Chapter Nine
1250 Words
Jim
“I don’t know man, I am more into the other one, the redhead…”
“Tony, do you think red heads are red…everywhere?”
Unanimous laughter.
“Well there is only one way to find out Ricky.”
More laughter.
“Are you guys kidding me right now? The one with the brown hair is much more hotter!”
Wait, did that i***t just say much more hotter?
“Vince is right and she is sassy as hell too. I was in detention with her the other day and she got into this altercation with the teacher-"
“Get to the hot part Sam.”
I perked my ears, curious to hear how this story ends. How was Sammy planning to make walking out of detention due to medical reasons hot?
“Well she beat the teacher at his own game and when she picked that bag and started swaying towards the door…”
Really Sammy? Swaying?
“…I almost stood up and followed her!”
“Ooooooh”
The collective exclamation made me shake my head. It was highly impressive, the sort of thing that fascinated teenage boys.
“So Sammy who would you do, the red head or the sassy detention chick?”
“I don’t know man you know what they say about sassy chicks…”
My movements froze.
“Tell us Sammy, what do they say about sassy chicks?”
I slammed the tiny door to my locker and began walking towards the group of boys that had now formed around Sammy. I made my presence known, whistling and stomping my feet as I approached them.
“Yeah Sammy, do tell us what they say about sassy chicks.”
Before I had been shipped off to the nuthouse, Sammy had been a pimply kid with no muscle. I had helped him out of his locker once or twice, I had seen him pee on himself during a confrontation with a bully. Sometime during my hiatus, the guy had hit a growth spurt and his pimples had vanished. Now he was the one stuffing kids into their lockers and making them pee on sight. While this was a normal narrative in a boy’s life, I did not see the need for Sammy to insult the roof girl. As annoying and self-centered as she was.
Sammy suddenly looked nervous. He ran his hand through his blonde hair and darted his eyes around his curious onlookers.
“Ummh they say-"
“Louder Sammy, we can’t hear you.”
I smiled, my comment having caused the desired effect. Sammy rapidly blinked, offered a humorless chuckle, and clumsily got away from the spotlight. My eyes followed his retreating figure until the door to the boy’s locker room snapped shut.
“That was not necessary Jim. We all take a hit at fresh meat every time a new batch arrives. I am sure you remember that, right?”
A tight knot formed itself in my stomach. I dug my nails into my palms until I felt myself piercing flesh. I avoided addressing whoever had made the comment. My father had been very clear about who he wanted me to be today. I would not give him the satisfaction of failing.
“What was her name? Sara?”
Rage tickled my spine and teased my brain. I could already paint the aftermath; me sitting on top of the i***t who was talking, me beating the s**t out of him.
“Tell us, who would you rather do? The redhead or the sassy detention chick?”
An image of my mother’s face came to mind. She was screaming in anguish, begging the police to have mercy on her little boy. As the memory became more vivid, the anger dissipated from my being. When I was certain I was not going to bash the fucker who was pushing, no shoving, me to the edge, I shifted my body to view him. Tony stood tall in the crowd with a smug smile on his face. He was a talented swimmer and straight A-student yet no girl in school had ever wanted to date him. Not even the girls who wept all day in the bathroom because of their imaginary insecurities.
I wonder why this was the case.
“Sassy detention chick. Like Sammy, I was prepared to follow her too.”
A staccato of uuuuhs and aahs filled the locker room. The group of boys then proceeded to pat me on the back, give me fist bumps or yell “Oh hail King Jim” dangerously close to my face. I smiled and bobbed my head, wishing my father was present to see that I could actually be obedient. Tony was the last person in the group to disperse. He approached me with a plastic smile carefully plastered on his lips. Tony mirrored the actions of some of the boys, his breath fanning my face. I cringed.
“You should not be here Jim. You should have stayed away.”
“And you should buy some gum.”
Tony stepped back, the tips of his ears red with embarrassment.
“Do you know who took over as swim captain when you left? Do you know who made sure we aced that competition when you skipped town?”
“I’m guessing you?”
“Yeah…me.”
“And now you think I am back to take over as captain?”
“I don’t know Jim. You are the one who waltzed in here today and stole Sammy’s show.”
“Get out of my way Tony.”
As I was about to move past him, he grabbed me by the shoulder and leaned into my left ear.
“Let me remind you who my father is and the kind of influence he has in Scanton. The next time you feel cocky enough to defend some new b***h, remember that I can change your father’s life.”
I slowly brought my eyes to Tony’s face and slightly c****d my head.
“Let me remind you that halitosis is a serious disease and that a package of gum only costs a single dollar.”
I placed my hand on his shoulder and applied pressure to it. A groan escaped his throat.
“Never threaten any member of my family. Let’s not forget who can beat up who in this relationship.”
Tony’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as I applied more pressure to his shoulder. His nostrils flared and his eyes became glassy with unshed tears.
“You know I can put a dent on your shoulder right? Ever met a swim captain who can’t swim?”
Tony incessantly huffed, his beetroot eyes bulging from their sockets. I bet he wished he was bigger maybe even taller. I let go of his shoulder and began walking away, afraid of what I might do if he pushed more of my buttons. After a few paces, I remembered something that fool had said,
“Oh one more thing, never call roof girl a bitch.”
Tony’s face was etched with confusion. I cleared my throat realizing my error.
“Sassy detention girl.”
Tony gave a weak bob which was enough, for now. I passed by my locker to pick up my practice duffel. I was about to leave when my eyes landed on two feminine figures crouching in the corner near the room’s exit. My heartbeat accelerated when I recognized one of them.
“Roof girl?”
- Writer
