Wrestling Against Myself (24 page)

“Right,” Peter said, still hopeful he could sway the more popular teen.

“But how would you know? You didn't go to school with her last year or the year before and maybe not ever, so how would you know?”

“I just know?”

“I know you don't live in the same neighborhood, so I doubt you saw her through a window. Did you somehow see her with her clothes off to know that she is a boy?”
 

“No.”

“It sounds to me like your trying to spread a really bad joke. If you have a problem with her, whatever it is, just back off. You don't want to deal with her, then don't. I'm sure she won't mind. But stop spreading this ridiculous story, it isn't funny.”

“God, Tiny,” Peter spat. “You're hopeless.”

“Watch that,” Tony said at hearing his Lord's name taken in vain. “Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm running late for lunch.”

Peter stood there speechless as he watched the Senior walk away from him. “It's not a joke,” he decided to call out, but was unsure if Tony could hear him over the din. “But perhaps I haven't spread it around enough,” he said in a much lower register.

Tony walked into the cafeteria, made his way through line and went to his table. Everyone was already
there; some were half way through their lunches. He was glad to see the Courtney was also there, even though she seemed to be disengaged.

“Look who's late today,” Carl said jokingly.

“Yeah, I had to deal with someone.” Tony sat down. “Some people really don't know when to give up.”

“You never give up,” Shannon said. “Just like the poster says.”

“You mean the one with the frog choking the bird,” Courtney said quietly.

“She speaks,” Shannon said boisterously. “Tiny must have the magic touch.”

Tony gave the football player a sideways glance.

“I didn't mean anything by it. Yes, that's the picture. I have three copies of it. One in my football locker, one in my school locker, and one on my wall at home. Where did you see it?”

“She snuck into your home,” Dave offered.

“I told you she is part ninja,” Ted countered.

“Maybe a sniper, she could have used a long range scope to see into his bedroom.”

“She could have the power of invisibility.”

Courtney grinned. “No,” she giggled. “I saw it during camp.”

“Space camp?” Dave and Ted asked in unison.

“No, just regular sleep away camp.”

“Oh,” the pair sounded downcast.

“Dave and Ted are looking for the fastest way off the planet,” Tony explained.

“We want to find a planet that supports life, this way after we ruin this planet we have a place to go.”

“No, we want to find intelligent life, this way they can help fix the problems here.” Dave said.

“After the conversation I had before lunch, I wonder if you can find intelligent life here on Earth.”

Carl raised his eyebrow.

“I'll tell you later, maybe after school.”

Carl cleared his throat. “Speaking about after school.” He motioned towards Courtney.

“Oh yeah. Courtney.”

“Yes?” The girl looked up from her tray.

“After school today we're going to roll around on the mats for a little while, so I'm not leaving to go home right away. You're welcome to join us though.”

“That's bold,” Tracy said.

“Wow, Tiny. You really cut to the chase. No diner or dating or nothing,” Stephanie added. “Straight to rolling around on the mats.”

“And here I thought Tiny was a gentleman,” Tracy continued.

Tony blushed. “That's not what I meant. Carl and I and a couple of other guys are going to roll out the mats and wrestle. The gym is going to be open and you can come and watch or use the mats however you want to. Or, if you don't want to wait around, you can go home if you think it’s okay.”

“I knew what you were saying,” Courtney said, she was as red as Tony. “It might be fun to watch.”

“Are you guys going to wrestle in your tight little bathing suits,” Tracy teased.

“They're called singlets,” Carl corrected. “They are not bathing suits.”

“What's a singlet?” Courtney asked.

“It's a tight little bathing suit that guys wear to wrestle in. It's like a one piece, but not as cute.”

“It is not a one piece.” Carl was growing annoyed. “A singlet is a wrestling uniform that is made out of Lycra that guys wear so their opponents don't have any clothing to grab while competing.”

“Okay,” Courtney said.

'Bathing suit,' Tracy mouthed to the girl’s direction.

“Either way,” Tony stepped in, knowing the girls would tease Carl endlessly if he didn't. “We won't be wearing our singlets, they're only for matches.”

“Will you be taking your shirts off?” Stephanie asked.

“Maybe,” Tony said. “I can't speak for the other guys.”

“Can we watch too?” Stephanie giggled.

“Behave,” Tony said firmly.

The rest of lunch was spent in light banter, most of which Courtney simply listened to even though Tony tried to include her every now and then. Her nervousness was lessened, at least, and Tony took that as a sign he was at doing something right. Lunch never lasted as long as he liked, but he was glad it was over, only because that meant he was closer to getting back on the mats after a summer off.

