Wrestling Against Myself (8 page)

“Henry,” he said with a shaky voice.

“Yeah, Henry,” Antonio emphasized the kids name. “We don't do that kind of thing at this school.”

Henry looked up and listened, figuring there was more coming.

“Nor, do we find it funny,” Antonio addressed the kid's friends.

“But, it was,”

“It was not funny,” Tony said, not wanting to hear excuses.

“But you don't understand, it deserved it.”

Antonio could feel himself turn red as his nostrils flared. “I don't know what you guys did in middle school, or what issues you might have, but we don't do that kind of thing at this school,” he knew he was repeating himself, but hoped the message would finally set in. “Do I make myself clear?”

Henry took a noticeable swallow. “Yes, sir.”

“Don't let it happen again. Okay?”

Henry trembled. “Okay.”

Antonio was satisfied and allowed himself to settle down. “Good. I'm glad we had this talk.”

Before the boy could say anything in reply, the morning bell sounded.

Figuring there was nothing more to say, Antonio turned so he could grab a few books from his locker.

“That's Tiny,” he heard Henry say in a low whisper to his friend. “He always sticks up for losers.”

Antonio momentarily stopped, but could hear the group scamper away behind him, so he figured he wouldn't press matters. Instead he continued onto his locker, grabbed a handful of books and then went off to his first class of the day.

Lunch time couldn't arrive fast enough for Antonio. Having to leave home early to run the prayer group before school meant he ate breakfast earlier than usual and found himself quite hungry. He wished the line wasn't so long, but at least John Sharp was along with him so he could chat with someone.

“You're in the news again,” John said with a grin.

“Fact or fiction?” Sometimes stories went around about Tony that bordered on being mythical.

“I think this time it's fact,” John, who was sometimes the source of such myths, replied.

“What I do this time?”

“Took on a group of frightened
freshmen before school this morning.”

“As in a fight?”

“Yeah, five against one.”

“And you say this is a fact,” Antonio admonished. “You know better. Since you've known me, have I ever gotten into a fight with anyone?”

“There was that guy from Countryside High,” John pointed out.

“I didn't get into a fight with Dan Hughes,” Tony defended himself. “We had a physical match.”

“One that required both coaches, the ref and half the team to keep him from you.”

Antonio laughed. “I can't help it if he has anger issues.”

“Because you chose to get physical back, he wasn't used to that.”

“Still not a fight. Neither was this thing with the freshman this morning.”

“So there was a thing,” John pried.

“There was a small matter that needed to be corrected.”

“With force,” John was hopeful.

“Not with force.” Antonio knew John enjoyed playing these games where he tried to rile him up.

“With the threat of force at least?”

Antonio held up his thumb and forefinger. “Maybe a little bit.”

“I knew it,” John pumped his fist in victory. “You know, it's not very Christian to be a bad ass.”

“I was not being a,” Tony paused. Another game John played was trying to goad Tony into cursing. He got close on a few occasions and that gave him enough of a thrill to keep it up. “Good try.”

“Come on Tiny, let one out. It'll make you feel better.”

Tony shook his head. “You're too much.”

John put on a mock frown. “For me.”

“Not even for you.”

“So what did they do? Huh, Tiny? Did they say a bad word or something?”

“Not exactly. There's this new girl at the school. Not even as tall as you.”

“Hey!” John objected.

“It's the truth. About this tall,” Antonio brought his hand to John's eyebrows. “This freshman went out of his way to bump her. She already looked scared half to death.”

“Oh, her.”

“You know her?”

“Not exactly.” John looked around as if he knew a secret. “But I've been told to stay away.”

“Why?”

“No one bothered to tell me that much. Just to stay away from her and not be friends with her so she drops out of school.”

Antonio was visibly upset. “These freshmen, I swear.”

“Go on Tiny, swear, you know you want to.”

“Quit,” Tony said shortly.

“Sorry Tiny, gee don't be such a cry baby about it.”

“What could she have done for these kids to want her to drop out?”

“Maybe she's a whore?”

“John!”

“Hear me out, without getting upset. Maybe she slept with a couple of people and it ticked everyone off. It happens, not everyone is like you.”

“She doesn't seem the type.”

“Does anyone,” John offered.

“I don't know. But they can't terrorize the poor girl all year.”

