Today was our first real match and we won! Neil and I won our match 4-6,
6-4, 6-2. The first set I was really nervous and missed some shots I would not normally miss. But Neil stuck with me through it.
He could see that I was tense so between games he said, “Listen Matt just relax just take what comes to you. We are better than these guys.”
I took a deep breath and said, “Thanks Neil.”
He smiled and said, “Hey don’t sweat it I was nervous when I played my first real match.”
As we changed ends I kept telling myself “Just relax, loosen your grip on the racquet. The pro from the health club had told me that when I first started playing. He said if you grip the racquet too hard, you would not have as much control on your shots. As I prepared to receive serve I tried to shut out everything and concentrate on the server. This guy had a really good first serve it had a lot of power to it. That got me back on my heels and not moving forward. His other first serve had a lot of spin on it and if you did not concentrate on hitting it before it came up too high you would hit a weak return. Once I relaxed, I noticed that when he was going to spin the serve in, he changed is serving motion. If I saw he was coming straight through the ball that meant he was going for an ace. If he came around on the ball he was going to spin it wide. That allowed me an extra split second to respond on his hard serve. He had been serving down the middle to my backhand; it had been giving me a lot of trouble. But when I shaded down the middle he had been spinning it way outside the other way.
When he started his serving motion I saw he was going to swing me wide so I broke that way as he served it. His partner had put away my return way too many times already because I had been late in responding to the serve. This time I was determined to make him pay. He came around on the ball, and sure enough it was a spin serve. I caught it perfectly and nailed a hard forehand down the line behind the net man.
Neil pumped his fist and said, “Yeah!”
From then on I relaxed and had fun. By the time we finished our match almost the whole team was watching as we were the last match to finish up. They did not tell us till it was over but we were the deciding match for the team score. So needless to say I was sky-high all the way home. Uncle had been there for the whole match. It meant a lot to me that he took the time.
When we were in the car he asked, “Matt do you want to eat at Sally’s to celebrate?”
“Sure.”
“Ok. Sally’s it is.”
I asked him if it was ok to turn on the radio and he rolled his eyes, laughed and said. “Go ahead you earned it.”
We did not always see eye to eye on music but he tried to put up with it for my sake.
When I started singing along with some of the songs he just laughed at me. Uncle could not hold a note to save his life but he still had fun with music.
When we got to Sally’s it was still early enough to get our favorite booth in the back. Sally came out and said, “Matt how did the tennis match go?”
“We won the team match and Neil and I won our doubles match as well.”
Uncle broke in and said, “He is being modest. Their doubles match was the deciding match for the team as well.”
I blushed when Sally said, “Hey listen up everyone. Matt and his doubles partner just won their first match today.”
Several people in the dinning room and applauded which made me blush even more. But I did not mind and to tell the truth it made me feel good.
Still I gave her the evil glare for embarrassing me that way. Of course it did no good with her, she just laughed and headed back into the kitchen to put our orders in.
I just rolled my eyes and took a sip of my coke. My uncle just laughed at my reaction and said, “Well at least she is focusing on you tonight. I don’t mind that at all that means I get a break.” You could tell that he was not serious. He and Sally were really close friends.
“How did she know about my tennis match today?”
“I came here this morning for a cup of coffee after I dropped you off.”
“Ah ok. That explains it. I thought that she might have turned physic or something. I would not put it past her.
He laughed and said, “Sometimes I wonder if she is.”
When she brought the food out she asked, “Can I sit for a minute with you?”
Uncle moved over to make room for her and said, “Of course you can.”
She slid into the seat and said; “It feels good to be off my feet for a minute. So Matt tell me all about your match.”
I gave her the quick version of what had happened. It was kind of neat because you could tell that she really did want to know. It made me happy that she cared enough to want to know but I was a little sad for her. I knew she had lost her son and still missed him a lot. I could only imagine how horrible it would be to get a call saying your son had been murdered. She only stayed with us for a couple of minutes but it was nice of her.
When we had finished dinner Sally had one more surprise for me. She brought out a big bowl of chocolate ice cream for me. Chocolate is my favorite flavor and she knew it.
“Thanks Sally.”
“Your welcome Matt. I have to look out for my boys don’t I?”
