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May 20th: Suicide Pact I, Day One. The past week has went by with little excitement, and perhaps too much quietness. Going into the later days of the week, the Fencers has started to wisper amoung themsleves everytime I enter a room, making me think that there was something going on that they did not wannt me to know about. Then it slowly started to spread to the ShortFellow girls and then finally to the guys. It seemed that one of the male fencers had gotten one of the females pregnant, but an arguement as to who did what to whom was going about and people were pointing fingers at each other. If the fencers were engaged in sexual games with each other, I am glad that I was not part of them. I'm just a memeber of the team but very outside of their internal relationships for the very reasons why they are going through turmoil right now. The males boiled down to one of three- Jason M., Dallas or Milo getting Sharon, Lisa or Karen pregnant. Fingers were also being pointed to Kevin, John and Raul getting Denise, Jaunita or Ann pregnant as well. The damnest thing was that everyone was getting on my case about having the affair with Cathy and getting her pregnant in the progress. I was getting tired of these rumours flying about, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and get to the bottom of this. I cut my 8th period class to get to Ms Jastrey and tell her of these rumours that were going about, only to have her say to me to leave it alone. I told her that I cant becuase it involves both the Shortfellows and the Fencers, and if nothing is to be done, somebody is going to get hurt. She disagreed with me to near the very end of the period when Lenard, Jose and Elizabeth came, hearing of the arguement, decided that I should at least try. Time was running out as the end of the period was coming. Lenard and Jose took Ms Jastrey outside for lunch while Elizabeth sat in Ms Jastrey's desk. I quickly changed into my fencing gear. I quickly sat down in the desk/chair next to Ms Jastrey's desk as the bell rang. Elizabeth turns to me for a second, shaking her head for the moment befor going back to staring at the door. A few seconds later the door opens and the ShortFellows run into the room. The Fencers still waiting from behind for their turn to go in. The Shortfellows arrive loudly, but they all gather themselves into the center of the room and stare at us both. "Sit.", Elizabeth says. "Wait a minute? Where's Ms J?", Denise says. "Denise- Sit and shut up.", Elizabeth tells her. "Wait a god damn minute now- who is she to tell me what to do?", Denise protests, "Besides being Jose's girfriend." Jason Dubin walks into the room, alerted by lenard and Jose outside as to what was going on, heard the comotion that Denise was starting. "She's a Shortfellow Elder- so you better listen and sit down as you are told.", he tells her. The Shortfellows all looked at each other for a moment and started to take random seats about the room. I get up and protest, "No! No! No!- Shortfellows- over there!", as I point at the back of the room. Jason nods at Elizabeth before stepping out and telling the Fencers to enter the room and sit opposite to the Shortfellows. Some of the senior fencers recognize Elizabeth from when she was on the team 2 years before. For a moment, the room remains silent as everyone stares at each other. "What is the meaning of this?", Milo starts off with his big mouth. "Hey, this is ShortfFellow's business, not Fencer's Business!", Denise opens up her mouth from across the room. "Actually, its both- Fencer and SHortFellow Business.", Jason D. started to say. "Then what is going on?", Katrina asks. "That is what I want to know.", I said from my seat. "I swear Gutich, I will throw you out the team if you dont behave yourself...", Milo boastfully says. Gary Dallas and a few of the others laugh at the statement but the others dont. "Kick him off the team and you will have to kick me off the team.", Mark stated. "You're just inviting me to do you the favor...", Milo stated. Again, his entourage of snobs laughed at the statement. "Kick Mark off the team, and you will have to kick me off the team.", Karen leans out from her chair and looks at Milo angrily. "If Karen leaves, so do I.", Sharon says from beihnd Karen. "I'm backing up Gutich... he leaves, so do I.", Lisa says as she sat besides Sharon. "Wha...?", the males fencers say as they all looked at her, mainly from Milo's entourage. "Why