Andrew walked out of the changing rooms into the gym a full minute behind the rest of the wrestling team. Usually, he was amongst the first to change and hit the mats, knowing that eagerness was a character trait valued as much by his father as by the coach. But today he was late getting to class, late getting changed, and was so distracted that he didn't realise just how much his tardiness had been noted.
Coach stood in front of the boys as they sat cross-legged on the mat before him. He had fumed for most of the weekend that one of his star pupils had landed in Saturday detention, and he'd already decided to single out Clark for some humiliation before today, to show him how angry he was that he'd put his own 'fun' before the success of the team. However, he'd just made the coach even angrier.
"OK ladies, listen up. The match against Northpoint is two weeks away - and you pussies are nowhere near fit enough or good enough yet."
This was the coach's usual opening gambit, so the boys just sat and listened. No real sign of any shocks or shouting yet...
"So I have a new training schedule for you all. On the wall behind me, you'll find the names of your training partners. New rule: win or you're out. Anyone who gets their asses whipped by a Northpointer in a fortnight's time is out of here for good. No more easy ride, no more college scholarships. Use the time well - because if you ain't ready, it ain't gonna be my fault. Now get to work. One-on-one mat-work. SHIFT!!"
The boys seemed surprised - nobody was being bawled out. Everyone had a chance to do well. Sure the threat of losing was severe, but they all knew Northpoint, and nobody on the team was afraid of their opponents. They were much more afraid of the coach's wrath, and so they all leapt up and ran to the board, reading their names and pairing off towards the practice mats spread around the sports hall. All except one...
Andrew turned around from the board, to see Coach looking at him.
"What's the matter, Clark? Everyone on my team has a partner, so where's yours?" he said, trying hard to keep the sneering grin from his face.
"My name's not on the list, coach" replied Andrew, still not quite sure why he should be feeling as nervous as he suddenly was.
"Well I guess that means you're not on the team, sport! Because MY team's only for WINNERS!!!!" yelled the coach, causing the other boys to stop and turn around. "NOBODY IN MY TEAM SCREWS UP. NOBODY - DO YOU HEAR ME, BOY?"
Andrew cowered back, his life as yet unpreparing him for a level of verbal assault as loud as this in a hall that echoed so much.
"You still here, boy?" said the coach, his words all the more severe for the sudden drop in volume. "Get changed. Then sort out the laundry. After that, go get yourself another class to attend. You're no use to me no more..."
"Sir, no sir" said Andrew quietly, dragging from somewhere deep the strength to respond.
"What do you mean, 'sir no sir'?" said the coach, amazed that this child had the nerve to stand up to him.
"Sir, I'm a wrestler. I need this. Give me my chance, please"
Coach paused for a second.
"OK - one chance. Take it and its back on the team. Blow it, and you are history."
At that, he turned and beckoned one of the other wrestlers across. He'd deliberately chosen the tallest, heaviest, best wrestler on the team - in a weight division several steps above Andrew's level. On paper, it was a pairing that would never be allowed to meet in competitive bouts.
"Well, boy? You want to take your chance? One bout. First to submit loses. Of course, you don't have to fight. You could always walk, like the loser you are. Up to you, boy..."
Andrew knew he had no real choice. He couldn't just walk - because if he did, his father would now that he had quit.
Coach walked over to the other wrestler. Under his breath, he said "Lose this one and you're toast. Win it, and you're team captain. But - " and he placed his hand on the boy's shoulder - "make no mistakes. None." with that, he walked over to the corner where the brass bell hung on the wall.
Both fighters stepped onto the mat, and unusually, the other boys clustered around the walls, not around the edges of the mat. It was as if they could sense that this thing wasn't going to end well for someone.
The bell rang.
Andrew tried to concentrate on staying out of reach. He knew he had an advantage in experience, and might be quicker moving around. His best chance was to keep his opponent at a distance until he was ready to grapple on his own terms.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the worried looks on his fellow team-mates, and the utter focus of the coach. At that point, the fear suddenly kicked in, and he made his mistake. In ducking under one outstretched arm, his balance shifted too much onto his left leg, and he stumbled. It was all his opponent needed.
Immediately he felt his arms pinned to his sides as the larger boy moved in, lifting him off of the ground. Even though he knew what was coming, there was nothing he could do to prevent it. Raising one foot and trapping Andrew's left leg behind him, his opponent twisted his body as he dropped, putting immense strain on the ligaments of Andrew's right knee and causing him to scream in pain.
"That's enough!" shouted the coach, walking over to the pair on the floor. "You - roll away!" He turned, and sent another boy to fetch the school Nurse, and others to get a stretcher. He had done what he wanted to do, and now needed to play the concerned coach role. He knew that none of the other boys would speak openly of this morning's activities, and if any did it would be his word against theirs. It was simple. Clark had fought an eliminator for the last place on the team, and had lost. And in a contact sport such as theirs, injuries happen.
He stood and looked down into the face of Andrew Clark as he lay on the floor at his feet, and finally, the smile that had been hidden was let loose - just for Andrew, just between them, and just so that there could be no mistaking what had just happened.
