Ballerina and the Boxer

There was a hole-in-the-wall pizza parlor just down the street from Patrick Henry Gym. Harry said he ate there often and the pizza was better than anything I'd ever eat in my lifetime. I begged to differ but once I took my first bite I knew he was right.

The thing with Harry was that his moods changed in the matter of seconds. One minute he was sort of okay to be around. He didn't seem like he hated me and he seemed genuinely interested in what I was saying. But then he could also be an ass. He would yell and scream and look like the boxer in the ring just days beforehand. I hated seeing him look so angry. He was such a beautiful human being and he knew just how to ruin it with that frown he wore so masterfully.

I tried to tell myself it was concentration. On some crazy level, he was right. Boxing was more than beating each other senseless. You had to be smart and witty and confident. He was all of those things.

So while we ate I got the vibe of "content" Harry. That's when he didn't want to bite my head off.

"How long have you boxed?"

"A while," he took another bite into his pizza, his head not fully at the parlor.

"Have you lived here your whole life?"

"Yeah, but I lived with my dad for a while."

"Oh, okay."

Family wasn't something to press. Sure, I was curious, but I didn't want to go there. Not when we were doing so well.

"We lived just outside of the city. I still boxed though."

"You love it?"

"More than anything in the world." He made eye contact as if those worse were the most important he'd spoken the whole time we'd been eating. "What about you, Clara."

I breathed out a laugh. I really didn't have a terrible life. No, I didn't get along with my mom. Yes, I would love to know who my father is at this point in my life. But I'm lucky I have dance. I'm lucky I have Samantha.

"My dad left when I was young. Too young to remember really. And now I live with my mom."

I tilted my head, realizing I'd never told anyone that before. It wasn't some huge secret, it just never came up.

"What," he spoke, not asking.

"Nothing," I shook my head, "I've just never told anyone that before."

Harry leaned back, stretching his arms so a sliver of his stomach was shown. The fern tattoo was slightly visible and I looked away quickly. He'd already caught me staring enough for one day.

"I've never told anyone about my dad either. And you already know that my mother and I aren't on good terms."

He really didn't give much detail about his father--just that he lived with him. There's always a story.

"Yes," I smiled, "it wouldn't take a rocket scientist."

A silence took over as we finished a few more bites. I was full, not able to eat my piece while Harry had already consumed two and a half pieces. He questioned me and eventually barked at me for not eating the whole thing. I wasn't starving myself (not that time), my stomach just couldn't handle much more.

I took one final bite and pushed my plate back. He happily ate the rest of mine and left our money on the table. He didn't offer to pay and I was pleased. We were on mutual terms; friends...if that.

It was eight o'clock before I got home. All of the lights were off once again and I wondered where my mother could be. It was the second time she hadn't come home before eight. After taking a shower and debating if it was worth it, I called her. She picked up on the first tone.

"Hello?" though her voice was raspy. Was she sleeping?

"Hey mom, just wanted to see where you were."

A long pause lingered.

"I'm just at work. I'll be here for a while, Clara. Don't wait up." I sighed, nodding my head as if she could see me.

Before I spoke, a muffled voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Who was that?"

"No one, just a student," she fumbled with her words.

"A student?"

"Yes, Clara. Now go to sleep, I'll see you in the morning."

She hung up and left me curious. Maybe she was with a student. I highly doubt it was a professor to student visit. It was a woman to college kid visit. And it didn't involve books.

"Bleh," I shook my head, sticking my tongue out. "disgusting."

Notes