Gym sucks. I stand between Patrick and Latisha exchanging mortified glances. If I’m the last one standing, I swear brain matter will leak from my ears.
“It’s survival of the fittest, Dude, nothing personal.” Blake shrugs as he chooses the next member of his kickball team.
Team captain number two waves Latisha over. It’s down to me and Patrick. As Blake’s “best” friend I shouldn’t be sweating it. But I can feel the wet circles under my pits already. This is raw humiliation and I’m still feeling it two hours later.
“You may have a good arm, but when it comes to kicking, you’re no Adam Vinatieri,” he says during lunch.
Great. Announce it like a radio broadcast to the whole cafeteria. I toss an empty milk carton at his head.
“Dude, get over it,” he says, like I’m the jerk.
Who does he think he’s kidding? His best sport is badminton. Pure luck that he was chosen team captain.
By the time gym day rolls around again Blake and I are talking. Barely. But that doesn’t mean that if I had the chance to humiliate him I wouldn’t take it.
As we enter the gymnasium there’s a substitute teacher in the doorway and a rack of playground balls at center court. She tosses me a ball. “You’re team captain.”
“Dodgeball!” the sub hollers and blows the whistle.
I make Latisha and Patrick my first two choices, then start flexing my throwing arm. I love gym. LS
“It’s survival of the fittest, Dude, nothing personal.” Blake shrugs as he chooses the next member of his kickball team.
Team captain number two waves Latisha over. It’s down to me and Patrick. As Blake’s “best” friend I shouldn’t be sweating it. But I can feel the wet circles under my pits already. This is raw humiliation and I’m still feeling it two hours later.
“You may have a good arm, but when it comes to kicking, you’re no Adam Vinatieri,” he says during lunch.
Great. Announce it like a radio broadcast to the whole cafeteria. I toss an empty milk carton at his head.
“Dude, get over it,” he says, like I’m the jerk.
Who does he think he’s kidding? His best sport is badminton. Pure luck that he was chosen team captain.
By the time gym day rolls around again Blake and I are talking. Barely. But that doesn’t mean that if I had the chance to humiliate him I wouldn’t take it.
As we enter the gymnasium there’s a substitute teacher in the doorway and a rack of playground balls at center court. She tosses me a ball. “You’re team captain.”
“Dodgeball!” the sub hollers and blows the whistle.
I make Latisha and Patrick my first two choices, then start flexing my throwing arm. I love gym. LS
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