Wrestling Against Myself (18 page)

“With some of these kids trying to work out, I don't know whether to laugh or cry,” Coach Walker said.

“So what's up Tiny?”

“I was wondering if we can get mat time next week. Maybe Tuesday and Thursday”

“I can leave the gym open for general student activity, but I can't be in the wrestling room with you.”

“That's cool. I just want to get in some time. Maybe I'll get a few of the guys to come in, you know, putz around for a half hour or so.”

“You don't putz around for even half a second, Tiny. What's on your mind?”

“It's this new body of mine.”

Coach Pete laughed. “I don't think you have anything to worry about there, Tiny. I don't think the mat is going to break under you.”

Coach Walker could sense that his athlete was concerned. “You afraid you lost some flexibility by adding all that muscle?”

“Perhaps,” Tony said as he sat down. “You know how it is lifting, you repeat the same motion over and over, but it's always from point A to point B. I might not be as limber for some of the moves I did last year. That, and I found out that I really suck at Ping Pong now and I used to be real good at the game.”

“Ping Pong?” Coach Walker stood up. “You're concerned because you lost your touch at ping pong. I didn't think your confidence was so easily shaken.”

“Not easily shaken. But, what's that you always say 'failing to plan is planning to fail'?”

“Better watch out Phil,” Coach Lightfoot said from his desk. “This guy don't fight fair, he's using your own words against you. Low man, real low.”

“I'll let you have the gym after school, but you have to leave it open for everyone, including people who want to use the basketball court and those who want to use the mats for gymnastics and such.”

“That's fine. I'm probably only going to roll out the mat half way, if others want to do the same, what do I care.”

“Don't go to hard. I don't need anyone hurt before season starts.”

“Including me?”

“Especially you Tiny,” Coach Walker said. “By the way, we're starting to get mail for you, the front office forwarded to your home.”

“Iowa state, Oklahoma, Minnesota?”

“None of the big boys yet, but they'll be calling pretty soon. I think it was Iola State and Indiana, but don't quote me.”

“Things would be much simpler if USF would start a team, then I can go to school locally.”
“I'll tell them to get right on it.” Coach Walker laughed.

“One last thing, Coach. Can I borrow the Granby System tapes again?”

“Yes, but under no circumstances are you to practice them before season begins. All I need is you breaking your neck trying to perfect the Granby roll.”

“I just want to watch. I won't do anything dangerous until you show me how to do it correctly.”

“Good! At least I got one guy who understands that I know more than they do. I'll bring the DVD in with me. Now get going before the bell rings, once these kids come in, you might not be able to get out without hurting them.”

“No problem coach.”

Tony decided to leave through the gym instead of from where he came in. He made his way outside; the school was bustling with activity, even though there was still time before the first bell. He walked to his locker, greeting anyone who wanted to say hello. He knew it was going to be this way all year, but he didn't mind.

Tony got to his locker and noticed graffiti spray painted on Courtney's locker. In large red letters the word 'FREAK' was clumsily written. Tony could only imagine how upset the girl was and figured she already saw it. He shook his head in disgust. He could guess who tagged the locker, but without proof, it wasn't his way to confront someone solely on suspicion.

Antonio opened his locker. He would get to the bottom of the vandal later. As soon as he opened the door a letter fell out and landed on the floor by his feet. 

He looked around the hallway, seeing if anyone was paying attention and perhaps giving away that they left the note behind. He thought that it might be from Courtney, girls sometimes had a habit of leaving notes behind after he did something nice for them.

Tony unfolded the paper, the note wasn't written on a full sheet so he only had to unfold it twice. The whimsy that he felt at receiving the note quickly faded as he read the 4 word warning. “Mind your own business,” he read to himself.

Tony took out a few books and then slammed the locker shut. He stormed up the hallway, watching as students jumped out of his way. He made his way through the corridor and out back where the smokers hung out. Only this morning no one was there.

“Get a hold of yourself,” Tony spoke out loud as he seethed.

Tony took the note, folded it the way he received it, and put it in the back pocket of his jeans.

“Breathe,” Tony commanded himself. If he wasn't careful, he knew that his anger could control him and that wouldn't help with classes starting.

Tony took a deep breath and recalled a Bible verse that would settle him. “Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake,” he told himself out loud.

After saying the phrase five times over, he felt his anger abate. It was just in time as the morning bell rang and it was time to head to class. He wished he ran into Courtney to see how she was doing, but he didn't know her schedule and they didn't pass by each other by chance as he made his way to class.

Antonio was able to maintain his composure throughout his morning classes, even though he was aware that the warning he received was folded in his back pocket. He wasn't willing to jump to conclusions as to who put the graffiti on the wall, but he was pretty certain who left the note in his locker and planned to put an end to things before they even had a chance to begin. He doubted that Peter would ever get into a physical confrontation with him, he badly out matched the other kid, but these little games could grow tiresome pretty quickly.

