Disclaimer: I don't own any of the 24 characters
Tony pushed his homework aside. It had been a very long day. Basketball practice before school had forced him to get up two hours earlier than usual. Breakfast had to be eaten quietly and he'd left the house by himself. When he arrived at school it was beginning to drizzle. Another class was practicing in the gym so his coach decided a little rain might even invigorate his team. His hair and t-shirt were damp by the end of the practice session. Just before being dismissed the coach called them together. Next week's game against their rival Anglican college would be a disaster, he predicted. They needed a lot more practice. They should meet again after school in the gym. The hot water hadn't worked in the showers so he had skipped it altogether contending himself by rubbing his hair dry with his towel. And the day had not improved. The computer studies teacher had discovered him playing computer pinball during one of his monologues, and he had received detention. As the entire school held the basketball team in high regard his detention was set for the following day. 'Some concession' he thought in disgust. The science teacher sprung an unexpected test on them, and the math teacher handed out two long pages of calculus questions to be completed by the next morning. During recess Dennis managed to annoy him more than usual, wandering whether he would quit basketball when he took up bull fighting! Just when Tony couldn't think of anything else that could possibly go wrong that day, he discovered he had left his group's debate notes at home. The English teacher was unimpressed, having to re-schedule the entire lesson, and had also handed out a detention!
He settled down at his place for dinner. Somehow he would have to broach his coming detentions. He sighed, knowing how unimpressed his parents would be. Could he plead basketball training as his excuse for a late arrival for the following two days? They would accept it without question. His eyes fell on his father cutting up Maria's dinner. 'I thought I could trust you, Tony.' He had promised to be completely honest. No, he would try to explain what had happened. Just maybe they would let it go.
'Mom, I can't watch the kids tomorrow or Thursday, coz I've got to stay at school a bit longer,' he said softly. The younger children stopped their chattering and gazed at him in amusement.
'Why, Tony?' His father placed a spoonful of food into the baby's mouth and looked at him.
He pushed a piece of carrot around his plate. 'I got detention.' Bobby giggled. Their father threw him a stern glance and gazed back at Tony.
'At your age? This is your final year. I'd expect this from Marco, not you. What happened?'
'Well the comp teacher didn't see how I could listen to him and play pinball at the same time, so he just assumed I wasn't listening to him,' Tony began. 'And he was slightly cross to see I brought the game to school. I mean, I don't need to concentrate on pinball –it's just something to do while I'm listening.'
Tony's mother looked annoyed. 'Do the others play games too?'
'No mom, they pretend to listen.'
'Was that all?' his father asked. Years of experience taught him a little about detentions.
'With the comp teacher it was. Mr. Maxwell was really unfair. Everyone leaves stuff home sometimes! He said I should've checked I had my work before I came, but if I'd remembered to check, I'd have remembered to take it.'
Mr. Almeida shook his head. He expressed his disappointment in his son's attitude. Tony apologized and promised to do better.
Room 6 was set aside for after school detention. Mr. Maxwell sat at his desk and checked the list of names for the afternoon. 'Tony Almeida, yes, Marco Almeida…we seem to have the whole Almeida family here today,' he commented. Tony glanced at his brother in surprise. Marco gave him a sheepish look and settled next to him.
'What happened?' he whispered.
Marco covered his hand with his mouth. 'I was just asking someone what the time was. My watch hasn't dried out yet.' Tony laughed, remembering his mother's annoyance at discovering Marco's watch in the washing machine that morning.
Mr. Maxwell glared at him. 'I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, Tony. You could join us on Friday also.'
'I'm sorry, Mr. Maxwell' he said. He really couldn't be held back on Friday.
'Now then, as everyone here has wasted class time, I'm here to waste your time.' He handed out several sheets of lined paper. 'I want four pages of the line "I must behave in class at all times."'
Tony rolled his eyes at Marco. He preferred the science teacher supervising detention as he allowed everyone to get on with their homework. Time passed slowly. He finished his pages and settled down to wait for Marco.
Where would he be next year at this time, he wandered. It was so easy for everyone else in the school. They would all go on grand holidays to celebrate finishing school and then go on to college. All the previous years at this school would be wasted if he didn't go to college, and he longed to, but he also knew there was no way his family could afford it that year. He pushed the worry away as he saw the class about to be dismissed. He would think about it again in bed.
