HOPE FOR CHANGE... But Settle for a Bailout (44 page)

.

There was no “Army ass” photo. The magazine
cover and newspapers that picked up an image that was purported to
be of my ex-wife had an ass with the word “ARMY” in white against
an olive-green bikini bottom, like the suit December bought for
Lori from ‘sexysoldier.mil,’ but it wasn’t Lori’s ass. I’d sort of
know, having been married to her.

Ever since the Nationals, photographers have
jostled with one another to shoot images of Lori’s ass, because, as
the head of FOX Sports said, “viewers like seeing this particular
woman’s ass, and we’re going to keep showing it.”

.

Lena Martins’ location matched the lane Lori
was in, giving her a clear, straight-on shot of Lori’s approach and
turn. On each pass, Lena captured frames depicting Lori’s backside,
footage that Lena gave a blanket promise she would hold, until Lori
had seen the films and given a release.

Lena looked up, from the camera on her knee,
gazing wide-eyed at the thousands of people in the bleachers, at
pyrotechnics dancing in the distance, at the giant clock and
scoreboard. At Lori.

.

“
Lori Lewis’ next break was that the offending
item that nearly got her kicked off the Olympic team – a definitely
non-standard apparel item – did, in fact, display an appropriate
logo, as Lewis’ suit had been manufactured by none other then the
US army. Lewis dual records in the freestyle earned her a spot on
the US team, but would officials look past the non-standard item of
apparel? Just another day for a champion who, at 36, grew up being
shot at, went to Iraq and returned to taunts of being too old to
compete. Lewis proved that if she’s young enough to go back into
combat, she is young enough to compete in a pool.”

.

I paused my iPod and buckled up. The
enormous windows of the Boeing Dreamliner carrying us home from
England disoriented me. I looked across first class, to Lori, who
was laughing with her mom. The time to think during the Nebraska
trip cleared away my nostalgia and longing for my marriage, but
nothing had lessened my desire for the woman who remained the most
beautiful girl I had ever met.

.

“Lawrence, these last couple of months, I’ve
had to push aside everything else and focus completely on these
trials,” said Lori, one of the few moments I was able to get her
alone. “I can’t even give you an answer, cuz what yer talking about
is so completely out of my mind that... that... no, I can’t.”

“I think about you all the time.”

“I don’t want you to.”

“I miss what we had,” I said, hearing my own
voice and realizing how pathetic it all sounded. “What we could
have had.”

“I don’t, Lawrence. We’re never getting back
together. Can you just accept that and let me go?”

.

“
Of course, the English are cheering on the Gill
sisters, but the pair entered competitive swimming just two years
ago, and show an odd dislike for all that goes with the life of
competition. Jazz Gill smiled when she was stripped of the bronze
in the 800 meters, when officials sanctioned her for openly pushing
Lewis to put in a medal-winning performance, despite her obvious
agony in that race. Gill’s own performance in that match-up with
Lewis is the stuff of legends.”

.

“I know who you are,” came the voice behind
Lori at the Olympic Village sign-in. “Jazz Gill. You’re the ‘army
ass’ girl.”

Lori Lewis stood almost a foot taller than
the Indian-looking woman, with the thick English accent. She said
nothing.

“My sister and I don’t care,” said Gill,
“Myself, I like it. Bit of fun, really, if you ask me.”

Lori looked at her coach, and then to Gill.
She put out her hand. “Lori Lewis. USA.”

“Right, yeh, I know. Well, anyway, ta
ta.”

.

“
An incredible final lap and the Gill sisters are
one and two; Lewis, closing; the pack, far back; Lewis moving. The
three again fighting for gold, silver and bronze… it’s gold for
Baljinder Gill; Lewis wins silver; and Jazz Gill, the
bronze.”

.

Lori Lewis stood in rigid salute as the
“Star Spangled Banner” played. Aside from the medal replacement
ceremony – where the Queen handed out new medals after the
disqualifications in the 800 meter – Lori never shared the winners
platform with anyone but Bella and Jazz Gill, who, between them,
dominated freestyle at the London Olympics, and never swam
competitively again.

.

