On the Ropes (Down for the Count) (9 page)

“I have faith in myself. What I don’t have, is a mother fuckin’ death wish.”

“Would I put you up against him if I didn’t think you could handle it?”

I shrug my shoulders at Frankie.

“That’s what I thought. Now dig deep, get in there, and kick his ass,” Frankie gives me a half smile.

Kicking the stool over with my foot, I stand up, and dig deep to find any source of energy I can muster; I begin bouncing in place. I look across the ring, staring ‘
The Violator
’ down like he’s nothing. I know that if I let him see the fear in my eyes, he’ll take full advantage of it; especially considering how much he outweighs me. Both of us walk to the middle of the ring and touch gloves. I keep eye contact the entire time, even as I walk back to my corner to wait for the bell to ring.

Once the bell rings, the two of us go at each other. I need to keep my distance. His reach is longer than mine and with the extra weight behind him, he could certainly land a punch from where he’s standing. I bob and weave away from his swings, all the while constantly moving.

“That’s it, kid, keep moving around and keep your hands up.”

As he swings at my head, I make contact with his ribs.

“There you go! He felt that,” Frankie yells out, “do it again!”

Again keeping my distance, I manage to back him into the corner of the ring, and while he protects his face, I begin to pummel his middle.

“That’s it! Keep it up!” I hear Jimmy shout. “He’s hurt!”

Then the bell rings.

Just as quickly as the round started, it’s over, and I walk back to my corner with a shit-eating grin on my face. Jimmy’s nearly jumping up and down as I near him.

“You just fuckin’ rocked his world,” Jimmy’s entire face is glowing with happiness.

I just nod my head in acknowledgement.

“Now, that’s the way you do it,” Frankie says, standing behind me, “you showed no fear and never backed down. You overpowered a fighter that has fifteen pounds on you.”

A smile is plastered across my face.

“Go hit the shower then come see me in my office.”

“You got it, Frankie!” I respond, feeling proud of myself.

I jump down from the ring and make my way over to ‘
The Violator.
’ “Hey man, great round,” I say, as I walk up to him.

“I should be saying that to you. It was an honor to spar with you. I’m lookin’ forward to watching your fight next week.”

“You’re coming to watch the fight?”

“Hell yeah, we all are,” he looks around the room at the other fighters.

“No fuckin’ way,” I say in astonishment.

“I wouldn’t miss that fight for anything.”

“Well, thanks again and I guess I’ll see you all there.”

“Without a doubt, I’ll be there.”

I enter the locker room still feeling the high from that last round. Jimmy barges in right behind me. “That was fucking incredible! You completely overpowered him.”

I begin to laugh at his enthusiasm. “Jimmy, take it easy, it’s not like that was a title fight.”

“I know, but I must admit I was a little scared for you when I saw his size!” he helps me take my gloves off.

“You and me both.”

“You better hit the shower before Frankie comes lookin’ for you.”

After sparring sessions, Frankie likes to recap the training. Somehow he manages to memorize every little thing that occurs during each round. We typically sit in his office and go through each round individually. “Yeah, you’re right.”

I’m not sure how long Frankie and I rehash my training, but before either of us realize, it’s time for me to go pick up the kids from school. Our afternoons always fly by with the kids there. Between homework and the classes Frankie and I run, it’s usually six o’clock before we know it. But today is an exception; I find myself checking the clock every ten minutes to see what time it is.

“What’s up with you?” Jimmy questions me.

I look up at him, giving him a smile, but I barely acknowledge his words.

“Dude, what’s wrong? Why are you so distracted?” he asks as he stands next to me.

“I’m meeting with Blaine Davis at seven.”

“Oh shit! No way. That’s tonight?”

“Yeah, Frankie put the pressure on me this morning. Frankie said Blaine would probably pay for my entry fees for the fight and buy me some new gear.”

“That’d be huge!” Jimmy says in awe.

“I know, right? One less thing I gotta worry about.”

“You think he’s gonna bring the Gingah?”

“Who knows,” I smile, “but that would be nice. I’m gonna go grab something to eat before he gets here. You wanna come?”

“No, Steph is picking me up in ten minutes,” Jimmy walks toward the locker room door. “Oh, don’t forget your Axe body spray. Bitches love that shit,” Jimmy jokes.

