The bad news is Rosa threatened Sojourner. She’s been to the kids’ Bible class Sojourner teaches twice, and won’t tell me about it. She says Sojourner is her friend now, too. Georgie says she’s trying to do my head in. That I shouldn’t let her.
I’m no closer to talking to Sally and David seriously about her.
What will it take?
2. I want to spar.
I sparred! I spar! I am sparring!
I’m addicted.
Even more than training I can lose myself in it. I don’t think about anything but defending, attacking, counter-attacking. I see only my opponent, their eyes, their gloved fists.
Rosa is not in my head for a nanosecond.
Everything that went before is nothing compared to being in the ring. To exchanging blows. Defending. All of it. Now I know what fighting is. How little, and how much, control I have over my body. I don’t have to consciously think to throw a punch. It’s automatic. I’ve learned. I’m a fighter.
Dido is impressed with my progress. I’m impressed with my progress. Jason can’t wait to spar with me.
I haven’t told the parentals, which kind of makes me a liar too. I have to tell the parentals.
3. I want a girlfriend.
Sojourner is my friend. She’s fucking incredible. Great fighter, smart, funny. Not Leilani funny, quieter than that. I feel chill around her. Well, except for when I’m thinking about what it’d be like to hold her, to be skin to skin, to…Yeah.
I’m trying not to think about how to get us from friendship to boyfriend and girlfriend. It’s not going to happen. I don’t believe in God; I’m not going to pretend I do.
4. I want to go home.
Not as much as I did. This city’s kinda cool, but it’s not home, and it’s been too long.
Tonight’s my second bout with Meathead. He’s been avoiding sparring with me. Embarrassed, I guess.
One round of three minutes.
He’s in control of himself this time, but still slow. I see his eyes flick and his shoulder move long before his punches land. It’s easy to duck. He tries to move faster, which makes him sloppier.
‘Watch the eyes, not the gloves!’ Dido calls out.
All I see are Meathead’s eyes, bloodshot and blinking too fast, to keep the sweat out.
Then the bell, stopping, touching gloves, stepping back, gloves off, headgear off.
‘Good work,’ Dido says to us, pulling Meathead aside for detailed critique.
I’m elated. That was easy. Meathead didn’t lose it. I didn’t get sloppy when he got sloppy. Both of us are better than that first session. I’m breathing hard. It doesn’t feel like three minutes passed. I want to fight again. Preferably against Sojourner. She isn’t slow. She doesn’t telegraph her punches.
‘Che,’ someone says as I climb out of the ring.
It sounds a lot like Sally. I turn.
It is Sally.
Christ. My entire family are standing in my gym staring at me.
Sally and David and Rosa, and with them the McBrunights. Seimone is wearing green gloves. Maya gives me a little wave. Matter out of place. My face is already hot from exertion, but now it’s hotter. My pimples are in danger of erupting like mini volcanoes.
Rosa grins.
‘We thought you might like to join us for dinner,’ Sally says with as little warmth as she’s ever used towards me. ‘We’ve a table in fifteen minutes around the corner.’
David doesn’t say anything. His lips are pressed together.
‘One of our favourite restaurants,’ Gene says as if I haven’t just been busted doing something I promised I wouldn’t. Maybe he doesn’t know. Maybe me stepping out of the ring is what he expects to see here in a boxing gym.
‘Sounds great,’ I say.
‘Well done,’ Dido says, patting my shoulder. ‘Especially your cross. Left hand’s dropping and chin comes up on your hook. But much, much better.’
‘These are my parents,’ I say because it would be weird not to introduce her. ‘Dido’s my trainer here. She’s great.’
‘You have a lot of parents.’ She smiles at the four adults and holds out her hand to David, who unleashes his full smile.
‘I’m Dido,’ she says, blushing as they shake hands.
‘I’m David, Che’s dad. A pleasure to meet you.’
‘I’m Sally.’ Sally holds out her hand and Dido blinks, remembering to let go of David’s hand and to stop staring at him. Sally introduces everyone else, warmth returning to her voice.
‘I’m Rosa,’ Rosa announces before Sally can. She does her little curtsey. ‘Was Che sparring? Did he win? It looked like he won.’
‘Yes, he was sparring. He didn’t win because it’s not a contest, just a way to test skills,’ Dido says. ‘He did well. Che’s a natural fighter but a cerebral one. Great combination. You should be proud. If you’ll excuse me.’
‘You’re very dedicated, Che,’ Gene says. ‘Working out on a Friday night.’
I smile, not sure what to say to that in front of the parentals.
‘Nice gym,’ Lisimaya says. ‘Not what I was expecting. It’s so clean, and so many women.’