Lunchtime came around and since he didn't have to eat breakfast so early, Antonio found that he wasn't nearly as hungry as he was the past few days. Still, he took his meal, figuring he wouldn't be able to wait until he got home for a meal.

The first thing Tony did when he entered the dining with his tray was look at the table where Peter and his little group normally sat, but they weren't there. Antonio thought it was odd because he was certain they were behind the day's events. He would have to deal with them another time.

“Tiny,” Carl said as the teen sat down at the table.

“Carl,” Tony said, trying to match the enthusiasm of his friend.

“You going to abandon us again today?”

Tony looked across the table. “Probably. But I'm thinking this will be the last day.”

“Giving up on her already?” Dave asked.

“I can't believe a girl turned Tiny away,” Ted added.

“She didn't turn me away, and I wasn't chasing after her,” Tony said pointedly. “I figured I would invite her to sit with us, expand her horizons, so to speak.”

“I got no problem with it,” Tracy said. “We need another girl here, balance the power a little bit.”

Tony smirked. “I suppose we could use a few discussions on makeup and fashion.”

Tracy tried to look offended but failed. “Sure beats hearing about ogres and goblins.”

“Cyclops,” Ted corrected the girl.

Tracy stood up, bent over and looked the boy straight into the eyes while being mere inches away. “I do not care,” she said slowly.

“You don't have to get all nasty about it.”

“What is the discussion today,” Tony asked.

“Superman vs. Batman?” Dave offered.

“Football vs. Wrestling?” Shannon chimed in.

“Firebird vs. Mustang?” Carl suggested.

“See why we need another girl,” Tracy said. “Especially when Stephanie decides to skip lunch.”

“She has?” Tony was surprised. “Studying?”

Tracy laughed. “No, found a boy she is interested in and he hangs out at the library during lunch.”

Tony frowned. “Okay, to be fair, we will discuss which are better, pumps or flats?”

“Aren't they the same thing?” Dave asked.

“No,” Ted answered. “Pumps are the ones with the little basketball thing that you squeeze to make them fit better.”

Tracy rolled her eyes. “Thanks for proving my point. How about we discuss this, why do you guys eat the same lunch every day.”

“That's easy,” Tony said with a grin. “You can always trust a hamburger to be a hamburger, last time I tried one of those chicken creamy things I almost choked on a bone.”

“Yeah, remember those sloppy Joes last year,” Carl said. “Tasted like they were cooked in motor oil.”

The debate on which meal from last year was the worst began.

Before long, Courtney came shuffling into the dining hall. The worried look was back on her face as she surveyed the cafeteria. Tony watched as she made her way through the line, keeping considerable distance between her and the boy in front of her.

“I'll catch you guys later, or at church Sunday.”

“There he goes again,” Shannon said, “in pursuit of another damsel in distress.”

Tony shot the football player a look. 

Courtney sat down at the front table and Tony joined across from her soon after.

“So,” Tony said glumly, matching the girl's mood. “How are you doing?”

“Fine,” Courtney said quietly as she stared at her tray and moped.

“I never know if you're at school or not, you always make it so early.”

“Not as early as some people.”

“Yeah, I saw that.” Tony wasn't going to play off as nothing happened or make light of the situation. “They will paint over it this weekend and it won't be there on Monday.”

“It shouldn't be there at all,” Courtney said as the tear she had been trying to hold back drifted onto her tray.

Tony never knew how to respond when he saw someone crying. It seemed off to ensure them that everything was going to be okay, especially when he didn't know that himself. He could make a joke and try to get the girl to stop crying, but he was afraid that would be dismissive of her feelings. “You're right,” he said gently, “it shouldn't be there at all. But it is, and it sucks, and I'm not happy about it being there myself. I just hate that some idiot is ruining your day.”

Courtney looked up and wiped the moisture from her eyes. “Why do you even care?”

Tony sensed the anger in the girl's words but was sure the anger wasn't directed at him. “Shouldn't I care?”

“I'm sure there are a lot of people here who think you shouldn't. There are a lot of people here who wish I would never come to school ever again.”

“I'm not one of them,” Tony tried to be sympathetic.

“The only one.”

“No, not the only one. In fact, I was talking to my friends; see them up there at the back table near the exit.” Tony turned around and pointed to the group he ate lunch with.

Courtney looked that way just long enough to see where Antonio was pointing to. “I see them. What were you talking about?”

“They talk about a lot of goofy stuff, but we talked about you a little. They wanted me to invite you to start eating lunch with them and me.”