you backing him up?'", Sharon whispers to Lisa. "Remember that day at Boys & Girls High, when he saved me from being mugged or worse, I owe him one.", Lisa whispers back to Sharon. Other voices whispered to one another. "Well, since this obviously does not involve the ShortFellows, I guess that we wil leave.", Denise says as she slowly got up. "Sit back down Denise... this involves all of us.", Jason tells her. A soft knock is heard from the door, as everyone looked at each other to see who it was. Finally Jason opens the door, finding Cathy and Jaunita(Gloria) there. He turns to me and I nod my head to allow them in. "NO! What Is She Doing Here!", Denise protested. "Ms Roman, cut your attitude before you find yourself without a group to hang out with.", Jason tells her. She stares at him for a while, scared but yet angry of the threat he gave. I pointed to the seats opposite from my posistion, but in between the two groups for them to sit at. Quietly they comply. After they say down, I nodded at Jason and slowly got out of my seat, rubbing my eyes from the day long exposure to light I was getting. Using my foil as my cane, I slided it in front of me as I walked to the middle of the room. Jason took my place in the seat. "I do not know what is going on here, all I'm hearing are some ugly rumours that involves all of us.", I started to say to everyone as I slowly spun around on my heel to see eveyone before stopping at Milo. "Rumours are rumours, but yet no one has allowed you into our business.", Milo said to interupt me. "All I know, from what I'm hearing, and what I heard came from outside of this group- but somebody here is pregnant, and somebody else is not taking responsibility to do what is right.", I tell him but inferring to everyone in the room. The room hung dead silent. "I got this rumour from the Chinese Mafia that runs the bookroom down in the basement. But, by the way everyone in both groups are acting with their little secrets here and there, whispering when I enter the room, makes me think that is there is something going on.", I explain to them. I then banged my fencing foil upon Ms Jastryey's desk as hard as I can, making a loud snnaping niose with it, "BUT YOU IDIOTS FORGET THAT I HAD BEEN BLIND FOR THE PAST YEAR AND THAT I DO POSSES SUPER SENSISTIVE HEARING! I HEARD ALL THOSE WHISPERING CONVERSATIONS YOU GUYS HAD WHEN I ENTER ROOMS! HELL I HEAR WHISPERING CONVERSATIONS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BUILDING!", I yell at Milo but still inferring to everyone in the room. "You have what?", Sharon gets up. "Its not that hard to understand, remember I was blind last year and for most of this year- hell, I'm still techincally blind, but my hearing more than makes up for the loss, Sharon.", I explain to to her. "Thats bullshit! ", Milo says. "I'll fence you blindfolded, Milo. and I'll still beat you.", I tell him. OOO's fill the room from his entourage. "ENOUGH!", Jason D. gets up and yells from the top of his voice. The rooms silences again. Once quieted, I continue, "Now, these rumors say that one or more of the fencing girls are pregnant, and that one or more of the fencing boys is responsible. These rumours also extend to the Shortfellows. Now, I'm not going to interfere in the romantic businesses of othhers, but if I find out that one of us guys had put a girl in such a situation that is disrespectful to her annd her honor., then I want him out." "You are you to decide as to who stays and who goes!", Milo gets up and challenges my words. "He has every right to decide since some of you over there are not man enough to do what is right!", Karen almost shouts to Milo. "Like the damn spic would?", Milo says. Raul and John slowly get up to face him, but Kevin puts their hands on their shoulders to keep them seated. "Yes he would, for he has.", Jaunita(Gloria) stated out loud. Several 'huh's can be heard from both groups. "Look Milo, according to the rumours, you are on the top of the list. Now I'm not telling you what to do, but if I find out that you dare abandon one of these girls for sex, I will go after you and everything you own.", I tell him. "You threatening my brother?", Katrina says. "I'll threaten him, you and everyone else in this room as the need fits.", I tell her. "We'll see about that...", she says. "I better not find out your brother got some girl pregnant and is not willing to do the right thing.", I tell her. "That will be my problem...", Katrina tells me. "Then how come you dont