This short story is part of a story that I wrote as an assignment for a MOOC Class I took at University of IOWA.
The class was called, Power of the Pen: Identities and Social Issues in Fiction and Nonfiction. The classes are taught online and people from all over the world participate. This was the second time I participated, and again I learned a lot. Here you can read the first part.
Manuel – Part 1
Manuel
By Annerose Walz
I stare at my phone. I’ve watched the movie a thousand times already. I probably shouldn’t look at this here in the school bathroom. But it’s so beautiful and I need it right now after coach Nelson embarrassed me again. It is a little dark, but I can see Sheila clearly. Her dark eyes are directed at me and she smiles this cutest of all smiles. My heartbeat quickens and I almost forget the gray stall walls around me. The thing is, whenever I see Sheila my heart skips a beat. My mouth runs dry as I watch her on the screen taking off clothes. The sun sets in a bright red over the lake and colors her face. I remember her soft long brown hair. It flows in waves down her shoulders. I remember her smell, the wind that blows from the lake and the warm sand under my feet. I wish, we were there. This movie is her love gift to me. I still can’t believe that she allowed me to tape us. I hear Sheila’s ringing laughter in my phone and it tugs at my heart. Nervous, I fumble to turn off the sound. Nobody can see that, or even hear it. Ever. I sigh, get up, pull up my pants, and holding the phone in my hand, I exit the stall. A blow from the right shoves the door into my side.
“Woah?” Loosing balance, I stagger to the left into Chip, who stands there, smirking. He shoves me back into Jeff, who slams the door back in its frame behind me and grabs my arm. David steps in front of me.
Shit, David and his goons, the school bullies. Was I so concentrated on Sheila that I didn’t notice that they entered the restroom? David Goldman – we aren’t exactly friends – here and there they would harass me, but usually David picks weak victims to terrorize. I don’t belong to that group.
“Look, what we have here.” David steps closer, his eyes are piercing mine. Then he nods at Jeff and Chip. And before I can do anything else they are holding me in a tight grip. With one quick movement David wrenches the phone from my hand.
No!
His eyes dart to the screen where the movie is still playing. Cold fear travels up my spine. If I’d only shut off my phone. As he watches Sheila and me kissing, his jaws tighten. I take a step forward, but Jeff and Chip pull me back and slam me against the stall door behind me.
“Hold on, here, and let him watch it, broki.” Jeff says, his mouth close to my ear.
“Don’t call me broki, I’m no Mexican!”
Chip chuckles.
“David, that’s my phone! Give it back! What do you want?” My voice is supposed to sound harsh, but even I hear I sound lame.
David keeps staring at the phone. He runs his tongue over his lips, one side of his mouth tugs up into a lopsided grin. Then he looks at me running his hand through his long blond hair.
“Nice job, broki, this is gold.” He says, emphasizing the last word. His malicious smile goes all the way up to his eyes.
“Stop it, it’s private!” I strain forward, against their hold.
“Hmm, kissi, kissi. Isn’t she a beauty? I have to say, this skin, very smooth and the hair. She’s hot, isn’t she? When she moves like …”
“Stop it! She is not like that!” Furious, I step on Jeff’s foot, and try to wriggle my arms from their grip. Jeff chuckles. He knows as well as I that I have no chance against their wrestling trained muscles. They hold me constricted.
“Why would I stop? I want to see the whole thing. Aren’t you going to loose more clothes? I want to see your asses.”
“You b…” Before I can finish, David’s right hand shots out, hitting me in the stomach. I heave and in the same moment, Jeff and Chip let go. I double over in pain and land hard on the cold tiles.
“I want 200 bucks, otherwise Sheila’s dad will see this little movie. You just shared it with me. Oh, and now we can look at it whenever we want. Thanks.” Chip and Jeff laugh. David shoves his phone screen into my face to prove his claim and drops my phone next to me. Jeff laughs even louder and Chip kicks my leg. Pain travels up my thigh. A cough shakes my body and bile floods my mouth. I swallow hard. They are not going to see any weakness.
“Put the 200 bucks in my locker, number 111. No later than 5pm today, when I get back from wrestling practice I need a good dinner.”
“What did I do to you?” I ask as David turns to the door.
David turns back. The raw hate I see in his eyes surprises me.
“You better keep your taco fingers off her!” David says and spits on the floor
Suddenly, the acid of the sanitizer stings my eyes. The whole restroom smells like somebody spilled it here.
**************************************************************************
Please, leave a comment if you like the story. Part 2, is coming soon …