Jack walked into the gym after a rough Monday back at school. He still hadn't let go of the incident at the end of the last game. Ox proved to be a great friend the rest of the weekend and helped keep Jack's mind off of the game by teaching Jack how to clean and fix a furnace. Jack had no idea his friend was so handy, but realized that he had held jobs and probably needed to learn things like that since he really didn't have parents to take care of it for him.
But Monday all together was bad. Jack forgot he had a project due in his social studies class and would have to throw something together after practice to turn it in late and take a one letter grade deduction on the assignment. Keevan had continued to trash talk every time he saw Jack and Josiah was even brave enough to trip Jack in the hall after lunch. Jack was beginning to feel like he was going to erupt again, but also realized that if he wanted his starting spot back he would have to do exactly as Mr. Roderick said and earn it.
The gym was full of about fifteen boys and one girl who were running up downs. Jack couldn't tell who was in the lead on the drill, but the girl was going at a much faster pace than the rest of the boys. Jack did not recognize the girl from any of his classes, but he had seen her around the school a few times. Her hair was braided with rippled waves and her skin was the color of a cup of coffee that had a lot of cream in it. She was taller than both Keevan and Jack and had very long arms. As she approached Jack on her run back he could tell she had light green eyes and the ferocity in her face that was softened by a set of plush lips. As Jack glanced back to see if Ox was behind him he got bumped in the back by Keevan.
"Whatcha gonna do boy! Go cry to yo mamma?"
"I appreciate that Keevan..."
"Go back with them white folks that love you!"
"Thanks Keevan..."
Keevan scanned the gym and realized Mr. Roderick was not around and then got in Jack's face.
"You ever disrespect me in front of coach again and I'll make you pay!"
"You disrespected yourself Keevan...and you're the one who started this on the first day of school."
"And you jus' keep it going boy!..."
Keevan took another look around the gym and then blatantly shoved Jack backwards. Jack's face turned red he remembered what happened last time he lost his temper, but couldn't supress his feelings.
"Push me again Keevan!...Come on...come and get your pent up frustration out!"
"You wanna throw down boy!"
"Bring it Keevan!"
Jack couldn't help himself and knew that things were spiraling out of control. Keevan stepped up to Jack and punched him right in the face. The runners in the gym stopped running. Jack recovered from the punch and dove at Keevan, tackling him to the ground. He hit Keevan with several punches before Josiah kicked Jack in the gut. Jack caught his breath and looked at Keevan who was holding his face in pain. He went after Josiah, but before he could get close to him Josiah pulled a knife out of his bag. Jack took two steps back and put his hands up. Josiah cautiously approached Jack.
"You gonna pay boy!"
Jack's insides dropped to his feet. He didn't know what to do and then a basketball hit Josiah in the head. Jack turned to see who threw the ball. Ox was standing by the basketball rack and started running towards Josiah. Jack yelled for him to stop, but it was too late. Ox grabbed the hand Josiah was holding the knife with and wrestled with him. Before Jack could do anything blood was dripping on the floor. Ox let go of Josiah who slowly collapsed to the floor.
Mr. Roderick came running into the gym and saw Josiah and Keevan on the floor. He used his radio to call the office for an ambulance. He instructed all the students to sit down exactly where they were. He started yelling for his assistant coach to come out. Nobody responded. The wound on Josiah was in his abdomen and Mr. Roderick was putting pressure on it. He yelled at one of the students to bring him some towels from the gym office. The towels absorbed a lot of the blood. Less than a minute later the assistant coach walked in the gym. Mr. Roderick screamed louder than Jack had ever heard before.
"Where have you been?!"
"I uh...uhhhh...what?"
"Your fired!...Get outta here! I told you to stay in this gym!"
The assistant coach looked like he wanted to help, but retreated out of the gym. Jack watched Keevan get up from the ground and look terrified when he realized what was happening. The next several minutes were a blur. The principal and other teachers ran into the gym and rushed all of the kids out of the gym while some of them stayed to help Mr. Roderick. Jack was escorted with all the other students into the counseling office. He could hear the ambulance arriving. In all the chaos he forgot to check for Ox. When he realized he wasn't with all the other kids he knew he had either been caught or was on the run. Whatever it was it didn't matter. Josiah might die and it was Jack who really started the whole mess.