know about it.", I reply. "Milo...", Katrina looks at him. "I Got Nobody Pregnant", he almost yells. "Except for Rosie DePalmer!", Raul yells from the back of the room. Half of the room laughs, the other half wonders what the joke was supposed to mean. "Why that fucking Spic...", Milo started to say as he got up. I immediately got in his way. "Get Out Of My Way, Little Man...", Milo stated angrily. I shoved my finger just under his breast bone and pushed, forcing him to take backward steps back into his seat. He sits there with his hands to his chest in pain. "Consider yourself lucky we were not fighting, or I would have killed you with that...", I tell him. "Yeah right...", Gary says from behind Milo. "Listen, you... it is this disrespect that I am trying to get rid off.", I tell Gary. "Then what do you propose what is the right thing to do?", Mark says to get my attention away from them. "That is on them; their decision, but one that is made of love and honor for each other.", I tell him. "And for you, what would that be?", Karen asks. "Dont Answer That!", Cathy says. I look at Cathy from the center of the room before speaking. Then I turn back to Karen to state my words, "For me, my religion and my conviction, my answer would be to marry the girl and raise the child... Like I'm supposed too." "Bullshit!", Gary says as he 'sneezes' the words from out his mouth. A loud 'THONK' could be heard by his ear, as one of Raul's sherikins appear by his ear. I slowly turn to Raul and shake my head at him disapprovingly. For a while, silence held the stage. "You would actually marry your girlfriend if you got her pregnant?", Karen says to break the silence. I turn back to Karen, "Yes, I would." "Yes he has!", Jaunita(Gloria) stated outloud. "JAUNITA!", I shouted back at her. Several gasps can be heard from the crowd. But Karen again interjects with another question, "Why not get an abortion?" "Like I said, 'For me, my religion, and my conviction...' abortion is out of the question for me. It maybe an open option to you, as it is not for me. Now if they decide that they would get an abortion- its a decision that they make together and one that saves them their honor and a lot of grief. But I know, it is not an easy one.", I explain. "Then why involve us?", Denise stated. "Because, this same rumour also says that you, and 2 other ShortFellow Girls are pregnant...", I answer her. "Maybe its your slut girl friend over there...", as she points to Cathy. "Why that fucking bitch...", Cathy said as she slowly got out of her seat. "Sit down, Catherine.", I tell her without turning to see her. "I know Catherine is not pregnant, for one. Two, the rumour has you and several others in it by name." "LIES! ALL LIES!", Denise yells out. "Then lets gt to the bottom of this.", I tell everyone as I stare at her. "Somebody is spreading rumours about us. We need to find out who it is and make them recind those Lies. But if any of these lies are true, then we need to clean house here. Honor is at stake here, reputations are on the line. Its that simple.", as I slowly walked to the door. "G-Man is right...", Mark started to say. "Well, Dallas... you know what you have to do...", Karen sneered at him. "I aint doing shit.", Dallas returns to her. "Fine, have it your way.", Karen tells her. "I'll be outside and let this be settled amoungst yourselves.", I say as I open the door before stepping out. I get out of the room when I am done with my statement and sit down by the door. More like balling up into a tight little package to shed my eyes from the lights in the hall and the setting sun from the windows. I put my fencing blade in between my knees with the point at the floor. The background violin of Mr Stechko playing music in the hallway ends. After a while of silence, despite the argueing that was going on inside 1E17, Mr Stechko stands by me. "What ever the cause of the comotion of the room inside, there must be a reason why you are not in there now when you were during the beginning.", Mr Stechko said. "They are just letting themselves hang out to try.", I tell him from within my ball. "And what of you? What is your involvement in all this?", he asks. "I just want to put an end to the lies.", I explain. "Lies... as in rumours?", he asks. "Yes.", I answers. "Rumours of some girl's honor and reputation?", he asks. "How would you know?", I ask. "Well, ever since they started to allow girls into the school many years ago, it has been nothing but trouble. Trouble about