We both laughed and then I dove into my ice cream. When I finished it we headed home. I could not wait to get home and call Timmy. He was still out with the flu. I had wanted to go over after school and help take care of him but neither Steve nor Uncle would let me. They were worried that I would catch it to. Both of us were very frustrated about it but there was nothing we could do about it.
When we got home I ran up the stairs and dialed his number.
He picked up. I knew from the sound of his voice I had woken him up and I felt bad. I apologized and he said, “Don’t be silly. I was waiting for you to call. I must have dozed off that’s all. How did your tennis match go?”
“We won the match and Neil and I won our match it was the deciding match for the team.”
He laughed and said, “You go girl.”
Then he turned serious and said, “That’s great Matt I am really glad it went well.”
“Thanks hon. I hope you are feeling better.”
“Yeah I actually kept some crackers and soup down today. Dad says if I can keep my food down tomorrow he will let me go back on Monday.”
“I can’t wait Timmy I have missed you so much.”
He sighed and said, “Yeah I know it’s driving me crazy.”
“Well I had better go and help uncle. I will call you tomorrow. Love you.”
“You to.”
April 23
Today sucked big time. My uncle had a Dr. appointment so he dropped me off early. When I went to my locker to hang up my coat I stopped dead in my tracks. The first thing I noticed was the overpowering smell of some kind of cheap perfume. Then I noticed what else they had done. It had been spray-painted. It said “To bad they missed, and under that Fag. The writing was in black paint but then they had splashed some bright red paint to look like blood as well. My first reaction was to look around and see if anyone else had seen it. Slowly I reached out and touched the paint to see if it was still wet but it was dry. Even so I still wiped my hands on my pants. For a minute I stared at the locker. It was like I shut down. I did not know how to deal with it. All of a sudden I was back in the store looking down at my Uncle with the bright red of his blood on his shirt and arm. I shuddered and forced myself to step back and turn away. Slowly I started walking towards the office.
By the time I got to the office I was shaking I was so mad. I kind of lost it and yelled at the secretary. “How long are you going to leave this crap on my locker?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Someone spray painted my locker and splashed something all over it, that’s what I am talking about.”
She did not look very upset about it and that only made me madder.
“So you think its ok to deface school property like that?”
“It happens all the time I don’t see why you are so worked up about it. I’m sure you hear worse in the halls.”
“You really don’t have a clue do you?”
People have tried to kill my uncle and me. It’s not something I can take like a joke. I guess my voice was still raised because Mr. Davidson our principle stepped out of his office, and he did not look happy to have been disturbed.
“What’s going on here?”
“Someone dumped some kind of perfume on my locker, and it has been spray painted. The paint is dry so it means it has been that way at least 5 or 6 hours. How do you think I felt when I walked up to it?
Mrs. Brown here does not seem to think it’s a big deal at all says I probably hear worse in the halls.”
When I said that his whole attitude changed. He motioned me into his office and said, “Matt I am sorry, I know you and your family have been through a lot. What was spray painted on your locker?”
It said, “To bad they missed and under that fag. That is written in black then they splashed bright red paint around it.”
“You say that the paint is dry.”
“Yeah.”
“What’s your locker number?”
“323”
“Do you feel up to going back there with me?”
“Yes.”
“Hold on a minute I will have Mr. Johnson meet us there.”
He pulled his radio off his belt and arranged for him to meet us there. Then we headed out for my locker.
When we got to my locker there was a crowd near it. I could hear some giggles and whispered conversations. I could pick up parts of some of the conversations and some seemed to think it was funny.
While some of them were laughing or smiling a majority looked upset with what had happened. That gave me a little comfort. However no one would meet my eyes as they walked by. They were all too embarrassed at what had happened. I sighed; life was stressful enough without all of this shit. That’s when I noticed Josh standing there with tears in his eyes. For a moment I was not sure what to do, then I moved over to him and gave him a hug. Then I whispered in his ear, Josh hon don’t let them get to you.”
“What about you Matt?”
“Sure I’m upset, but they have really stepped in it this time. With all that has gone on the school will have to take this seriously.”
“Yeah I guess you are right. It just seems like it’s never going to end. Every time I get to feeling better something like this happens.”
He was fighting back tears as he talked.
“I know Josh.”
I coughed from the smell of the perfume and said, “Well at least I don’t have to worry about those gym socks smelling up the whole school.”
