Childhood Memories Part II

Luke drove his wife, Brenda to their house and on their way there they drove past Luke’s old high school, Wintor High School. He had bad memories of that place.

He zoned out, but he had driven on that road a thousand times.

A sixteen-year-old Luke walked to his friends’ table, but someone stuck out a leg and tripped him. He fell face-first into his macaroni salad.

“Watch your step Lucas, you might trip,” Kevin, the school bully said.

All the kids in the cafeteria, except Luke’s friends, laughed.

Luke rushed to the bathroom to clean up. His friend Marc walked over to the bathroom in all the commotion.

“Hey, are you okay?” Marc asked as he walked into the boys’ bathroom.

Luke wiped his face with a paper towel and tossed it into the trash. “Oh, hey, Marc. I’m fine. I just don’t think I can show my face out there again.”

The school bell rang.

“Looks like you don’t have to.” Marc threw Luke’s backpack to him and he caught it.

A few days later, at his soccer game against the Amcross Animals, he was about to score a goal until a boy from the Animals stole the ball.

“You suck, Lucas!” Someone yelled from the stands.

Luke looked toward the stands and saw Kevin making faces at him.

The boy from the Amcross team scored a goal, the timer counted down to zero, and the buzzer rang. The game was over.

The next day at school, Luke was walking down the hall and Kevin tripped him again.

“You know, Kevin we’re in high school now. Why are you still acting so immature? Do you like to belittle us to feel better about yourself?”

“No, maybe.”

Everyone in the hall stared.

“When are you gonna stop? When is someone gonna stand up to you?” Luke asked Kevin.

“The back of the school at 3 o’clock. See you there.” Kevin pushed Luke to the floor and walked away.

“What? I don’t want to fight.”

Mason and Marc walked up to Luke and helped him back up.

“Luke, what have you done? This is why no one stands up to him. They’re afraid of him,” Mason said.

“I’m just sick of him bullying everyone, especially me. Maybe I can end it once and for all.”

“What are you going to do? He’s captain of the wrestling team,” Marc said.

“Yeah, well, I’ve been taking karate since I was ten. I’ve almost got a black belt,” Luke replied.

“You’re gonna get beaten to a pulp,” Mason said.

“We’ll see about that.”

At 3:00 pm, the last bell of the school day rang and the students gathered in front of the dumpster behind the school for the fight.

Kevin looked at his watch, it was 3:05 pm. “Looks like he ain’t showin’.”

Luke walked around the corner.

“Look who’s here. Lucas, the loser.”

“Let’s just get this over with.”

“I’ll be nice and let you throw the first punch.”

Luke pulled his arm back and swung, but Kevin grabbed his arm and threw him to the ground. Luke stood back up and swipe kicked Kevin’s leg so he’d fall.

“You’ve got some moves, I’ll give you that,” Kevin said as he stood up.

“You haven’t seen nothing yet,” Luke replied.

Kevin put Luke in a headlock and Luke punched Kevin in the chin. The bully fell and Luke stepped on Kevin’s chest in victory. Kevin grabbed Luke’s leg and pulled him down to the ground. They were in a pile and Kevin pushed Luke’s shoulders. Luke slugged him in the face multiple times. The last time, Kevin blocked the punch, but with Luke’s other hand, he punched him in the side of the head. Kevin wiped the blood from his nose and ear and tried to stand up, but he collapsed.

Mason walked over to Luke and held up his arm. “Looks like we have a winner!”

Everyone shouted in excitement, “Luke! Luke! Luke!” They carried him to the front of the school.

Adult Luke almost hit a tree, but Brenda steered the car back onto the road.

“Luke? Are you alright?” Brenda asked.

“I’m fine, I was just remembering high school days.”

“Do you want me to drive?”

“No, I’m good now.”

They drove into the driveway and parked in front of their house.