The Longshot

Four years after Rivera knocked Cal from dominance in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Cal's coach, Riley, has set up a rematch. It will be good for Cal, and he's ready for it—he's been training harder than ever, trying to shake the lethargy that's plagued him ever since he lost. Knowing he's going to face Rivera again, he gets his focus and energy back, but Rivera has never lost a fight, and in the final days before the match, both Cal and Riley secretly begin have doubts, though neither wants to let the other down. In taut, rhythmic language, Katie Kitamura renders the urgency, discipline, and mutual affection of athlete and coach with depth and subtlety. As the excruciating tension builds around the big fight, the listener will be captivated through the final electrifying scene.