Wrestling Against Myself (27 page)

“A boy pretending to be a girl? I've never heard of such a thing.”

“You've never heard of a guy dressing as a girl? I know you don't live that sheltered of a life.”

“I mean, I've heard about it for Halloween and maybe as a sexual thing. But at a high school?”

Pastor Bob folded his hands and placed them on his desk. “Don't take this the wrong way, but part of me wonders if you're concerned that the rumors are true.”

If it were another person, Antonio would have feigned being offended. He knew Pastor Bob had a way of reading people, sometimes revealing things about them that they might not want to admit to themselves. “I don't know. Isn't there a saying that there's always some truth to every joke?”

“I've heard that before.”

“I think it is Peter's insistence that is putting doubts in my head. You know, the more you hear a lie, the more you're bound to believe it.”

“The same thing goes for the truth. If you're concerned, have you ever thought about bringing it up to, what's her name, Courtney, right?”

“Yes, the boy named Courtney,” Tony said with a mischievous grin. “I would think asking a girl if she was a boy would be insulting. I've worked hard to get her out of her little shell. She's still shy around the others during lunch, but that seems to be going away. I don't want to drive her back into that frightened little shell of a person.”

“There are other ways of bringing it up without putting it that way,” Pastor Bob explained. “You could let her know that you're aware of the rumor and see what she has to say about it.”

“Maybe. But the more I think about it, the more your tomboy explanation makes sense.”

“That's my Tiny, always giving people the benefit of the doubt.”

“Judge not lest ye be judged,” Antonio quoted.

“My Bible scholar in the making. You up for a game of ping-pong before the Visigoths get here?”

“Visigoths?”

“Ancient Germanic warriors.”

“I can see the comparison. Let's play ping pong. I could use humbling after pummeling a light weight at wrestling practice yesterday.”

“Becoming a bully yourself?” Pastor Bob asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I hope not,” Tony said as he stood up and then made his way to the ping pong table.

Antonio was at the school early so he could make sure everything was set up for the prayer meeting. It wasn't surprising that the student parking lot was empty and the fluorescent lights gave the area a creepy feeling. Tony got out of his car, grabbed a few books that he was going to need for morning classes, and made his way up the embankment. The shadows made it look as if there were people waiting by the boys’ locker room. It reminded Tony of the day when he was informed of the ridiculous rumor; Peter and his goons stood there, watching, waiting, and hoping he would get violent with a small girl that must have been all of eighty pounds. The closer he got to the landing, the more he could see that there were just shadows. 

Tony chided himself for being spooked, it wasn't like him. There was no one waiting to get him. He was at school, it was a safe place, and even though he couldn't see them, he knew there were teachers and janitors around.

He opened the door to D-wing and to his surprise Dave and Ted stood leaning against the wall outside of the classroom where the prayer meeting was held.

“Good morning, gents,” Tony said casually. “Is the door locked?”

“Nah,” Ted replied. “Janitor unlocked it ten minutes ago.”

“Yeah,” Dave added. “We wanted to talk to you before anyone else showed up.”

“Something serious?” Tony said as he stood across the hall from the two. He glanced at his watched and saw that there was plenty of time before anyone else was due.

“Might be,” Dave said.

“Could be real serious,” Ted continued.

“What's got you here so early that it couldn't wait until lunch?”

“Because it involves someone at lunch,” Ted answered to the nodding approval of his friend.

“Okay,” Tony said, not sure what issue could have come up. Everyone was getting along just fine. “Who's the issue with? Shannon not being nice again?”

“It's that thing you invited to eat lunch with us,” Dave said abruptly.

“You mean Courtney?” Tony tried not to raise his voice or sound angry at hearing a friend being referred to as 'that thing.'

“Yeah,” Ted said, deciding to take the pressure off of Dave. “Courtney.”

“Then refer to her as such.” Tony realized that he wasn't playing his emotions close to his chest.

“Peter took us aside after lunch yesterday and told us something that was disturbing,” Dave said.

“Disgusting even,” Ted added.

“Yeah, disgusting.” Dave didn't give Antonio a chance to respond. “He told us he already told you and you didn't do anything about it.”

Tony made sure to remain calm. “And what did Peter tell you that was so disturbing and disgusting, so I know we're on the same page.”

Ted looked up and down the hallway. “He told us that Courtney is a dude.”

“The Bible says that's an abomination,” Dave said.
 

“It does, does it?”

“We looked it up yesterday. It's in Deuteronomy. Twenty-two five,” Dave cited.

“Yeah. A woman shall not wear that which pertains to a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination to the Lord your God,” Ted quoted.