That did get me a slight smile. I gave him a hug and said, “Josh we are not going to let these idiots win.”
The principle said, “Mr. Simons why don’t you go on down to Mrs. Sanders office. I will call ahead and tell her you are on the way.
Before he left I gave him a hug and whispered to him, “Hang in there Josh. It’s going to get better.
“There is one more thing Mr. Davidson.”
“What’s that?”
“I need to call my uncle and leave him a message. If you call and leave it he is going to get really freak after all that we have been through.”
He nodded and said, “Ok Matt that makes sense. When we go up to get your new textbooks you can call and leave him a message.”
He said, “Ok everyone break it up. I am sure you all have places you should be.”
I turned to the principle and said, “You see. It’s not just me. This has got to stop.” I was fighting back tears of my own. I was as upset for Josh as I was for myself. He did not deserve to have to deal with all this shit on top of all the rest he had going on.
“Matt I cant promise you that it won’t happen again but I can promise you that we take this very seriously. Apparently some of our staff and some of the students have not gotten that message. I can assure you they will.
Just then Mr. Johnson showed up, he was our custodian. When he took a look at the locker you could tell he was shocked. He looked at me and said, “Is this your locker?”
“Yes sir.”
“Well let me see when I can do to get this cleaned up for you.”
Mr. Davidson said, “Because of what has happened with Matt and his family I don’t think we should do anything to the locker yet. I am going to call the police and see what they want us to do.”
Mr. Johnson looked surprised but nodded and said, “I will put some cones in front of it and a sign saying don’t touch. That won’t keep everyone away but I will try to keep an eye on it.
“What about my books? I need to get into my locker. I have a test in English this morning and I need my notes to study with. But I don’t know how I can use them if they are drenched in that perfume.”
The principle said, “Matt who do you know that is in your English class?”
I will give you a pass so you can go find someone. Then have them come with you to the office. I will let you use the office copier to make yourself a copy.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t worry about your locker we will assign you a new one. What’s your combination?”
“23-7-15”
Ok thanks Matt lets head back to the office. We will get you your new locker and new textbooks.”
“Thanks Mr. Davidson.”
“Your welcome Matt.”
We headed back up to the office and I placed the call. I knew that I would not get him as he had his cell phone off while he was in the medical building. So I left a message saying that I was ok and not in trouble but that the principle needed him to stop by the office when he came to pick me up.”
Once we were back at the office it did not take long to get me squared away. By the time we had finished I still had about 30 minutes to study. It was a good thing that I was able to get a copy of someone else’s notes. I spent the rest of the time reviewing for the test. While I did not do as well as I wanted to I felt like I had done all right on it.
At lunchtime all my friends were furious. It was all I could do to keep David from going hunting for who ever did it. That boy scares me sometimes, I still not sure that he is going to let it go.
Josh was not at lunch it had been too much on him and he had gone home early. He would have left just after lunch anyway for his appointment with Dr. Woodlief. I was glad that he had an appointment already setup. That way he could talk with him right away.
The rest of the day really dragged and I had a lot of trouble concentrating on my classes. When the final bell rang I got up and headed to my locker. I was so lost in thought that I went back to my old locker on autopilot. When I got there I saw that the cones had been replaced with police tape. I shuddered and walked back to where my new locker was.
I was still mad that I had lost all my notes and I wanted to ask for them back when the police finished with them. Even if I could not use the notebooks I hoped I could photocopy the pages and use them that way.
I knew that my uncle would call the principle as soon as he got my message so I did not have to worry about telling him myself.
When it was time for tennis practice I went to the locker room and changed. As I walked in all conversation stopped and everyone looked up at me.
Then Rick Carr the team captain walked over to me and said, “We all heard what happened today and we want you to know that we have your back. If you have any problems with anyone you let us know.”
He was the only one that spoke but everyone nodded in agreement.
After he talked with me we all headed out for our practice. My mind was not fully into it and Neil was nice enough to pull me aside and tell he understood.
When my uncle picked me up he had already talked with the principle. I could tell that he was very worried about what had happened.
When I got home I was going to have to call Timmy and let him know what had happened. I made all the guys at our table promise me they would not let him know. So I would be able to tell him.
It is going to be a long weekend.
© Joseph Men 2005