‘Yeah,’ I say. ‘It’s not old-school. I don’t like the old-school gyms. Too much testosterone.’
Sally and David are silent.
‘Ah, um, I should get changed.’
‘We’ll wait out front,’ Sally says, walking away with David.
I stand there dripping.
Rosa and the twins are watching training in the other ring. Judo. They’re down on the ground grappling. Seimone giggles.
‘Hello,’ Sojourner says, walking over to Rosa. ‘Now do you believe I’m not the only girl?’
She peels off her wraps and smiles.
I realise I still have mine on. They’re soaked with sweat.
Rosa nods. ‘Now I want to learn how to fight too.’
Sojourner laughs. ‘I’ll give you self-defence tips any time you want.’
‘Yes, please!’
‘Me too?’ Seimone asks. ‘I’m Seimone.’
‘She’s my best friend,’ Rosa says.
‘Nice to meet you,’ Sojourner says. ‘I’m happy to give you tips.’
‘This is Maya,’ I say.
Maya says, ‘Hi.’
‘Nice to meet you too,’ Sojourner says. ‘Are you—’
‘I’ve got questions,’ Rosa says, leaning closer to Sojourner. ‘About Hebrews 4:13. About most of Hebrews, actually.’
Bible questions? Please.
‘Can you have dinner with us?’ she asks, raising her voice, looking at Gene and Lisimaya who say, Of course, how lovely, the more the merrier.
Say no, say no, say no, I will Sojourner.
‘I’d love to,’ Sojourner says. ‘Just gotta get changed.’
‘Me too,’ I say. Fuck. Surely she’s got better things to do. ‘Won’t be long.’
‘We’ll text you the address,’ Lisimaya says. ‘It’s on Clinton. Leilani’s meeting us there.’
Awesome, I think.
We head to the change rooms.
‘You don’t have to come,’ I say. ‘Rosa can be kind of a bully.’
‘I want to. It’s what friends do. Find out more about their friend’s family so they can use it to embarrass them later.’
‘Great. Look, this won’t be exactly typical. You know how I promised them I wouldn’t spar?’
Sojourner nods.
‘Well, I didn’t tell them—’
‘You lied?’
‘Not directly. I didn’t mention it…But it’s the same thing. I know that. It’s going to be a fucking awkward dinner.’
Sojourner grins. ‘Now I really want to go. See how searing your folks’ cold eye is.’
‘Perfect,’ I mutter. I turn towards the men’s change room.
‘Che,’ Sojourner calls out. ‘I won’t go if you don’t want me to.’
‘Really?’
‘Sure.’
I think about tell
ing her not to but I can’t. It’s more time with Sojourner.
‘Nah, it’s fine. But you have to invite me to dinner with your family, and it better be nightmarish for you.’
Sojourner laughs.
When we get to the restaurant it’s packed. The floors and walls are tiled, amplifying the clatter of dishes, conversations, and the crack of heels against the floor. We have to squeeze past tables packed with diners and waiters toting huge trays. When we get to ours only two seats are empty: one on the adult side of the table and one on the kids’.
‘This is Sojourner,’ I announce. ‘We train together. Rosa invited her.’
Everyone says their hellos. Sojourner calls the adults ma’am and sir. They tell her to call them by their first names.
Sally nods to me, indicating the seat between her and David. Great. Leilani raises her eyebrows as if to say bummer.
Sojourner sits between Rosa and Leilani. My phone buzzes in my pocket.
Gene orders for us in Korean with Leilani and Maya chiming in. All the staff seem to know them.
‘Is that the girl who took you to church?’ Sally asks, lowering her voice. Even though she’s next to me I have to lean closer to hear. ‘The one who’s teaching Rosa about the Bible?’
‘Yes.’ Across from me Leilani says something to Sojourner, looks across at me, then quarter raises her eyebrow. Sojourner laughs. My cheeks feel hot.
‘She’s very striking.’
‘A boxer has to be,’ I say. ‘Good at striking, I mean.’
Sally doesn’t laugh.
Seimone is seated on Rosa’s other side and Maya next to her. Seimone’s turned towards Rosa, shutting Maya off. Maya leans against Lisimaya, who has an arm around her.
Rosa and Seimone laugh when Gene asks them a question, and exchange a look.
Leilani and Sojourner are talking. I think I hear them say something about running, but it’s so noisy I’m not sure. Sojourner shifts in her seat. Dinners like this are torture.
‘How long have you been boxing, Che?’ Gene asks. His voice is naturally loud.
‘Since he was five, though it was supposed to be self defence,’ David says. ‘Turned into kickboxing quickly, then boxing. What about you, Sojourner?’
The question has to be repeated before Sojourner hears.
