***
After an informative session with Mr. Taylor, I was now sitting in our class homeroom. The teacher was taking roll call. My gaze was fixed on Keith and Shannon who were sitting next to each other. I looked around the room at the mostly unfamiliar faces.
Sometimes I would make eye contact with a girl and she would smile at me and as a courtesy, I smiled back. The guys ignored me. Jill Cruse was also in my homeroom. She did not smile when I made eye contact with her. Being back in a public school was going to take a lot of getting use to.
Biology was my first class of the morning and Keith, Shannon, and Reina were in it.
"Konichiwa, kunoichi," I said to Reina.
She smiled and said, "I had a good time last night."
"I did, too."
"There is a back-to-school dance on Thursday night. Do you want to go together?"
"Let me think about it and I'll get back to you."
"For this class you will need to team up with a lab partner," said Mr. Baker, the teacher. I looked over at Shannon and she looked back at me for a brief second. Keith got up and sat beside her and she turned to talk to him. I looked around and some guy was asking Reina if he could be her partner. She looked over at me and raised her eyebrows in a questioning glance. I beckoned her to come over. She politely declined the other student's offer and made her way over to me. She sat down, turned to me, and smiled. I smiled back. I noticed Shannon staring at us and then quickly avert her gaze when I made eye contact with her.
After several more classes it was lunch period. I made my way over to the cafeteria. It was currently being expanded under a school renovation project. At one end was the ongoing construction and at the other end were the tables, chairs, condiments table, and the kitchen. As I walked through the lunch line ordering my food, I noticed that the students were crammed around all but four of the tables. I also observed Shannon and Keith sitting next to each other. I made my way over to one of the empty tables and set my food tray down.
"Hey, Canada," remarked Jill Cruse while walking over to me. "Unless you're on the football team, and I know you're not, you can't sit there. Those four tables are reserved for players only."
"You're kidding?"
"No, I'm not. Why don't you come and sit over here," she suggested while gesturing me to follow her.
"That doesn't seem fair that they should get four tables to themselves," I remarked while squeezing into a space that some other students kindly provided for me.
"Football rules in this school. You'd better get used to it," remarked a boy who introduced himself as Bob Wilson.
"That's still not fair," I replied. "Even if the whole team should come in and eat at one time, four tables would still provide more room than they could possibly use. And here we are jammed together like sticky buns."
"If you think that's not fair, watch what happens next," said Bob. Several students, whom I surmised were players, came strutting into the room. One of them was Greg Schulman. Instead of standing in line to purchase food, they began to walk around from table to table helping themselves to whatever they wanted from other student's lunches.
"There's no way they are allowed to get away with that," I remarked while shaking my head in disbelief. But apparently no one objected except for one kid. He made it clear that they were not going to touch his stuff.
"Why isn't anyone else standing up for themselves like that guy?" I asked.
Ignoring my question, Bob, who was looking over at the kid, remarked, "He's new in school, isn't he?"
"Yup, he is," said Jill. "I think his name is Brian."
"I feel sorry for him," said Bob.
One of the players had made his way over to our table. Everyone but Jill had a look of apprehension.
"I wish I was on the cheerleading squad," remarked a girl whose name was Darlene.
"They leave us alone," said Jill. "I guess they consider us to be like a sorority."
The player was now standing behind Darlene and eying her French fries. He reached his right hand down to take a handful. I intercepted it and grabbed his wrist with my left hand while bending it down hard and sharp. Now wincing in pain, he stared at me in fear with his eyes bulging.
"Why don't you come back after she's done eating? I suggested. "If there are any leftovers, then you can stuff your face until your heart's content. Is that okay with you?" I continued while bending his wrist down even harder. He quickly shook his head yes and I released my grip. He walked away from the table while both continuing to stare at me in fear and tenderly rubbing his wrist.
"Thank you," said Darlene. Everyone at our table glanced at each other in surprise.
"You're welcome," I replied. "Who was that guy? He seems to be a little scrawny and sickly looking to be playing football."
"His name is Ron Boyle," replied Bob. "He's a wide receiver and a snot-nosed wuss. The only reason he's even on the team is because his father is head of the school board. From what I've heard, the other players don't even care for him. They simply tolerate him. You know, I didn't even see your hand move!"
Jill looked at me, smiled, and then shook her head in admiration.
"I've heard of bullying going on in schools, but never on such an organized level," I remarked.
"Like Bob said," replied Jill. "The football gods rule in this school."
"You mean football thugs," I answered. "I find it hard to believe the school administration doesn't do anything about it."
"Football means everything to this school," she continued. "This school has a state championship level team and they win it almost every year. The players are practically worshiped. Winning football championships equals huge financial donations and probably kickbacks, too. Nobody, including the administration, is going to rock the boat. That's the way it has always been and probably will be. Better get used to it, Canada."
The injustice of it galled me. But it was beyond my control. I focused my attention back on Shannon. Bob, while noticing who I was staring at, remarked, "If you're thinking of asking Shannon out to try and get some, forget it."
"Eh?" I exclaimed while raising my eyebrows.
"If you're looking to try and get in her pants, you're wasting your time. For as long as I've known her, no guy has ever been able to."
"A few girls admire her, others think she's a prude, but most couldn’t care less either way," added Jill. "But I know that even though none would openly admit it, I'll bet they all respect her for sticking to her conviction. I do."
"And what would that be?" I asked.
"What would what be?" asked Jill.
"Her conviction."
"That she's saving herself for her future husband."
"I’m one of those who couldn't care less," remarked Bob, derisively. "All I know is that the only goddess in the entire state is going to our high school, but she carries a sign around her neck that reads: 'You can look, but you can't touch.'"
"Like you would even have a chance to touch anyways," mockingly remarked Jill to Bob.
"Hey, I can fantasize like every other guy in this cafeteria," he replied.
"I think I know one guy who has a chance," said Darlene.
"Who's that?" I asked.
"The hunk who's sitting next to her—Keith Mitterhauser. He's rich, popular, athletic, and hot!"
"I might have to agree," said Bob in a conceding tone. "No girl can resist all that. I so totally envy him. I'd bet my money that he gets to score first with her."
Lunch break was now over and we got up to leave. On our way out of the cafeteria, Jill stopped me. "I also noticed the way you were looking at her. This is really none of my business…but umm…in spite of yesterday, do you really want to ask her out?"
"Yeah, I want to. But what chance do I have against a guy like Keith?"
"Listen to me, Canada, if you want to win her heart, do something that will genuinely impress her."
"Genuinely impress her?"
She nodded her head. "Remember yesterday at my hou
se when you—"
"Do cheerleaders practice at the same time as the football team?" I suddenly asked. I had just come up with an idea.
"Normally they do but—"
"Is there football practice today?"
"Yes. There's one right after school."
"And the cheerleaders will be there, right?"
"Yes they will. But why—"
"I have to go and talk to the coach! Thanks for your help!" I ran down the hall to find the athletic department.