Established as a loner, Travis had no close friends at Sweet Home Junior High School. But for organizing mischief, he could rely on Cliffie and Keith, two equally maladjusted boys. For their most successful prank, the trio deployed Victor, their slow-witted and devoted patsy. They convinced Victor that the ball used for varsity football games was actually stuffed with $20 bills. And after each game, the winning team would divide the loot. Victor believed the lie without hesitation. From the 40 yard line, Travis, Cliffie and Keith watched Victor's doomed dash with the stolen ball. Incredibly, he made it 50 yards before disappearing under the combined mass of both teams. Victor's brutal apprehension won front page coverage in the local paper, "The New Era."

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