Salvation in the dust.

Quickly scanning the gym, you see the parallel bars and a balance beam sitting in the corner, in preparation for tonight’s gymnastic meet. You also spy your possible salvation in a dull metal dish. Running towards that corner of the gym, you hear the heavy footfalls of the enraged goon close behind you.

Stopping quickly, you crouch next to the dish, which is filled with powdered chalk. Your dull witted pursuer caught off balance (literally and figuratively) stumbles and falls into you, flipping over your back. Grabbing a handful of chalk, you back off against the wall, and steel yourself for his coming ****.

“Your dead!” He yells, as he bores in towards you crouching low, like a football lineman. With no time to spare, you toss the handful of white dust into his face, blinding him. He yells like an animal continuing to run forward. You roll deftly to the side and a split second later the bully runs into the cider block wall of the gymnasium face first.

He falls heavily to the floor, and does not stir. You sit stunned, wondering if he’s dead, but seeing the rise and fall of his chest, you can tell he’s breathing.

“Hey, stupid!” You say. No response. You walk over to the **** goon, and see a large knot and angry purple bruise on his forehead. Relieved that he’s not dead, but not wanting to catch hell from a teacher, you quickly run out of the gym.

As you run through the hallway back to the locker room, you see Shelly, Kate, and Stephanie exiting the girl’s locker room, so engaged with each other in conversation, they don’t look your way. You kick into high speed, and back to your locker. Leaning against it for support, you catch your breath. A few others stare and give you strange looks.

“I lost him,” you say casually brushing the chalk dust from your hands. Once dressed, you exit the locker room with the rest of the class. Moving down the hall, you heave a sigh of relief. Just as you think it’s all behind you, you hear Ms. Carson calling your name.

“Young man, I’d like to see you for a moment,” she says as she places a hand on your shoulder.