7

They kissed again and walked forth in the direction of her house.  They held hands and spoke not a word.  Kyle saw the silence as welcoming while Mary saw it as disquieting. They stole glances and beamed but it was just for Kyle's own bliss. The issue of the stolen football remained buried for the time being. They soon arrived at her house to find that her father was gone. Kyle had put the football on the couch. They sat down in the kitchen and she spoke first.

            "Are you still hungry?" Mary asked.  Since their afternoon had been ruined, Mary and Kyle were still in need of nourishment

            "Yes I am," Kyle replied with a twinkle in his eye.

            With that, Mary went to the freezer and pulled a half-gallon of vanilla ice cream.  She opened a cupboard and pulled out a jar of caramel ice cream topping.  She scooped up two bowls of ice cream and she gave one of them of Kyle. As they ate, they stared each other like puppies in springtime.  Mary reasoned for the moment and if it was out of sight, it was out of mind.  Without warning, Mary took her spoon and stuck it onto Kyle's face.  Kyle was stunned by his girl's brazen move.  Kyle took his spoon and stuck it onto Mary's face.  She suddenly laughed and Kyle smiled back at her.

            "You are a real riot, Kyle." Mary voiced.

            "Same with you, Mary." Kyle rejoined.

            The couple kissed again. Mary got up and got them a wet rag.  Kyle wiped their faces off.  They finished eating their ice cream and they put their dishes in the sink.  Mary led Kyle to the living room.  Kyle sat down while Mary went to the movie cabinet and pulled out a movie.  She showed the box to Kyle and he smiled happily.

            "Dogfight, I should've guessed." Kyle stated happily.

            Mary laughed and she stuck the tape into the VCR.  Kyle put the football on the right side of the couch.  The two lovebirds curled up on the couch and watched the movie peacefully. As they watched, Kyle and Mary kept stealing glances at each other. About halfway through the film, Mary and Kyle started making out and went on until the movie ended. It concluded and Mary turned off the tape. She rejoined Kyle on the couch.  Staring at each other for a split moment, they quickly smooched and Mary yawned widely. Kyle found the motion contagious. They fell asleep and didn’t wake up until front door opened.

            Thomas Steele had come home. Mary and Kyle were still cuddling together.  Thomas tapped his daughter and her boyfriend on their shoulders. They both awoke rather easily. Kyle looked up and saw Thomas' eyes lock with his. The blood nearly drained from his face but he saw an expression that made him react otherwise.  Thomas just smiled, he neither grimaced or grit his teeth.

            Thomas asked in a friendly voice, "How are you two doing this afternoon?"

            Mary replied realizing the situation was compromising, "Pretty good, we were just watching a movie and we fell asleep."

            Thomas sensed that something was amiss, "Okay, did you two have an all right day?".

            Kyle answered cryptically, "Yeah, our day was quite all right all things considered."

            Thomas went from loving father to inquisitor in the bat of an eyelash, "What went wrong?"

            Kyle knew the truth had to be divulged, "In simple terms, I got revenge for last night. We went for ice cream and those high school seniors dumped on Mary and me again. I nearly exchanged blows with them but your daughter managed to stop me from doing so. I wanted vengeance so I took this football from the quarterback."  He reached down over the couch and picked up the ball.

            Mary said, the event was still fresh in her mind, "It was a pretty stupid move that you made."

            "Yeah, that was a stupid move to make.  Why would you risk bodily harm over a cheap pigskin?" Thomas verbalized.

            Kyle sighed solemnly, he didn’t want to play the defendant anymore, "I did it because I felt that I had been robbed of it. It rightfully belonged to me and I seem to be the only one to know that. The retard coach that the school district hired has given almost every game ball to that d********g quarterback during the last thirty-some games."

            "What is the QB's name?" Thomas asked quietly.

            "Weezer.  His real name is Robert but the common folk call him Weezer." Kyle replied with hostility. The name was the most maddening moniker in the history of creation (at least in his mind).

            "I like Captain Asthma myself, the slimeball." Mary interjected.

            "Nice name," Thomas said as he turned back to Kyle.  "What does Weezer have against you, Kyle?"

            Kyle responded with an involuntarily sardonic smile, "That I have never been able to figure out. In the three years I have lived here, I have been the butt of abuse at school. I don't know why it started but it did. If you have any possible guesses or offers on how to stop it, I am all ears."