reputation, honor, emotions, pride and pregnancies.", Mr Stechko listed off his explaination. "But Gutich....", he continiued, "I know that you are not without your own set of girl problems, and yet you seem to handle it so well." "Handle it so well?", I ask. "It does not interfere with your school work, nor does it interefere with what you believe is right.", he says. "Oh...", I say. "Seriously, you handle it better than most. For that you must be commended.", he stated. "Why thank you...", I say. "Is there anything I can do for you?", he asks. "Why you ask?", I return in question. "The only times in which you are balled up is when you are having one of your headaches. Now I'm not supposed to give you any medicine, but the quietness of my room would suffice.", he stated. "Thank you, but I'll pass on it for now.", I tell him. "Just one more thing...", he says. "What?", I ask. "If it wasn't for girl problems, we would all have some very boring lives...", he says as he puts the key to the door and opens it slowly. "Huh?", I said, but he walks inside his room and starts playing a little tune on his homemade violin. The back door to 1E17 opens with Denise, Cecilia and Jaunita leaving one after the other, running down the hall to the North East corner exit. The boys quickly follow them out as the front door opens and the Fencing Girls run out of the room and down the hall in the opposite direction, leaving out the center section of the building. The fencing boys go after them as well. I lift my head up and look about, having to find Cathy, Jaunita(Gloria) and Lisa there standing in front of me. Jaunita(Gloria) drops my fencing and book bags down at my feet. "I dont know what is going on, but it must be one hell of a doozy.", Cathy stated. "Cathy, there is a rumour going about that Milo, Dallas and or Jason M. got either Sharon, Karen or you-Lisa pregnant. The rumour also includes Raul, Kevin or John in getting Denise, Cecilia or Jaunita pregnant as well. It even extends to that if you want a good time, you can join the Fencing Club or the ShortFellows for a really good 'fucking' time... Shit like that I do not like. I'm sorry that you have to hear it or be involved, but that is what is going on.", I explained. "And where did you hear of these rumours?", Lisa asked. "I already said it- from the Chinese Mafia that hangs out in the bookroom, calling themselves the bookroom squad.", I said. "I want names.", Lisa said. "Lisa Yu, you can start with her.", I said. "That little whore... yeah, I'll start with her.", Lisa said. "Lisa... you're not going to do anything... violent, are you?", Cathy says. "Of course not... I'll just make a few phone calls and have her disappear if I dont get answers to my questions.", Lisa answers. "Lisa, dont...", I say to her. "What do you know about Chinese Honor and Respect?", Lisa asks angrily. "Only what you taught me. Look, lt me deal with her and if she dont appologize in 1 week, then you can go after her... fair?", I tell her as I look up from my tight little ball. "One week? You got 4 days.", Lisa says before stammering out and down the hallway. "Look at what you have done now...", Cathy says, "You have just started World War Three... Tell me, was she the one that kissed you on your birthday?" "What does that have to do with anything?", I ask. "Plenty...", Jaunita(Gloria) answered. I let out a sigh befor making a stament, "its a girl-thing... right?" "Right...", they both answered. "We know you meant well by interfering, but sometimes you have to leave things well enough alone.", Cathy saids. "Then maybe I should leave you alone?", I ask, partially in jest. "AARRGH!!!!", Cathy lets out loud as she walks away and leave the building out the center section angrily. "Now you have done it, Gutich....", Jaunita(Gloria) stated as she back stepped towards Cathy's direction, but once she heard the doors slam, she went on running after her. I stay in my tight little ball, despite Lenard and Jose returning with Ms Jastrey, and Jason D. and Elizabeth telling them that I handled the situtation quite well. After a while of hearing them talking, I quietly get on all fours and crawl past by the rear door of the room and down further until I could not be seen before getting up and heading down the hall and out the building from the North East Exit. Once outside, I can see the ShortFellows argueing by the tree, but the Fencers are not to be found anywhere. I started going down DeKalb Avenue slowly as I decided to go home. |