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Sixteen years old/ 10th Grade/January
Iwas a bit disappointed that I hadn’t seen Patrick in the gym yet, but with winter break and the holidays, maybe he was just busy. It was now January, and there’d been no sign of him. I was always in the school gym before and after school, so I knew I hadn’t missed him. I figured maybe it was just something he said he’d check out to seem polite but never had any intention of doing it.
Today I stayed after school for a study session with my biology class, so my time in the gym would be cut significantly. I hurried to the locker room, changed, and headed into the weight room. There were a handful of guys in there and some members of the track team working with their coach on leg weights.
While I was doing pull-ups, I spotted Patrick standing alone by one of the benches. He was staring down at a sheet of paper in his hand and looked like he was trying to figure something out. I made my way over to him as soon as I was done with my reps.
“Hey, Patrick.”
He turned to face me and smiled.
“Hey, Hollis.”
“How have you been? I haven’t seen you lately.”
“Oh, I’ve been good. I was out of school for a few days before Christmas break with a sore throat. I’m doing better, though.”
I nodded. “That’s good. Did you have a nice Christmas?” I asked.
“I did, but I’m glad school is back in session and that karate will be starting back up next weekend.”
“Me too.” I pointed to the paper in his hands. “What do you have there?”
“I printed it at the library this morning.” He turned it around so I could see. “It has exercises and stuff.” Patrick looked around the gym and scratched his head. “But to be honest, I don’t really know where to start with it.”
I glanced over his paper.
“This is a really good start, but come here,” I said and gestured at him to follow me. I led him to the check-in desk and pointed to the wall of pamphlets behind it. I picked up something similar and handed it to him. “This one is really good because it shows you a suggested daily workout along with the station in the gym where you can complete it.”
“This is perfect. I had no idea what to do with this other one.” Patrick tossed his sheet from the library in the trash.
“Want a tour of the weight room? I can show you how to use the machines or set the weights.”
I spent the rest of my time in the gym walking Patrick around and showing him how to use the equipment. Since it was getting close to dinner, I threw the towel in on working out anymore this afternoon. Patrick thanked me for showing him around, and we made plans to meet tomorrow after school and work out together. I headed to the locker room, but Patrick was going to stay until the gym closed at five.
I felt like Patrick and I could be good friends. Aside from Morgan, I had no friends from school in any martial arts classes with me, and Morgan only went in the summer.
* * *
“Come on, Patrick,”I encouraged. “One more good one. Finish strong.” I stood at the top of the bench as he finished pushing up the weight bar.
Patrick grimaced as his arms shook and the bar dipped on one side, and I thrust my hands under it but didn’t touch it. My hands were there to prevent the heavy bar from falling on him.
“Don’t quit! Push, push, push! One more, man.”
“I can’t—”
“Yes, you can. Push, Patrick! I’m right here and won’t let the bar fall.”
Patrick dug deep and straightened his arms. I helped him guide the bar back to the slot. As soon as the bar was safely in place, I high-fived him as he sat up.
“See, I knew you could do it!”
“Thanks!” Patrick was excited, but then he said something that I thought was kind of weird, but I left it alone. “You’re the only person who has any faith in me.”
“That was a great way to end a Friday,” I said as we walked toward the locker room.
“Shit, it is Friday, isn’t it?” he asked. It seemed the news of it being Friday was doom and gloom for him.