            Thomas had a rather anxious countenance, "Kyle, what has happened to you is wrong beyond belief. Have your parents or the faculty done anything to stop it?"

            Kyle answered without contorting his facial muscles, "Funny you ask about my parents. They are dead to the world in my eyes. They don't care enough about me to warrant such an inquest at school. As for the faculty, they either don't see it or are helpless to prevent it. I don't rat anybody out either because if I do, I will have the proverbial red dot on my forehead."

            "Have you talked to any instructor? A teacher you trust will keep your confidence and that teacher will speak to an administrator or the coach and then approach Weezer and have this abuse stopped." Thomas looked at Mary and she did not give any positive feedback.

            Kyle stated sourly, "Coach Jerkoff wields too much power at that school. No teacher in their right mind is going to challenge anything that is in his iron grip. Football rules this town like a not-so benevolent dictator. Challenging the entrenched football dynasty is suicide."

            Thomas inquired, "What is the coach's real name?".

            Kyle shuddered at the question and he glanced toward Mary, "Edward Gregson, I met him today and he is a contemptuous figure. He came up to the both of us and gave an earful about Kyle keeping 'his mind off the skirt and on the playbook'. The last part was exactly his words." Mary revealed.

            Thomas inquired while contending with the shock, "Does he condone such behavior among his players?"

            Kyle added further, "Condone he does. The man hates me with a burning passion, I'm convinced of it. He rebukes me even though I am guiltless and he casts a blind eye to the misery I have that his other players create."

            Thomas asked, "And your parents stand for this, how can they live with themselves?"

            Kyle exclaimed, "You got me, sir. They were awesome and loving parents before we moved here from Terre Haute. When we came here, the love-meter dipped into the far below zero range."

            Mary rejoined the conversation, "And there is no rational explanation for this. Something smells here and it isn't the ethanol going to Evansville."

            Thomas seconded the motion, "Yeah, I am agreeing with her. Ethanol doesn't smell a tenth as bad as issues of child abuse do, emotional and otherwise I sincerely understand your plight, Kyle. I don't stand for abuse in any form."

            Kyle suddenly felt a surge of pride enter his soul.  No adult in recent memory had ever spoken in his defense.

            "Thanks for that, Thomas," Kyle voiced and a small tear rolled down his cheek.  "You are the first person to have ever told me that. Every time I step outside my house, I feel like the world is going to cave in on me. I enter that supposed safe zone they call a school and all I see is an endless minefield. I walk by any student and I will hear an explosion in my head. I can guarantee you someone will try to trip me on purpose and/or make very snide and nasty remarks. They may just wail on me like I am hanging from a two-by-four filled with sand. I am the one they choose to abuse."

            Kyle had finished his soliloquy and sighed loudly.  Tears were finally flowing down his face.  Mary gave him a big hug and she cried as well.  Thomas looked on mulling over a way to help Kyle with his predicament.  Thomas had seen his only child in the grips of emotional abuse before.  The major reason he took the job opening at the ethanol plant was so he could provide his daughter with a better environment.

            "Mary, have these people been mean to you as well?" Thomas inquired of his daughter.

            Mary looked at Kyle and he had stopped crying for a bit.  She turned toward her father and explained her troubles over the last two days.  Her father's eyes showed the anger mounting in him.  After Mary's explanation, Thomas came to a decision.

            The fire had been stoked in Thomas Steele’s belly, "I am sick of the s**t happening to the both of you. I will find a way to deal with those who control the leashes of Weezer and the Coach. Rest assured that you two will have an environment where you are given your basic rights to being and esteem."

            Mary took her arms off of Kyle and she went to hug her father.  Thomas wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly.  Mary stared at her father and she kissed him on the cheek.

            "Thank you, Dad. Thank you for that." Mary voiced.

            "Don't worry. I will always look at for you. You have my promise." Thomas replied.

            They hugged once more. Kyle glimpsed on with a smile that hid bittersweet emotion. Thomas turned back to Kyle and smiled back.

            Thomas reiterated with the same passion, "I will defend you as well. I am so ashamed to hear that your parents aren't doing their jobs. If your parents were truly parents, they wouldn't stand by and watch their offspring get thrashed and trashed by others on a daily basis."

