Wrestling Against Myself (4 page)

“Not fair though. You're not wearing a school jacket so I could find out your name.”

“Courtney,” she said with uncertainty in her voice.

Tony leaned down towards the girl's ear. “Don't worry,” he whispered. “Your secret is safe with me.”

“Wh-wh-what secret is that,” Courtney stammered.

“That I know your name,” Antonio joked. “I won't tell a soul.”

A strange look of relief came over the girl's face as the first warning bell sounded. 

Tony watched as the girl scattered away like a frightened rabbit suddenly aware that a wolf was around. He shook his head. It was an odd encounter, but he figured stranger things happened on first days of school before. He turned his attention back to the hallway. Students were scurrying here and there like a bunch of crazed ants. He closed his locker and calmly joined the fray as he made his way to his first class.

Tony had four classes in the morning before lunch. It was the first day of class and went as he expected. He got the reading list from his English class- they would be spending the first quarter reading from Huxley's “Brave New World,” with his grade being made up from equal parts weekly quizzes and class discussion. In Algebra II he was given a quiz so the teacher could see where the students were in class. His sociology class was given their textbook and a paper assigned to be turned in two weeks and his economics class went over how to read the financial pages.  Tony knew it would take a little time to get used to getting back into the routine of being a student again, but he was sure he wasn't the only person who needed to make the adjustment.

Fifth period was always broken in two to account for lunch. This term Tony found out that he had first lunch, which really didn't matter much until he found out who also had first lunch with him. He entered the noisy cafeteria and got in line. Ahead in line was Carl Stevens, which was a good sign. He spotted Tracy clear across the room in the vegetarian
line that made two of his friends that had the same lunch hour. He figured once he made his way to their table he would find out who rounded out their group.

The line moved quickly and though he wished the meal was more nutritious, Tony took his tray of a hamburger and fries and made his way toward his table. The school offered multiple choices for lunch each day, but Tony found the vegetarian selection not enough to fill him up and he was unwilling to try the mystery of the day. He knew that school lunches during the year would consist of hamburgers or slices of pizza.

The very first table on the north side of the cafeteria was the one the born again Christians claimed for their own. It was the table that Tony always sat at, even though any other clique would gladly welcome him. He tried hanging out with the other jocks a few times the year prior, but their foul language, crass jokes, and constant references to getting either drunk or laid made the experience unbearable. Though the other athletes respected Antonio, he could only correct them so much before he felt like he was being a pain in the side.

Carl was already sitting down, picking at a few of his French fries. “Hey Tiny,” he said cheerfully. “Welcome back to another year at Dunedin High.”

“Hey Carl,” Tony said as he took his customary seat at the end of the table.

Carl remained silent while Antonio bowed his head and mumbled a brief prayer over his food.

“Another day in paradise,” Tony said as he tore open a ketchup package.

“So, what was the deal with the wallflower?” Carl said as his friend assembled his lunch.

“Oh, her,” Tony replied as he figured out to whom Carl was referring. He shrugged his shoulders. “I don't know what's up with her.”

“What's up with who?” Tracy said as she sat down next to Carl.

“New girl in school,” Tony offered up. “Long blondish hair, blue eyes. White shirt, blue skirt.”

“Cute?” Tracy asked.

“I guess, for a little kid.”

“Haven't seen her,” Tracy admitted.

“Really weird,” Carl added.

“Not weird,” Tony correct. “Just scared. Maybe she moved here from out of state. You know, new school, strange town, doesn't know anyone. I'd be scared.”

Tracy laughed. “Right. Tiny scared of anything?”

Tony gave a slight grin. “It could happen.”

“I don't want to run into anything that could scare Tiny,” Carl said as others joined the table with the group.

Sitting down with them were two other seniors who were more into science fiction and computers than they were into participating in sports, Dave and Ted. It was rumored that they were separated from birth or from the mother ship, depending on which story they found more appealing that day. Shannon, a football player, and the only person who could have rivaled Antonio in the size department last year, came moments later. Earlier in his life, before he became runner-up all-state tackle, he was often teased about his name.  Finally, Stephanie who was the only other girl part of the clique that happened to have first lunch came to sit down with the group.

“Since Stephanie is here, I guess that is everyone,” Antonio finally said as he gave everyone a chance to pray.

Stephanie stuck her tongue out at the wrestler. It was commonly accepted that if the group was waiting on anyone it would always be on the girl who was constantly running five minutes behind the rest of the world. “I can't help it if I'm popular and people hold me up.”

“Right,” Carl quipped. “Popular with the teachers who have to remind you to show up on time.”

The group enjoyed a chuckle at the girl's expense.