“Hey there, Army Girl,” said Jazz Gill, as
she and Lori climbed from the water after an initial 200 meter
heat. “Want to pop by my mum’s for curry tonight?”

Lori laughed, as her coach handed her a
towel and then a long, faux-fur lined, calf-length windbreaker.

“Seriously. We’re Indian. It’s the real
deal.”

.

“Mum… Dad… Like you to meet an American we
met….”

“Oh my,” said a diminutive dark-skinned
woman in a sari. “You are Lori Lewis.”

“This is my dad,” said Lori, pointing to her
father. “And my mom.”

.

“George, leave some for everyone else,” said
Baljinder, as an older brother, with a long beard and bright tunic,
shoveled chicken onto his plate, over a bed of rice.

“When you said curry, I thought you meant go
out,” said Lori, “but this is way better.” Lori finished the last
bit on her plate and went for thirds.

“We better all get back,” said Baljinder,
“or we’re going to get in trouble.”

“So worth it,” said Lori finishing her rice.
“So worth it.”

“Take this,” said the mother, to Bella and
Jazz, holding a small bowl of rice.

“Oh, no, Ma,” said Bella. “They might
disqualify us for substances.”

“It’s not a substance,” said the mother. “It
is my flu preparation.”

“I’m gonna pass on the preparation, but
thank you,” said Lori, though her parents each took a small
serving, after Bella and Jazz, at the mother’s insistence.

.

The illuminated clock in Lori’s room showed
3:40 am, as she sat on the toilet, holding her stomach, and
experiencing a trail of fire.

.

“Aw, baby, you don’t look so good,” December
said, as Lori wandered from the athletes’ area, to the stands. Lori
silently opened her arms and stepped into December’s embrace, as
people looked on.

.

“You’ve got to swim through the burn,” said
Jazz Gill, on the next mark over from Lori in the 200 meter
finals.

.

“
The Gills, again, leading; Lewis in third, and
moving; the pack far back.”

.

Lori Lewis stood erect in salute on the
winners platform, a silver medal hung around her neck. After the
final bars of the second rendition of “God Save the Queen,” she
made her way swiftly to a restroom, her medal bouncing on her
chest, impressing upon her its heft.

.

December lay against Lori’s chest, idly
lifting and examining the three silver and one bronze medal that
she insisted Lori put on.

“My sexy soldier,” cooed December, as Lori
closed her eyes.

.

“Swimming’s boring,” said Jazz Gill, passing
Lori in the cafeteria line, to get to the breakfast cereal
selection. Once Lori had caught up, selecting a box of plain corn
flakes, Jazz turned to her. “I’m tired of watching Bella win the
gold medals and coming in behind you.”

“You took silver in the 100,” said Lori,
choosing plain yoghurt, and zucchini bread. “I mean, c’mon…. Yer
complaining about having medals.”

“Yeh, well, I’m bored,” said Jazz, dropping
a Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes box onto her tray and a pint of
chocolate milk. “Let’s do something... brilliant... in the
800.”

“Me, I’m gonna swim,” said Lori, selecting a
table.

.

Lori looked up from the starting block, as
the London crowd chanted, “Arm-MEE!” She smiled and all I could do
was watch as her image was projected on an enormous screen and on
the hand-held devices all around me. I let loose a tear, hypnotized
as I was by her smiling face.

.

“
Lewis entered the final for the longest
freestyle event — the 800 meters — clearly in discomfort. As the
final wore on, the pain on Sergeant Lewis’ face was obvious. Minute
after torturous minute, it went on. Bella Gill leaving all
challengers in her wake as sister Jazz actually slows and her
swimming becomes like a protective dolphin or whale, her actions in
the water meant to give heart to an injured colleague. Despite the
pain, despite the pack, Lewis stays in it, holding herself to a
perfect form, executed with such mind-bending discipline that the
agony displayed on her face seems almost to belong to another
person’s body, for never does Lewis lapse in what may be the
greatest swimming performance of the London Games. While the truly
fabulous Bella Gill did finish ahead of Lewis, an odd mixture of
what the Gills say was their mother’s homemade flu remedy resulted
in the Gills finally being washed out of the medals, and Lewis
stood for a second medal ceremony, where the Queen herself
presented the sergeant with the gold. After eight minutes of agony
with the world’s greatest swimmers, all Lewis could muster for her
Majesty, was a plucky, “Thanks, Queen.”