“Fuck you, man!” I shout at him as the door shuts behind him.

I open my locker, grab the clothes that are balled up at the bottom, and put them on. As I walk past the mirror, I stop and run my fingers through my hair. I stare at my reflection and at what I’m wearing; a pair of worn, ripped jeans and an Affliction shirt
. Shit, I wish I’d known Blaine was coming. I would’ve brought nicer clothes with me.
Fuck it. He’s the one that needs to sell himself to me, not the other way around.

“Frankie!” I yell as I walk back into the gym.

“I’m in my office.”

“I’m gonna go grab some food before our meeting,” I mention from his office doorway.

“Okay, kid,” he answers, but I see that he’s distracted.

“Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, everything is fine. Nothin’ you gotta worry about,” he sighs. I notice that his eyes are fixated on his accounting ledger.

“You know they make computer programs that will do that shit for you?”

“A computer program?” he scoffs at my words.

“Yeah, you know, a computer. It kinda looks like a TV… you type stuff into it,” I can’t help but tease him. He’s so dead set against technology.

Frankie takes off his glasses; finally looking up at me. “Are you kiddin’ me, kid? What do I need a computer for? I got everything I need right here,” he says, pointing to his temple and tapping on his old school adding machine.

I laugh at him, shaking my head. “Do you want me to get you anything to eat at Luigi’s?”

“Nah, I’m good. I’ll eat when I get home.”

“Suit yourself. I’ll be back in twenty.”

I head down the street to Luigi’s, a hole in the wall pizza joint. They serve the best pizza in town, but since I’m fighting soon, there’s no pizza on the menu for me.

“Hey, Saint! Long time, no see,” Nico greets me in his thick Italian accent. He smiles from behind the counter as he wipes his hands on his apron.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know, Nico. I’ve been training. You know I can’t have pizza when I train.”

“No pizza? Not even a slice?”

“Nope, not even a little slice,” I say, with disappointment in my voice as I pat my stomach.

“What can I get for you then?” he asks, confused.

“Any chance you can make me a chicken breast with some steamed broccoli?”

“Chicken breast and steamed broccoli? Are you kidding?”

“No, I’m not kidding.”

“Let me see what I can do,” he calls out as he walks into the kitchen.

“Thanks, Nico.”

I sit down in one of the booths near the front window and look around Luigi’s. Not much has changed in this place. I’ve been coming here since I started in Frankie’s program, and it still has the same four small tables with red and white checked tablecloths you’d find in any Italian restaurant. Pictures of Italy cover the walls; they’re old and faded from the sun now. The menu is displayed above the counter were Nico had stood. It mainly consists of pizza and sandwiches.

While I wait for him to return, I stare out the window and notice that with summer approaching, the days are getting longer. It’s almost six fifteen, and the sun is still high in the sky. Tonight would’ve been the perfect night for a ride on the bike.

“Saint, you are in luck my friend,” Nico says loudly, from across the restaurant. “I can make what you want, but it’s going to take about twenty-five to thirty minutes.”

I look up at the map of Italy clock on the wall. “Yeah, that’s fine, Nico. I can wait.”

I’ll definitely be cutting it close to my meeting with Frankie and Blaine, but I need to eat. I haven’t eaten anything since lunch, and my stomach is already growling from the aroma of pizza that fills the air.

My phone vibrates where it sits on the table. Glancing down, I see that it’s a text message from Jimmy.
Good luck tonight. I hope things go well.

Me
–
Thanks, man. I’ll let you know.

I stare out the window, watching the neighborhood kids ride their bikes up and down the street and begin to think back to Jase and me. The two of us wanted bikes so badly.

I remember one Christmas, both of us wrote letters to Santa, begging and pleading for matching BMX bikes.
We woke up at five a.m. on Christmas morning and tiptoed from our bedroom to the living room, only to find that there were no bicycles under the tree for us, or anything else. I’ll never forget poor Jase’s face when he’d realized we’d gotten nothing from Santa. I didn’t believe in Santa by then, but I played along for Jase’s benefit. “It’s okay, Jase. I’m sure Santa just got lost. He does have to deliver a lot of presents, you know,” I said, trying to cheer him up. “Come on, let’s go back to bed. He’s not gonna come if we’re awake.” I led him back into our bedroom and we crawled back into bed; with Jase curling up into a little ball. I heard him start to whimper. Why did our parents have to be such assholes?

