In the past, whenever a new school año started Paul and Hank would ride the bus together, excitedly speculating what might happen this year. Paul would listen to Hank happily anticipating the football games he would play with his friends at recess, and later his hopes and fears about whether he would make the football team. Hank would playfully talk as though Paul's música and actuación had already made him a successful star.
Today, Paul sat on the bus alone - o rather, he felt alone, as two of his friends from last year's drama club sat on either side of him talking about what play the school might put on this year. Paul couldn't concentrate. Hank was several rows ahead of him, with several of his friends who were all shoving each other and making rude jokes about the students around them and laughing loudly. Paul frowned.
As they got off the bus, Paul hurried ahead to get inside the school building before Hank's friends could see him. They never seemed to be discouraged from making fun of him because Hank was there. As he passed the entrance to the boys' room, a group of unfamiliar boys, even bigger and tougher-looking than Hank's friends, were blocking the doorway.
"Come on, let me in!" The boy they were blocking looked vaguely familiar to Paul as someone who had been on the football team with Hank last year, though he was one of the smaller players.
"Oh, the little baby player wants to get in," mocked one of the unfamiliar boys. "Is it true tu were on the football team last year?"
"I bet he thinks he's gonna get back on again this year," another of the new boys chimed in. "Don't ya? tu think you're so tough?"
"'Cause we're gonna be the new football stars," the third boy added. "We were the stars at our old school. And we're not letting any baby players get in our way. Got that?"
And the three boys laughed and walked away, though not before making sure to shove the smaller football player with their bodies on the way. Paul's hands clenched. He was tempted to go over and ask the other guy if he was all right, but after Hank's friends, he was always a bit hesitant to approach anyone on the football team.
"Paul?"
It was his música teacher from last year, standing behind Paul and smiling at him. Paul smiled back as much as he could right now.
"Great to see tu back here. I suppose we'll be seeing más of tu and your guitar?"
"I hope so, sir." Paul didn't want to admit all the trouble he'd been having with his songwriting. No need to spread around anything else that would make people like Hank and his friends think he was weak....
"I've got something here that might interest you." His teacher pulled a piece of paper out of the folder he was carrying and handed it to Paul. "There's a citywide talent mostrar happening two weeks from now. Anyone from thirteen to eighteen is welcome to come and perform. Would tu be interested in entering with your guitar?"
"Me? Perform at a talent show?" Paul hardly knew what to say. His hands shook as he took the flyer from his teacher. He had never performed in front of an audience bigger than a school assembly. He had never performed somewhere where he would be getting judged, either. And he got quite enough of that these days from Hank.
On the other hand, he didn't want to back out just because he was scared. "Thanks. I - I guess I'll think about it."
And he waved at his teacher, turned, and headed to class.
Today, Paul sat on the bus alone - o rather, he felt alone, as two of his friends from last year's drama club sat on either side of him talking about what play the school might put on this year. Paul couldn't concentrate. Hank was several rows ahead of him, with several of his friends who were all shoving each other and making rude jokes about the students around them and laughing loudly. Paul frowned.
As they got off the bus, Paul hurried ahead to get inside the school building before Hank's friends could see him. They never seemed to be discouraged from making fun of him because Hank was there. As he passed the entrance to the boys' room, a group of unfamiliar boys, even bigger and tougher-looking than Hank's friends, were blocking the doorway.
"Come on, let me in!" The boy they were blocking looked vaguely familiar to Paul as someone who had been on the football team with Hank last year, though he was one of the smaller players.
"Oh, the little baby player wants to get in," mocked one of the unfamiliar boys. "Is it true tu were on the football team last year?"
"I bet he thinks he's gonna get back on again this year," another of the new boys chimed in. "Don't ya? tu think you're so tough?"
"'Cause we're gonna be the new football stars," the third boy added. "We were the stars at our old school. And we're not letting any baby players get in our way. Got that?"
And the three boys laughed and walked away, though not before making sure to shove the smaller football player with their bodies on the way. Paul's hands clenched. He was tempted to go over and ask the other guy if he was all right, but after Hank's friends, he was always a bit hesitant to approach anyone on the football team.
"Paul?"
It was his música teacher from last year, standing behind Paul and smiling at him. Paul smiled back as much as he could right now.
"Great to see tu back here. I suppose we'll be seeing más of tu and your guitar?"
"I hope so, sir." Paul didn't want to admit all the trouble he'd been having with his songwriting. No need to spread around anything else that would make people like Hank and his friends think he was weak....
"I've got something here that might interest you." His teacher pulled a piece of paper out of the folder he was carrying and handed it to Paul. "There's a citywide talent mostrar happening two weeks from now. Anyone from thirteen to eighteen is welcome to come and perform. Would tu be interested in entering with your guitar?"
"Me? Perform at a talent show?" Paul hardly knew what to say. His hands shook as he took the flyer from his teacher. He had never performed in front of an audience bigger than a school assembly. He had never performed somewhere where he would be getting judged, either. And he got quite enough of that these days from Hank.
On the other hand, he didn't want to back out just because he was scared. "Thanks. I - I guess I'll think about it."
And he waved at his teacher, turned, and headed to class.
After Everett received his discharge papers and his crutches, Una asked him, "Are tu hungry?" He said, "Yes, very." She said, "Okay. We'll get something to eat, then I'll take tu home." After they ate cena at a burger joint, they went back to Everett's apartment. Una decided to stay with Everett so that she could help him with whatever he needed. Mrs. Stratton approved of Una's decision. Everett's knee healed in a few days. After that, he and Una decided that they would start planning their wedding. It is a día that they are both looking adelante, hacia adelante to.
THE END
THE END