            "Thank you very for doing this. I will definitely keep that mind." Kyle replied as he bent down to pick up the practically worthless pigskin.  "Thank you again, Thomas."

            Thomas narrowed his eyes at the tainted ball, "Kyle, I want to you toss that thing out as soon as possible."

            Kyle suddenly went on defense, "Why? It's rightfully mine."

            "It rightfully belongs to Weezer even though you deserve it more than he does."

            “So why shouldn’t I keep it?”

            "Bullies are notoriously territorial and materialistic. If someone the bully hates steals something from the bully, you can guarantee someone will lose dearly. You exponentially multiplied Weezer’s fury by stealing from him. He has the reason in his twisted mind to destroy you now. If there is anything that a bully hates, it's one of his victims retaliating foolishly."

            "But still…"

            Thomas put his hand in the air, "Kyle, victims have ended up dead for making foolish moves. Bullies have ended up killing their victims because of it. You should have rationalized your actions before you did it."

            "Mr. Steele, how else should I have reacted?"

            "By walking away, Kyle. Your life is more important than a stupid football. You can go to the local shop-and-save and buy a couple of those for fewer than ten bucks each if you destroy this one. You can't be replaced if you end up destroyed."

            Kyle sat down on the couch, stared at the ceiling and huffed, "Isn't that just knuckling under in the eyes of someone else?"

            Thomas sat down on the right and Mary sat down on the left, "Yes, but do those eyes matter to you?" Thomas responded.

            Kyle looked at both Steeles, he was confused, "What? You lost me back there.”

            Mary had the answer, "Think about it, honey. The only people who really care about you are the only ones whose opinions you should take into consideration. In this case, Dad and I care for you.  You should consider our views in the matter."

            "I figured that already," Kyle stated satirically.

            Mary replied in the same tone as she did before, "Some opinions shouldn't matter to you. Don't let the brutal views of every Captain Asthma and Coach Jerkoff in the world get in your way. At the end of the day, when you make a decision, you ultimately have to make it for yourself."

            Kyle gave a slight smile, "You’re just full of wisdom, aren't you?"

            "I taught her well, Kyle. Those are lessons I learned in life and those are ones I instilled to make her life better. The world is full of people who live to prey on the misery of others and the best way to avoid them to sidestep them. If you ignore the people who bring you misery, you will feel a lot better," Thomas made known to the youngster.

            Kyle nodded and he turned back to Mary.  He kissed her on the lips and sighed.  "I need to go home. My parents, I am assuming otherwise, are wondering where I must be. It would be a complete shock if they actually cared enough to make an inquiry but we shall see though."

            Thomas motioned first and the youngsters followed suit.  He patted Kyle on the shoulder, “Remember what I said, toss that reviling thing before it brings you more bad luck. The best way to avoid the bullies is to sidestep them. Avoid them and they will avoid you.”

            Kyle smiled and took the pigskin in his right hand.  Mary led him to the door.  Thomas said goodbye and he made his way to the kitchen.  The young couple sauntered outside to stand on the porch.  They smooched again and Mary looked down at the disquieting evil.

            Mary voiced with concern, "You need to get rid of that thing. Weezer and his cronies are going to come after you if they see you with it."

            Kyle replied with a sigh, "They are going to come after me even if I don't have it."

            "Still, get rid of it. It is a cheap memory. Catching a touchdown pass in a high school football game isn't that pivotal an event in my mind as say the day you met the one you fell in love with."

            "I know, Mary, but…I wasn't doing this for the sentimental value."

            "Rashness on your part didn't bring about turnaround. All you do bring about more baseness between the two of you."

            Kyle huffed loudly, "Weezer can suck me off for all I care! I never did anything to that shitbag to deserve such treatment!"

            Mary responded stridently, "Kyle, chill out for five seconds! I know that and I honestly feel for you but you can’t have this attitude that you don't care about your own health. Getting revenge by taking inane s**t from a*****e quarterbacks who hate you anyway forfeits your overall health!"

            Kyle replied with a halfhearted gaze, "Mary, I understand…really I do."

            Mary responded with a wholehearted push, "Then absorb it. I don't want you ending up as a statistic. I love you and I care for you. Don't end up dead on me."

            "I love you too, Mary." Kyle kissed her on the cheek and proceeded to step off the porch.

            "Then please take heed of what I say." Mary stood with her arms folded and her expression hard as cold stone.