He chatted about various members of the basketball team with Marco on their way home. 'You guys won't win on Friday' Marco said. 'But we've got a game just before you and we'll win. I'll win for us.' Tony grinned at him, marveling at the complete assurance his brother always showed.
He sat in his usual spot next to John the following day. John asked him when the game would start.' Tomorrow at 2.00. It'll be tough.'
'I'll come and watch,' John told him.
Friday morning classes sped by without Tony being aware of them. He could concentrate only on the upcoming game. Marco's team played first. Tony watched and cheered enthusiastically. His brother was a great athlete. He felt proud when John remarked that he would have to talk about tennis with Marco.
Finally it was time for a warm- up session. Tony changed into his sport's uniform and joined his team mates. They played hard and returned to the locker room for a final word of advice from their coach. The headmaster also appeared and told them the whole school counted on them.
They were a little behind by the first break. Their coach moved around encouraging them all. He praised Tony's effort in particular. Dennis looked irritated. 'Now let's put some effort into this. We can still win.'
It was to no avail. They lost by a few points. They headed back to the locker room in silence. Tony threw his clothes off in disgust and stood under the warm water. Damn, he thought. They had tried so hard. It had been so close –but overall it didn't make a difference. They had lost.
By the time he had emerged from the shower the others were dressed. Nobody spoke beyond single word sentences. He dried himself vigorously. John opened the door and walked in. Nobody spoke to him. He stared at his friend. 'Doesn't matter, Tony, there'll be another match, right?'
'Yeah' Tony replied. 'And we'll lose that one too,' he thought.
'Don't forget the party tomorrow, guys,' Dennis called. 'Everyone's invited –except for Tony.' He moved in front of him. 'You lost us this match, Tony. You missed that last throw.'
Tony's fists clenched imperceptibly.
'He made more than you did.' John spoke up when the others remained silent.
'I guess we'll play better at college' Dennis remarked. 'We'll all be there, and Tony can crawl back to the dump he belongs in.'
'You seem pretty sure about that' Tony hissed.
'Oh, I am. You couldn't afford college. Look at your bag!' Dennis picked up his bag by its damaged handle. 'You found it close to home, didn't you Tony? In the garbage dump.' He grinned round at the others. Slowly they smiled back at him.
Tony rose to his feet. 'Put it down' he ordered. Dennis threw the bag down and kicked it away.
John laid a warning hand on his shoulder. He shook it off, his formidable temper fully aroused. 'You seem to know a lot about garbage dumps, Dennis. Maybe you'd like to go visit one.'
Without consciously planning to he punched Dennis on the nose. His knuckles hurt. Dennis returned his punch, hitting him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. He gasped, bent double for a few seconds before returning Dennis' punch with his full strength. The boys cleared a circle around them.
'Come on Tony' John called. His tennis magazine lay abandoned on a nearby bench.
Several punches later Dennis collapsed on the ground, pulling Tony's leg. He fell onto his opponent. Blows rained on him, and he returned all of them harder. He noticed Dennis' nose bleeding. None of them heard the door open.
Tony heard an angry voice ordering them to stop it, but didn't have the time to acknowledge it. He dodged a blow and banged Dennis' head against the ground.
Hands hauled him up. He noticed Dennis had been hauled up too, blood pouring from his nose. He could only imagine what his own appearance was like.
'What do you think you're doing' his coach demanded furiously. Dennis reached over to his bag and kicked it with his toe. His rage spilled over. 'You like to touch garbage, Dennis.' He reached over to the bin in the corner and emptied it over Dennis. Rubbish poured all around him, banana skins, apple cores, and the remains of sandwiches. 'Have some more.'
'Would someone care to tell me what's happening here?' inquired a new voice. The headmaster peered at them all in the greatest annoyance. 'Who started this?'
Nobody spoke. He glared hotly at them and repeated his question. Dennis immediately placed the blame on him. He looked quickly round the room at the circle of faces.
'Dennis started it,' John came to Tony's defense.
The headmaster looked round the room. He walked over to a boy leaning against a locker. 'Who started this, Adrian?'
Adrian gazed at the floor. He looked up at Dennis. 'Tony' he said quietly. Tony narrowed his eyes and stared at him, but Adrian wouldn't return his gaze. One by one the others were questioned and they all gave Tony's name. Tony stared at each of them in turn, his expression hardening.
'Dennis, you have detention for the rest of the week. Everyone else, get dressed and go home. Tony, you will accompany me to my office.' The headmaster began to walk towards the door. John silently picked up Tony's bag and left with the others.
