressed by how well-informed this woman was. She must have had some northern ties. “A New York fan, are you?”
    She grimaced. “No. Not at all. Not of the city or the team, but like ’em or not, they earned the title of team of the century.”
    The left corner of Neil’s lips curled up into a half smile. Shaylynn’s knowledge of sports statistics charmed him even more. “Perhaps,” he said. “But according to who’s doing the judging, the definition of a champion may not be so much defined by the team who wins, but rather the team that shows the most integrity during the battle.”
    â€œIs that so?”
    Both of Neil’s eyebrows rose this time. He realized immediately that he’d set himself up for a new challenge. “You don’t agree?”
    â€œOh, no. Quite the opposite. I fully agree. I just think that it’s funny that you should cite that when speaking of Atlanta.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œThe Falcons have only made it to the finals of one Super Bowl, right?”
    Neil’s grin returned and expanded, and he quietly accepted defeat even before Shaylynn made her point. He already knew where she was headed with this one, and the impression that she’d already made on him was getting deeper by the minute. When he didn’t respond, she continued.
    â€œThe one time that they made it to the Super Bowl, not only did they lose the game by two touchdowns, but they showed very little integrity, even going so far as getting in legal troubles while they were there in Miami to play the Broncos.” Then curling her upper lip, she added, “And the Hawks, well