“Here you go, Saint. Grilled chicken breast and steamed broccoli,” Nico says, as he places my dinner onto the table in front of me.

“Thanks, Nico. You’re the best.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah… just remember me when you are rich and famous,” he smiles.

“I’ll never forget where I came from, Nico. I can promise you that.”

He swats his hand at me, “That is what they all say.”

He’s probably right. But in my case, I’ll never forget Frankie and Patsy. The two of them have always been there for me. If I ever make it in boxing, those two are coming with me. I glance down at my phone and realize it’s already ten of six. I quickly eat the rest of my broccoli and leave a twenty on the table for Nico.

“Nico, I gotta run. Thanks for dinner,” I say, waving to him as I rush out the door.

I quickly make my way back to the gym, knowing Frankie’s probably pacing the floor by now; waiting for me. As I get closer, I see a crowd of neighborhood kids standing around, and I realize they’re staring at a car.

“What are you guys staring at?” I ask, pushing my way through the crowd.

“Saint! It’s a Corvette!” Miguel is so excited, he’s nearly jumping up and down for joy. “I’ve never seen a Corvette in real life; only in the movies or on TV.”

A Corvette? Who the hell would be driving a Corvette around here?
I feel my mouth drop open.
Shit, Blaine is here already.

“Was it a young guy, about my age, dressed all fancy?” I interrogate Miguel.

“Yup,” he nods his head, “and he had some girl who looked like a movie star with him. Do you think they’re movie stars?”

I begin to laugh, “No, they’re not movie stars. They’re just regular people just like you and me.”

Regular people with a shit-ton of money.

“I gotta go, Miguel, I have a meeting with those ‘movie stars,’” I tussle his hair and give him a wink.

“Well, if you find out they really are movie stars can you get me their autographs?”

I pull the gym door open and turn back to look at Miguel, “I sure will.”

As I rush through the door, I hear, “There you are, kid. I’d just about given up on you,” Frankie’s voice sounds exasperated.

“I told you I was going out to grab something to eat,” I say in an irritated tone. “It’s not even seven yet,” I look up at the clock on the wall.

“Yeah, well, they’re here early,” Frankie grits his teeth.

“They?”

“Yeah, he brought his broad with him again.”

“Oh, really?” I raise my eyebrows at him as I run my hands through my hair.

“Don’t get any ideas, Gabriel. How many times do I have to tell you? Broads ain’t nothin’ but trouble.”

“You keep sayin’ that, but I find them quite the opposite.”

“Get your ass in my office and act professional,” Frankie scoffs at me, “this meeting is for you and you’re already fuckin’ it up.”

I roll my eyes behind his back as I follow him into his office.

“Look who I found,” Frankie says, as he walks through the door. Frankie’s office is no bigger than a closet, and there’s barely enough room for two people, let alone the four that are going to be sitting in there. As you enter, his desk is immediately in front of you. Along the left wall, there is a big window overlooking the gym so that Frankie can see what’s going on at all times. Even when you least expect it, Frankie’s eyes are on you.

Blaine rises quickly to his feet. “Saint, it’s great to see you again. I was thrilled when Frankie called me this morning.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” I say with a smile, looking directly at his girlfriend.

“Salem, don’t be rude,” he reprimands when she doesn’t acknowledge me.

“Yes, it’s great to see you again,” she replies, sarcastically.

“I apologize for my girlfriend. She’s apparently lost her manners.”

Salem huffs and crosses her arms.

“I was admiring all of your pictures,” Blaine looks to the wall directly behind Frankie’s desk.

“Ah yes, my wall of fame,” Frankie beams.

The pictures on the walls are images of Frankie with various fighters over the years. He has pictures of himself with Holyfield, Tyson, Sugar Ray, and even Ali.

“I especially like this one,” Blaine points to a picture of Frankie and me.

A smile spreads over Frankie’s face. “That’s when Gabriel won his first Golden Gloves. He wasn’t the favorite to win, but he fights from the heart, and it showed in the ring. That was really the beginning of his boxing career.”

“Oh Lord,” I shake my head in embarrassment. I don’t need him getting all nostalgic on me. “Ahem,” I interrupt him.