His heart ached as he followed the headmaster the length of the school towards the office. 'After all these years, I thought we were a team' he thought. He remembered the numerous occasions he had been excluded from party invitations, but he had learned to accept that. Socially he would never fit in, but whilst they were at school they had talked to him, joked with him. They had copied his work. He had helped a couple of them with assignments in the library. None of it meant anything.
The headmaster sat at his desk and began a long lecture. He had accepted Tony in the school due to his excellent grades. They had been pleased with his academic and athletic performance so far, but his behavior left a lot to be desired. It was about time he learned how to behave. It was indeed amazing that he hadn't tried to imitate the others and act like a gentleman by now, but obviously it was too late for that to happen now. Well, since he hadn't learned the easy way, he would have to be taught. He stood up and reached above the bookshelf for a cane.
An icy shiver ran down his back. The circle of faces spun round him. He stared at the floor.
'Bend over that desk,' he was told. Gritting his teeth he did as he was told, and bit his lip hard to keep silent as he was thrashed. Finally he was ordered to rise. 'Now go home, Tony. Think about your dismal behavior over the weekend, and I expect to see an improvement on Monday if you wish to remain at this school.'
He managed to get home and up to his room before allowing the tears out.
Jane brought him a glass of cold juice. He glanced at her gratefully. Marco looked in later to say that Tony had played better than anyone else on the team. 'Just go, Marco' he begged.
Hours later his father opened his door and sat quietly on his bed. 'I could bring you up some dinner.' He shook his head. 'Want to tell me what happened?' he asked softly. Again Tony shook his head eyes pressed tightly shut. He felt a hand gently stroke his hair. 'Get a little sleep. It will be better tomorrow.'
No it wouldn't, he thought. He should never have passed that entrance exam. He never wanted to see any of them again.
John's arrival the next morning pulled him out of his silent depression. 'What are you doing here?' he asked, coldly.
John held up his bag. 'I had to bring this. Also, I got you something.' Tony took his bag and remained in the doorway. 'Come on; let me at least show you.' Grudgingly he stepped aside.
Anna stared at their visitor speechless for a few seconds before following them into the living room. John unpacked his own bag and produced a brand new tennis racquet. Tony gazed at it in silence. 'It's the best kind out now. All the players have these. I thought we could hit a few balls.'
He was about to refuse when he saw concern in his friend's eyes. He sighed instead. 'Thanks, John, but I don't want to go anywhere right now. I'm not that good,' he added, waving his hand at the racquet.
'You could come to my house. No one will disturb us there.'
Tony shook his head tiredly. 'I can't go there.'
'Look, Tony, I'd like you to come.' John stared at him. 'It's just a house.'
He would have refused again, pointing out that he had never been invited before but Anna grabbed his arm. 'Please Tony, let's go. I could be your ball fetcher.'
'Yes,' John said, getting up. 'Bring her too. She can be a ball-girl.'
It was later that evening that he resolved to go to college. He knew he would excel in computing and anything else mathematically oriented. 'The previous years would not be wasted' he decided, twirling a pen round his fingers. On Monday he would return to school and work harder than he ever had before. If he could get a scholarship once, he might be able to do so again. And if not………….Well, he would still enter San Diego State University.
He remembered filling in his application forms for university, hoping he could manage to win a scholarship. Studying until midnight, perfecting all his assignments before handing them in. During those last few months he only went out with his family a handful of times. The effort had been in vain. An unknown with an extra point ended up with 'his' scholarship. Tony filled in a different set of forms, applying to the military.
He had done well at his chosen subjects, gaining a combined bachelor of engineering, and bachelor of computer science in record time. He had been accepted at Stanford University for a masters program. Master of Computer Science. Yes, that chosen subject had led him along the first step to CTU. Why hadn't he chosen to do his masters in engineering instead? Tony answered that question immediately. It was his love of computers, his ability to gain information from them few others could, that led him to focus on that subject. Instead of sitting behind a comfortable desk as chief engineer of some project, he had just been forced to betray everything he held dear.
His chest tightened until he was afraid he would vomit. He deserved to be here. When it mattered the most, he had failed. All those people in the hotel had died because of him. Michelle would see their faces for the rest of her life.
'Yeah, Almeida,' he muttered aloud, resting his face against the bars, 'you're a failure.'