The Freak - S01 E08

2 months ago

The Freak - S01 E08

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 8

Everything worked out perfectly. I walked into the Yonkers High School Gym with Barbara, paying for her ticket and giving her a five so she could get a soda or a snack if she wished. We sat together watching the JV game until my family came in to join us. I lay on the bleacher behind them at the half for my meditation then followed my ritual hugs and kisses before walking to the locker room to dress. My kiss with Barbara had a little extra in it, especially when she gripped my head to prolong it.

I caught a little grief from my buddies once I got into the locker room, but I knew they were just jealous. Barbara was a beautiful woman with a great body. Hell, I'd be jealous, too if I saw her kissing someone else.

I taped up, dressed in my uniform, and threw up all in the space of fifteen minutes before walking onto the court. Looking over to Barbara I saw her wave and smile. Apparently, she knew better what to expect this time around. I joined the layup line, mostly to loosen up my muscles. I didn't need to practice shooting; I got plenty of that every day at practice. It was my goal to sink fifty straight foul shots every day before practice began. That's what I did every day while other guys were fooling around and taking shots they'd never dare in an actual game.

Here at Yonkers they introduce one player from each team who meet at mid-court to shake hands before moving to the foul line. As usual, I was introduced last and waited to shake hands with their center, Marcus Coburg. It was a cool reception both ways- there was no love lost between us. Our history went back two years to a play in which he had intentionally tried to injure me. He had rebounded a missed shot and had viciously swung his elbow at my head. Luckily, I'd had one of my famous flashes just a few seconds earlier so was able to turn and duck my head. He still hit me, but it was a glancing blow instead of one that would have probably broken my nose. Worse, he tried the same thing later in the game and he repeated the next three times we played, too.

I'd had two flashes on the bus earlier so had a good idea what to expect and when. I won my 427th consecutive jump ball to open the game. We were about to run our opening play when Coburg shot his leg out in my path in an attempt to trip me. Instead of trying to avoid him I faked tripping and stepped onto the outside of his ankle. I could feel it crumble as he fell to the floor in anguish. knew he was done for the rest of the game, at least, but I'd managed to get even at last. Normally, I'd go to the opponent in the name of sportsmanship to express my concern, but that would never happen with this asshole. He had to be helped from the court, swearing at me the entire time. Hey...I didn't make him try to hurt me. I wondered then how many times he'd tried that with other opponents.

I knew one of their guards fairly well so I asked him. "He's no loss, believe me. All he does is try to hurt people. He's been kicked out of two games already this year and he's had at least one technical every game. Truthfully, I'm glad he's hurt. He's just a total asshole. You should have heard him brag about how he was going to take you down." We might have continued, but he was finally off the court and the ref had blown his whistle to continue play.

I passed it in to Tony, brushed my new opponent off on Eli and took the lob for an easy dunk. We pressed from the start and disrupted their offense more than half the time. We went up early and stayed there, winning eventually by twenty-six even though I only played five minutes in the second half. I met up with my family afterwards and I made sure that my dad told Coach that I had his permission to skip the bus back to school.

My parents volunteered to stay to stay with Barbara so I hurried into the locker room to strip out of my uniform and cut the tape from my ankles. I rushed into the shower, soaping up my body with both hands and using the soap in my hair, as well. Then dried myself, handed my sweaty uniform to Jimmy Piersall so he could return it to school for washing before the next game, and dressed as quickly as could. My wet towel joined my sneakers, socks, and jock in my gym bag. Hurriedly, my hair still wet, I almost ran into the gym. We walked out together with my family, Barbara holding my right hand and my gym bag in my left. We walked through a group of disgruntled male students, some of whom made comments about hurting me the way I had hurt Coburg. I moved Barbara behind me and turned to face one of the closest. "Well, here am" said as I dropped my bag. His bravado evaporated in a flash when I took a step toward him. The crowd dissolved and we continued our short walk.

We were in my car and on our way when Barbara asked, "Would you really have fought with that guy?"

"No...I knew he'd back off. He was all mouth. If he really wanted to hurt me he and his buddies would have jumped me without any warning. How about we get some seafood tonight? know of a good restaurant just down the road in Bronxville." Barbara agreed and ten minutes later we were seated at a table, menus in our hands.

I ordered a pitcher of Coke as we checked the menu. I had to laugh

when I showed one item on the menu to Barbara. "No, thanks," she said with a smile to my offer of garlic bread. I passed on it, too. I decided on the seafood alfredo and a tossed salad with bleu cheese dressing. Not surprisingly, Barbara ordered the same.