“Okay, okay, enough teasing,” Antonio finally brought the group to order. “As you know, Tuesdays and Thursdays we are going to have our Morning Prayer meeting at seven am or six forty-five for Stephanie,” he gave the girl a grin.

“Ha-ha, very funny.”

“No breaking your own rules, Tiny,” Dave reminded him.

“Yeah,” Ted added, “no telling us not to do something and then you go and do it yourself, remember.”

Tony rolled his eyes. “That's right, I did say enough with the teasing. Sorry.”

“Apology accepted,” Stephanie said, her voice dripping with approval. She mouthed a thank you in Dave's direction.

“I know of eleven who said they would be there for sure” Antonio continued.

“Like the apostles,” Ted commented.

“Hopefully minus Judas,” Dave continued on the line of thinking. 

“Eleven is good, but don't forget to invite other people. I noticed the fliers were up, good job.”

“You're welcome,” Tracy took credit even though she had help from two other people who had second lunch.

Antonio was watching the line move to get their meal. “That's her. The girl I was telling you about.”

The whole group turned their head in the general direction that Tony was looking even though some were unaware of the previous conversation.

“What girl?” Dave asked.

“Tiny has a crush already, and it's only the first day?” Ted added a split second later.

“Quit it,” Antonio said evenly. “Besides it's a freshman, would be like stealing a baby from the cradle.”

“So who is it?” Tracy asked.

“Very last person in line. Little thing, white top, blue skirt.”

“You sure she's supposed to be in high school?” Tracy posed. “Looks like an elementary school kid.”

“Maybe she is one of those geniuses,” Shannon piped in as he started on his second hamburger. “She'll be here for a month and then graduate.”

“Very shy,” Tony said as he noticed the girl keep a good distance from the person in front of her.

“I hear a lot of whispering when she walks through the halls,” Dave offered.

“What are they saying?” Tracy asked as she pushed the rest of her salad towards Shannon.

“I don't know for certain. Mostly the whispers are coming from other freshmen, so I don't know who to ask what's up,” Ted said.

“Trouble maker?” Shannon asked as he picked broccoli out of the salad he was given.

“Doubt it,” Tony said as he watched the girl disappear behind a door where the students received their food. “Too shy.”

“Sometimes that's the way it works,” Stephanie said. “They do something really bad and then climb into a shell.”

“I'd rather not spread gossip if we don't have to,” Tony said pointedly.

“She is cute,” Tracy changed the subject. “For a little kid.”

“Probably could use a friend,” Tony said while raising his eyebrows at the group.

“Should find out about her first,” Dave said.

“Yeah, she could be trouble?” Ted added.

“You think everyone is trouble,” Stephanie said.

“I might be right on this one,” Ted replied. 

“Enough,” Tony said before the bickering started.

Courtney came out the exit of the serving line holding a tray and looked even more lost than earlier.

“She hasn't hit puberty yet,” Tracy said as she eyed the girl carefully.

“How do you know that?” Shannon said with a mouthful of lettuce.

“Look at her chest, completely flat. I bet she doesn't even wear a bra.”

“Ahem,” Tony cleared his throat loudly.

“What?” Tracy turned to face the man.

“You are supposed to be diverting our eyes away from those areas of the body,” Tony reminded.

“But there's nothing to see,” Stephanie came to the defense of her friend.

“Guys have enough problems with their own thoughts without people drawing our attention to areas where it doesn't belong. Remember, from the neck up only.”

“Sorry. Besides she hasn't reached puberty yet I can tell you that for sure.”

“Maybe that's why she is so shy,” Dave offered.

“I still think she is one of those geniuses,” Shannon spoke up again. “Probably not even ten years old.”

“Maybe her parents got divorced. I bet her mother isn't around.” Stephanie hazarded a guess.

“Why would you say that?” Tony asked.

“Look at her hair, it has potential,” Stephanie said as she fluffed up her own hair. “But it looks like she wasn't taught the proper way to style it. Very flat and blah.”

“Maybe you can take her under your wing?” Tony offered.

“Probably should find out what all the intrigue is about.”

Tony knew the conversation was continuing around him but he withdrew his attention for a while and watched the small girl sit at the very first table up front, the one that was reserved for those that got into trouble but was empty on the first day of school. She looked lonely, and Tony thought about approaching her, but figured he scared her enough for one day.

“Popular little thing,” Tracy said as she saw people stop at the girl's table and then walk away.

“Doesn't look popular for the right reasons,” Shannon said. “I don't see smiles on anybody's faces, especially hers.”

“I'll find out what's up,” Tracy offered.

“How are you going to find out what's up?” Tony asked.