            Kyle nodded and flashed her a thumbs-up signal with his left hand. He blew her a kiss and she promptly accepted it. She blew him a kiss back and he accepted quickly.  With that, Kyle walked out to the street and Mary stood on the porch until he was out of sight. All she could think about was Kyle's halfhearted attempt to take her advice.

            She walked back into the house and closed the front door. She stared at the ceiling momentarily and then toward the kitchen.  Her father was munching on a leftover meal of deceased cow and corn. As Thomas ingested his seventh slice of meat from his fork, he noticed his daughter’s countenance. She was agonized due to her boyfriend’s weakness to heed her words. He put his utensil and plate down on the counter and went for the door. He put out his arms and she warmly embraced them. Ear next to ear, Mary began to trickle her distress everywhere.

            Mary voiced through her tears, “I love him, Dad, but he won’t listen. How can help him? How can I unmake his mulishness?”

            Thomas conversed gently, “You can’t, Mary. All you can do is watch and wait. It’s his choice to make, not yours.”

            She almost screamed, “I wish it was the other way around! I want it to be the other way around!”

            He hushed her as he held tighter, “Calm down, honey. You need to relax.” She slowly composed herself as Thomas consoled her.  “Relax, my child, just relax.”

            Mary sighed lightly but maintained her weeping.  Thomas let go and led his daughter to the sofa.

            Thomas changed his tone from soft to stern, “Here’s another lesson you must learn, Mary. Fairness is an illusion and it always has been an illusion. You can say all you want about how unfair it is for the treatment you and Kyle regularly receive. I hate hearing about it and every time I do, I want to hurl up my meals for the last three days. It’s not right that you are treated as such but it was the circumstances you were dealt. Everybody receives grief in their lives and it is ultimately up to them if they want change.”

            Mary puzzled over her father’s words, “Are you saying that there is a difference between what is right and what is fair?”

            “Exactly, I always knew you had the brains of a champion.” Thomas responded and he gave her a kiss on the forehead. “The circumstances we end up in are always fair due to the chain of events that led to that point.”

            Mary asked, “Why is it fair for Kyle to be abused every day then?”

            Thomas shrugged and acknowledged her with what wisdom he had, “I can’t answer that, sweetie, as much I want to. It really sucks but it is the way of the universe. I personally despise that tenet but it’s something the world runs on. Kyle never had a choice in the matter since he is under the legal age. He had to move here with his parents. Whether it was just because he was the new kid in town or something more sinister, he ended up in an environment where he was fair game. It is sickening for Kyle to go through this and it sickens me to no end. It is up to Kyle to make things right because of his choices and the outside forces acting on him. All of it is undeserved but you and I can only do so much.”

            Mary’s eyes widened; she needed her father to keep his vow, “What are you going to do to assist him?”

            Thomas hugged his child once more, his tone softened, “I have my ways, and I have connections. Anybody in a position of management must know how to deal with any state of affairs they run across. I have had to direct a couple of my underlings to counseling as a last chance before termination. I know where help is, I do my damnedest to not have any future problems on my hands anywhere in my life.”

            Mary closed her eyes and absorbed her father’s embrace, “You do it because it’s right.”

            He was very reassuring, “That’s right. I do it because it’s right.”

            Mary’s tone became more silenced, “What can I do to help?”

            Thomas expressed his truest emotions, “Keep being there for him. Do whatever you can to help him but within reason of righteousness. Don’t go out of your way to make trouble for yourself or him. Unless the situation demands for it, use the tactics I taught you to survive high school. Remember to sidestep and ignore your abusers. Don’t challenge any of them unless they challenge you. Stay away from them at all costs. I tell you this because I love you and I always want you around.”

            Mary and Thomas stayed in the embrace for a while longer.  Thomas kissed her on the cheek and Mary returned the gesture. They let go and sat back on the couch.

            Thomas voiced, “Cheer up, small fry. You’ll both get through this. There is always a way out in the end.”

            Mary smiled back, “I know there is. It just takes time to find it I guess.”

            Thomas nodded and he patted her on the shoulder. Mary grinned a little longer as Thomas moved back to the kitchen. She stared at the wall hoping that the one she loved would fleetly come to his senses. If her father’s wisdom was correct, Kyle could end up hurt severely or worse.