When the bell rang, everyone filed out. It was the first time that Courtney didn't wait for the dining hall to empty before leaving. She walked with the group to empty her tray and they all left together. As they made their way through the center hall, bits and pieces of their group broke off to go to their classes. By the time they made it to D-wing, it was just Tony and Carl; Courtney had left a building before.

“So,” Carl said as the two mulled about, they still had a few minutes before the bell to start class rang. “Can I guess who held you up for lunch?”
 

“I'll give you three guesses, but you'll only need one.”

“Peter?”

“Bingo. How did you know?”

“When you said 'some people don't know when to give up,' I had an inkling.”

“An inkling, huh?”

“Good word, right. Picked it up in English.”

“Good for you, you should learn something at school.” Tony smiled.

“What did he want?”

“More of the same. He was wondering why I didn't beat Courtney up yesterday.”

“Because he thinks she is a boy?”

“That's the story he's sticking to.”

“I was thinking about that this morning after we went to class. Do you think he's right?”

“No chance.”

Carl was skeptical. “What if he is?”

“What if he is right? I don't know. I don't think in what ifs.”

“If he is right and Courtney turns out to be a boy, would you still be his friend?”

“Carl, you're being ridiculous. Courtney is not a boy. Have you ever seen her in one of our bathrooms, or in our locker room?”

“No.”

“She doesn't look like a boy, dress like a boy, talk like a boy, walk like a boy. There is nothing about her that shows a shred of evidence that she is a boy. Don't let Peter's deceit get into your head and sway you to the dark side.”

“But why would he be so bent on spreading such a rumor if there wasn't some truth to it?”

“Because that's what he does.”

“He seems0 sure of himself.”

“You talked to him?”

“We have class together third period, he made mention of it.”

Tony took a deep breath. “You ever think about how he knew such a thing? The first time he knew Courtney existed was when school started. It's not like they live in the same neighborhood, Peter lives way down by where I do and Courtney lives right across from the school. For him to know that she is a boy, he would've had to see her naked or something, and he already admitted to me that he hadn't.”

“Maybe he knows her from
church; she said she had problems there?”

“Peter goes to church? Since when?”

“Then why would he say something like that?”

“Because he thinks it’s funny and Courtney was an easy target. You saw her the first few days of school, scared of her own shadow. He knew she wouldn't say anything and he could have his fun and now he's taking it too far.”

“I hope you're right. I don't know why he would go on and on about it.”

“Why should we care? Until we know something for certain, we got to believe she is telling us the truth. Even if Peter was telling the truth, I don't think that would change things much.”

“Even if she was a boy.”

“Quit thinking about it. She's not a boy. I'll see you after school at wrestling practice. You got thirty seconds to get to class, don't be late.”

School couldn't get over fast enough for Tony. As soon as the final bell rang, he made a bee-line to his car to get his workout gear and wrestling shoes and then went straight to the boys' locker room. He practically had to fight his way to get in as a few gym classes were leaving and hadn't learned to leave the right way. Tony made his way to one of the double lockers toward the back wall; it would be his for the year. Even though he doubted anyone would deny him his choice of lockers for wrestling season, it was a good idea to lay claim to one as soon as possible. 

Tony stripped to his underwear and put his school clothes in his locker before putting on a gray pair of shorts and a black Dunedin High wrestling t-shirt. He walked in socked feet out of the locker room, past a small portion of basketball court and into the small wrestling room that was just big enough to hold the school's two mats. He didn't remember if it was a rule or a superstition, but you never wear your wrestling shoes anywhere other than on the mats, unless you were competing during a meet or tournament when it was impractical to keep removing your shoes.

Tony was the first person in the wrestling room, which didn't surprise him. Most of last year he would be there before anyone else. A few times Coach Walker would be waiting, but usually no other wrestler. He took his time to roll out a mat half way. He told most of last year’s wrestlers that the mats would be opened, but didn't receive many commitments. He hoped the others passed the information along to guys he didn't come across.

The next person in the room was John Sharp. He was in his workout gear and sneakers.

“Where are your wrestling shoes?”

John shrugged. “I couldn't find them. I needed a new pair anyway.”

“Wrestling in sneakers. Sacrilege.”

“You going to teach me a lesson Tiny,” John Sharp said as he stepped on the mat. “Come on, you aren't nearly as big as you were last year. I think I can take you.”

Tony squared up against the lightweight, knowing that he wouldn't put a move on the smaller opponent. That didn't keep John from diving at his legs and attempting to bring him down.