Tony rolled his eyes. “First off, do you think that applies
today? Do you think every girl that wears a pair of jeans or boys tennis shoes is an abomination?”

“That's not the same thing,” Dave objected.

“Yeah. He's pretending to be a girl,” Ted added.

“You honestly believe that stupid rumor Peter is spreading. Why did he tell you guys anyway? Last time you dealt with Peter he took your bag of dice and wouldn't give it back. Now he's your friend?”

“He was only warning us,” Dave said.

“Warning you of what?” Antonio could feel his temper flare.

“That Courtney is a dude,” Ted answered.

“How can you believe that?”

“He said he knew for certain,” Dave said.

“Said he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt,” Ted added.

“Did he say he saw her naked?”

“Not exactly,” Ted said as he began to look uncomfortable.

“That would be gross to look at another dudes junk,” Dave offered.

Tony took a step forward. “I asked him outright and he said he hadn't. All he is doing is spreading lies because that's what he does. You two should be ashamed of yourselves.”

“Why would he tell something like that to us,” Dave asked.

“Yeah, why?” Ted asked.

“Because he thinks it's funny. He also told me I hung around gay friends, do you believe that too?”

Dave and Ted each took a step away from each other. “No,” they said in unison.

Tony looked at the pair quizzically.

“How do you know she isn't a dude pretending to be a girl,” Dave wasn't willing to let the conversation drop, even though his friend decided to go into the classroom and make himself scarce.

“The same way I know that you're not a girl pretending to be a guy,” Tony said evenly. “I never had a reason to doubt you, the same way that I don't have reason to doubt Courtney. Outside of Peter and his stupidity, has there been a reason to doubt that she is a girl?”

Dave thought for a moment. “Not really.”

“Then don't fall into the devil's trap,” Tony said sympathetically.

“What trap is that?”

“Divide and conquer. Yes, Peter came to me after lunch. Yes, he did tell me his stupid story about Courtney being a boy. He thought I would join in his quest to make her drop out of school, but his story doesn't make any sense. Have you ever heard of a boy going to school as a girl?”

Dave shook his head no.

“Because it doesn't happen. Whatever Peter has against Courtney, that's his problem. We're not called to hate people and cast them aside; we're called to show them the love of Christ. You're here waiting on prayer group to start, so why have this evil in your heart?”

“I thought I was doing the right thing,” Dave said, obviously choked up.

“Still think it’s the right thing now?”

“No.”

“So that settles it,” Tony said as he took another step forward and put his arm around his friend. “Listen, you had a concern, we talked it out, and we came to a conclusion. Don't beat yourself up over it. Peter is popular, charismatic even. I know you want to fit in with the cool kids, but don't stop thinking for yourself. It's over. I won't bring it up to anyone, I am trusting that you will do the same.”

“I won't tell a soul. I don't want to spread a rumor anyway, especially if it isn't true.”

“Good,” Tony said as he opened the door to the classroom. “Let's not keep your buddy waiting, I have a theory that if we keep you two separated for too long, you might grow frail and sick.”

Dave didn't respond, he walked into the classroom and Tony followed.

Lunchtime came and Tony found himself sitting at the table with the regular group minus Dave and Ted who decided to resume their role playing schedule in the Library. Without the mundane arguments between the two, the table was unusually quiet.

“You know what's coming up next month, don't you?” Tracy decided to introduce a topic.

“Let's see,” Carl decided to play along. “Next month is October, so Halloween?”

“Better than Halloween.”

“What's better than Halloween,” Shannon said between bites of a sub sandwich. “You go around door to door and you get free candy.”

“How about homecoming dance?” Tracy said.

“Our last one, Carl,” Tony said. “You got a date yet?”

“I don't know,” Carl responded and then looked at Tracy. “Do I?”

“You know my rule,” Tracy said, trying to let her friend down gently.

“What rule is that?” Courtney asked, injecting herself into the conversation.

“Tracy has this horrible rule that she won't start dating until college,” Carl said.

“My thinking is once she gets to college, she'll change the rule to no dating until graduate school,” Tony teased. “She'll put dating off until she either collects social security or too many cats.”

“How rude!” Tracy said stuck her tongue out at Tony. “My mom and I made this deal a long time ago. She says that it isn't fair to tempt a boy, especially these bags of hormones, when in the end I'll only go off to college and break his heart.”

“I can see the point,” Courtney said politely.

“How about you,” Tony turned to the football player. “You taking anyone, Shannon?”

“I'll find a cheerleader or something,” he said.