Pop: Chapter Nine

     It's just a little past six in the morning.  I've been awake over fifteen minutes.  I'm watching Jim as he sleeps, just waiting for him to wake up.  I'll have to do it myself if he doesn't get up soon.  Sam will be waking up soon, himself, and I want Jim out of here before that happens.

    I never suspected Jim of what he did last night.  That was so unlike the Jim I looked up to all those years ago.  

    I first met Jim at my freshmen orientation where he was one of the senior representatives helping us out.  Our group was composed mostly of kids from the other feeder schools.  I didn't know anyone else there.  We were touring the old gymnasium building, and I was feeling so lost and out of place.  I peeled away from the group to go use the bathroom, without anyone noticing.  

    I was in for a shock.  The restroom had one of those old-style troughs instead of individual urinals that I was used to.  I stood there and tried to go, but I was so scared and nervous that I got excited instead, which only made me more scared.

    "Hey, there you are.  Whoa.  Having problems?"  Jim had popped in to look for me.

    There I was, standing all excited in front of a total stranger.  Very embarrassing.

    "Hey.  Don't worry.  All guys get like that at our age.  No way to control it.  Do you, uh, need to do something about it?"  Jim made a circle with his fingers and held them just below his hips. "Can you?"

    I guessed what his meaning was immediately and shook my head, too scared to talk.

    "Okay.  You might want to go into one of the stalls for more privacy.  Don't forget to lock the door.  Remember, even if you think you're all alone and there's no way anyone will come in on you, lock the door.  I'll try and make sure no one else comes in on you."

    I hobbled over to the nearest stall and locked the door behind me.  Even with my nerves, it didn't take me long to finish up.  Maybe three minutes or so.

    "Don't forget to clear things out," Jim yelled over the door.  "It will make things easier later on throughout the day."

    That took another minute.  I flushed and finally made my way back to the sinks, where Jim was standing there washing his hands.  He must have been standing there the entire time to make sure no one would notice me if they came in.  I washed my own hands, before the two of us started talking.

    "I'm guessing that's not the reason you came in here, huh?"  Jim asked.  "Do you need to talk about anything?"

    I blurted everything out then.  About how my best friend since we were four moved away just after school let out so he could transfer to one with a better basketball program.  Six three at thirteen, and I was always taller than him by an inch or two though sixth grade.  Our schools would later play once.  He had to be six five or so by then, but that happened later.

    I mentioned the new family with the much older boy who moved in.  How I didn't have any friends.  How I didn't have a father.  How my mother and grandmother never seemed to get along.  How they just didn't care.  I didn't cry that day, but I think I could have.

    Jim didn't mind a bit, just the two of us there in the boys' room.  After a few seconds, Jim finally spoke.

    "You know.  I think I know of some people you should meet.  Let's ditch the tour and follow me."

    We left the boys' room and the gym, dodging the rest of the group.

    "You don't need to pay much attention about this place.  They're getting ready to build a new gym in the football field as soon as the season is over.  They might even get rid of the trough, but I doubt it.  Too much of a need to get as many guys in and over as possible."

    I followed him to some trees just off the parking lot where a few boys were sitting.

    "Chris, I would like you to meet my brother Will and his best friend Rick.  They're freshmen this year too."

    The two boys stood up to shake my hand.  Both were about six or seven inches taller than me already, but still shorter than Jim.

    "And here's another new student, Pete.  I think he just moved here as well."

    The other boy stood up.  It was the new guy who moved down the road from me.  He was over six feet tall.  There was no way he was only thirteen or fourteen.  I took a quick glance at Will and Rick.   They just smiled in that way boys do to each saying "Don't ask, just go along."

    If it hadn't been for Jim that day, the four of us probably would never become the lifelong friends we are today.

    "Oh.  Hi Chris."  Jim had just woke up.

    "Good morning, Jim.  Where did you get the booze?"