Presenting, Featherhead (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Girlbosses)
With March comes a lot of wind, and that was very fitting weather for the WVBA's newest boxer.
In from the blustering weather came a tall woman with curls of blonde and lips of Dangerous Woman Red lipstick. She pulled her cool shades from her eyes and scanned the back area.
"Ah, you must be Beth," said Pierce, going over to her. "Just gotta get all your paperwork finalised."
Pierce confirmed all the information on the registry sheet; thirty-one years old, starting at the bottom of the Minor Circuit under the name Flying Feather.
Looking around the area, Flying Feather noticed that she was quite possibly the only woman in the league. No matter; she liked showing the boys what's good. She slid her shades into her duffel bag and hauled off to the locker room.
"So, what brings you to our league?"
Bear Hugger was trying to make small talk with Flying Feather while waiting for Joe to be ready for the match.
"I needed a career change," said Flying Feather. "I was a pilot for years, but after a while, it just starts to feel all the same. After I had my daughter, I took my maternity leave to find somewhere new, and well, here I am."
"How old's yer daughter now?"
"She'll be one in May." Flying Feather crossed her arms. "Feisty little thing, she is."
Just then, Joe finally emerged from the locker room. "Joey boy's got a daughter, too," said Bear Hugger. "How old is she again? Six?"
"Elle va avoir sept ans en juillet," said Joe, a bit shy. (She'll be seven in July.)
"See? I was close." Bear Hugger looked quite proud of himself.
"In this corner, we have the WVBA's trooper, our unrelenting jobber, Joseph Beaufort! And in this corner, we have a flighty femme fatale, prepping to give you a crash landing, Flying Feather! Fight!"
Watch for the vulnerable point. Flying Feather remembered the most valuable tip she had picked up while preparing to enter the boxing world. And it was pretty easy; Joe always had an open space left to attack. He couldn't protect his face without leaving his stomach open, and whenever he switched, he'd just leave somewhere else open, ripe for the punching.
Flying Feather was also very fast, just like the planes she used to fly. She was easily able to get around all of Joe's jabs and knock back with a trio of hooks.
Soon enough, Joe was on the floor, and it didn't take long until Pierce was declaring a TKO. Flying Feather shook the dust off of her gloves. Her boxing career was off to a good start.
After the ring had been cleared, Flying Feather emerged from the locker room, back in her rock t-shirt and shades, where she was approached by another boxer. "You and I look like we would make a great team," said Mr. Sandman. "What do you say? Partners in crime?"
Flying Feather smirked. "You flatter me."
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Joe slumped down on a bench, with that daughter of his by his side. He looked dazed, and like he was going to throw up. Flying Feather approached him. "I didn't knock you too bad there, did I, Joey boy?"
"He'll be okay," said his daughter softly. "He just has a sore tummy."
Based on her certainty, Flying Feather guessed that this was a regular thing for Joe and his family. His poor wife, she thought, having him come home like that every night.
Joe hauled himself up. "Je vais être ça va." (I'll be okay.) He gestured for his daughter to follow him. "Viens, Katrina, on va avoir de la soupe tomate et des sandwiches au fromage grillé pour le dîner." (Come on, Katrina, we're having tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner.)
Flying Feather watched them leave. "He looks like he's about to yak his lungs out. How can he be thinking about eating dinner, let alone cooking it?"
Mr. Sandman shrugged. "Joey boy's a tough one. Or, at least, he pretends to be, for his little girl."
Flying Feather sighed. "I guess I won't judge him for that. I'm doing the same for my Emma." She hauled her duffel bag over her shoulder. "Right. I'll see you tomorrow, partner in crime."
Mr. Sandman smirked right back at her. "The World Circuit awaits!"