“Who knows, maybe it's best she drops out or goes to another school. I mean, if it's as bad as people say.”

“I would like to think this school wasn't that way. Something's got to be done.”

“And you're going to do it, aren't you?”

“You know me,” Tony said apologetically.

“Go on mister knight in Shining Armor, grab your tray.”

Antonio looked over and saw he was ready to be served.

As soon as Antonio and John exited the serving area of the cafeteria, they split up. John hung out with a more rambunctious crowd than Tony was comfortable with, but at least he was able to provide information on the new girl quandary.

Antonio made his way to the back table and sat down. He was the first person there, which wasn't that odd. He kept an eye on the line to see who else was about to join him and wondered if Courtney was going to bring up the rear again.

Why would anyone want to force another kid out of school? Especially a freshman, Antonio thought to himself. It made even less sense that other freshmen would pick on someone small and defenseless. Sooner or later he would figure things out and set it straight. He had an idea what to do on his end, but didn't know what to do about the way the freshmen were behaving towards her.

At least it explained why the girl was so frightful. If people were looking to get rid of me, Tony thought, I'd be paranoid too.

“Yo, Tiny,” Shannon said as he sat at the table and threw a balled up napkin at Antonio.

Tony snapped out of his quiet contemplation. “Oh, hey. How was practice yesterday?”

Shannon rolled his eyes.

“Sorry I asked. Now you know why I didn't go out for the team again.”

“Going to be a long season, I'll tell you that.”

Tony smirked. There wasn't much else to say.

Tracy was the next to join, along with Carl.

“They're starting to look like a couple,” Shannon said as he took a big handful of fries.

Carl shot Shannon a look that spoke volumes.

It was known that Carl had an interest in Tracy, but the girl had a self imposed no dating until college rule that he was trying to get around.

“Tracy, you know that girl I've been talking about?” Tony quickly changed the subject.

“The wallflower?”

“That's the one.” Antonio didn't like labeling people but knew sometimes it was impossible not to. “Think you could make friends with her?”

Tracy shrugged. “I could try. I don't have any classes with her and I'm still trying to put all the pieces together.”

“Me too,” Tony replied as he reassembled his hamburger. “I heard the freshmen are trying to drive her out of school.”

“I heard that too,” Carl said. “One of them came up to me and told me to make her feel unwanted.”

Antonio, Tracy, and Shannon each looked at him to go further with his story.

“I'm not going to do it. They didn't even explain why I should.”

“There's got to be something there,” Tony said.

“I still think she's trouble,” Tracy said. “But I'll find out for you, and I'll even be friendly. But if she is real trouble, I'm out of there.”

“How much trouble could a little girl be?” Shannon said. “If she misbehaves, carry her in one of those huge purses you have.”

Dave and Ted finally joined with them and the conversation turned towards getting ready for Wednesday night youth group at the church.

Ten minutes later Stephanie came into the cafeteria and joined the group.

“Look who it is,” Carl said casually. “Mrs. Johnny Come Lately.”

“Wouldn't it be Mrs. Julie come lately,” Dave asked.

“Actually it would be Miss in this case,” Ted countered. “Last I checked, Stephanie isn't married.”

Dave shot his friend a look, their disagreement from that morning hadn't waned. It wasn't unusual, they had tiffs often, but usually after a short period of time they forgot about it until the next argument.

“It wasn't my fault this time,” Stephanie said as she put her tray on the table. “Honest.”

“It was the aliens,” Shannon said with a mouthful of food. “They abducted her for makeup tips.”

The group laughed.

“Not funny.” Stephanie laughed.

“So what kept you today?” Tracy asked, showing her friend support, but she was used to hearing farfetched stories coming from her friend.

Stephanie picked at her food, unsure if she wanted to eat it. “You guys haven't heard?”

Carl looked up from his tray, it sounded like a juicy bit of gossip was about to be shared. “Heard what?” 

“Oh my gosh!” Stephanie straightened up. “There was a big to do in d-wing.”

Tony leaned in, it sounded like something big happened that he missed out on. “I just came from there before lunch. You mean in the English classes? Or in the pods?”

“By the English classes. There were a bunch of freshmen involved. They were making a lot of noise and making fun of someone. It may have turned into a fight. All I know is in the end five teachers got involved, including Mr. Fenton.”

“The vice principal?” David said.