.

“Just watch me!” yelled Jazz during the
third minute, across to Lori, the next lane.

.

“Hunny’s hurt!” shouted December, as the
image on the big-screen zoomed tightly onto Lori’s face, agony
showing in her eyes. “It’s those damn English girls!”

.

“What is she doing?” yelled Dave San Jose,
as the screen showed Lori swimming and Jazz Gill, one lane over,
seeming to lose her form. It almost appeared that she was
deliberately slowing to keep pace with Lori.

.

“Watch... me!” yelled Jazz, to Lori, as they
together came off the wall for the final lap.

.

“
Seven minutes into that final, the Gill sisters
proved how fabulous they are. Ultimately surrendering her own medal
hopes by slowing down, Jazz Gill taunted Lori Lewis, staying with
her as she swam through what Lewis later called the worst cramp of
her life. Gill picked up her pace only to keep Lewis moving ahead
of the pack. When the sisters finishes were stripped due to
collusion and a flu remedy, Jazz smiled and said Lori Lewis had to
come back to swim the Mersey together.”

.

Lori Lewis passed out seconds after touching
the pool’s edge, behind Baljinder and barely ahead of Jazz Gill and
teenaged American teammate, Anna Chops.

.

December Carrero ran as fast as one could
into a swarm of people. On being recognized by Lori’s coach, she
was allowed to be next to where Lori lay, poolside. Moments later,
Larry, me and the filmmakers were standing with Pat McCormick, as a
nurse cracked a vial of smelling salts under Lori’s nostrils. She
shook her head and opened her eyes. She smiled at December. Lori
stayed flat on the stretcher, but on looking to the crowd and
medical team, she burst into tears. December went to her knees and
wrapped her arms around her. Lori’s parents made it to their
daughter’s side.

“Silver!” yelled Lori’s coach.

“Oh, Baby!” sobbed December, kissing Lori’s
face repeatedly, as cameras flashed and the crowd around Lori grew.
She stood, grimacing, and walked, with December and Larry helping
her, to the winner’s platform.

“You’re a true champion, just like I knew
you could be,” said Pat McCormick, as she walked alongside
December, on the way to the platform.

Lori Lewis hobbled her way to the second
tier, as Bella and Jazz Gill each smiled warmly. Lori held her
salute through the rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner,” and
stood at attention during the anthem she had now heard ten times
from while standing on the victor’s platform.

.

I stopped the iPod. Across the aisle, Lori
continued taking congratulations from the Team Lori crowd, total
strangers and the cabin crew.

“This is your captain speaking,” came a deep
voice over the speakers. “We have a lot of special people on board
for this flight to Los Angeles, but please welcome Sergeant Lori
Lewis on board.”

The roar of cheers and applause rose from
the cabin. Lori stepped to the curtain at first class, and stood in
the portal with the main cabin and waved. Another cheer went
up.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Deployed

Lori stood on the light wood floor of Astrid
Ullagård’s studio, in her government issue boots and US Army
uniform, GI belt cinched at Lori’s narrow waist, staff sergeant’s
stripes and US Army black, block lettering spelling out, “L LEWIS”
on her chest. “Thanks for letting Ralphie bring me and my folks to
LAX for the departure,” said Lori. “I know you’re gonna be
okay.”

Larry looked at the floor, and then lifted
his eyes to meet Lori’s. “I’ll be okay.”

“I know you will,” said Lori.

“Probably.”

“You’re gonna make more people’s dreams come
true, Bix... just like you did for me.”

Emma walked into the studio and smiled on
seeing Lori, stepping up to lightly hug her. Lori kissed Emma and
gently wrapped her arms around both she and Larry. Ralphie stood in
the doorway of the studio. “I was worried about you,” said Lori. “I
thought you’d become someone else, but you just became a better
you.” She kissed him. “It’s that good heart of yours.”

“And the arm,” said Larry.

“Yeh,” laughed Lori.

“Told you heart beats discipline.”

Lori kissed Larry as she pulled her arms
from both he and Emma. “Little of both is good.”