‘My Aunt Susan,’ she says, having to almost shout. ‘She’s a trainer in Jersey. I learned to box along with my cousins. I was the only one who was into it.’
‘I learned from my dad,’ Gene says. ‘Lucky us, eh?’
Sojourner nods.
‘Main thing I learned from boxing is that defence is always key.’ Gene chuckles. ‘Also never skip a meal. Man, was I hungry when I used to box.’
‘Yes,’ I say, exchanging a nod with Gene. I dig into the pickles and pancakes laid out in front of us.
Everyone’s eating. Leilani’s talking to Sojourner. Rosa and Seimone are giggling. No matter how much I strain I can’t hear more than a word or two that any of them says.
Maya looks up and I smile, rolling my eyes in Rosa’s direction. Maya returns the smile.
The adults talk business. Under the table I text Jason. —Shit has hit the fan. Parentals know I’m sparring. They’re not happy.
As soon as we’ve emptied one plate they bring another. I’m grateful I can keep my head down and eat. Sally and David don’t say anything to me.
I look across at Rosa. I’m pretty sure this is her doing. She’s the one who suggested they drop in on me at the gym. Since when does my family not text first?
I watch Sojourner laughing with the girls. She includes Maya. Leilani is bent over her phone. I keep eating, glad to be left out of the conversations.
‘Leilani,’ Gene booms. ‘No phones at the table.’
Leilani doesn’t look up. It’s unlikely she didn’t hear.
‘No phones at the table, Lei,’ Gene repeats even louder.
This time she can’t pretend not to hear him. ‘It’s time sensitive, Dad. Has to be up by midnight.’
‘Midnight on a Friday night? The deadest time for a press release?’
‘Fine.’ Leilani slides her phone onto her lap.
‘We’ll be home long before midnight,’ Gene says. ‘If it really is time sensitive.’
The noise in the restaurant drops. The huge party next to us has finished and their large table is cleared and broken into smaller ones. Rosa asks Sojourner loudly, ‘Is Che your boyfriend?’
Sojourner laughs. ‘No, we’re gym buddies.’
Leilani arches an eyebrow. I wish I could say something funny that would crack the tension. I can’t think of a thing.
‘Oh,’ Rosa says, putting as much disappointment into her voice as she can. ‘Che’s never had a girlfriend. I think you’d be perfect together.’
‘Er, thank you,’ Sojourner says. She gives me a look I hope is meant to be sympathetic rather than pitying. Her face isn’t as easy to read as Leilani’s.
Leilani’s eyebrow stays up. I can see her repeating the conversation to Veronica and Elon. She’ll probably make sure I’m there when she does it.
‘Really?’ Gene asks. ‘A good-looking boy like you?’
Lisimaya nudges him.
Sally asks Gene about a potential investor who’s been invited to the party. I tune them out and hoe into the pork that lands on the table.
‘What do you think, Che?’ Sally asks.
I look up. ‘Of what?’
‘We’ve invited your friend here, Sid, and her best friend – what’s her name, Sid?’
‘Jaime.’
‘We’ve invited them to come to the housewarming party as well as those friends of Leilani’s you were out with the other night. What were their names?’
‘Veronica and Elon,’ Leilani says, grinning.
‘Sounds fantastic,’ I say.
Sally, David and Rosa walk ahead of me on Clinton. Rosa chatters to them about Seimone: Can she go to dance camp too? There are lots of Can I?s and Gimmes. Neither of them try to talk to me, let alone deliver the lecture I’m expecting about my sparring. I guess that will happen at home.
It’s much quieter than Second Avenue. The stores with their roller doors pulled down and padlocked look abandoned. Most of the doors are splattered with messy tags and more random graffiti. If it weren’t for the bars and restaurants the street would look abandoned.
I pull out my phone. Texts from Leilani wanting to know why my parents were so grim and this, of course: —No girlfriend? Ever? That means our group is now the complete set. We’ve been missing a virgin for ages.
I quickly text back. —Fuck you. Also no girlfriend doesn’t mean I’m a virgin.
—Are you a virgin?
—Wait. You included me in your group. I’m in! I feel so honoured. Do I get a tiara? Should I give a speech?
I’ve never been naked with a girl. I’ve kissed, and touched breasts and arses through clothes. Is that even second base? I’ll have to look it up. I’m the only one who’s ever touched my dick. Pretty pathetic.
The phone buzzes again. I pull it out.
Rosa drops back to walk beside me. ‘You’ll fall over. Did you know it’s against the law to walk and text here?’
I shoot her a look. ‘No, it’s not.’
‘Yes, it is.’
‘That’s ridiculous.’
‘No, it’s not. Look, you almost tripped. What if there’d been a hole in the footpath?’
‘There isn’t a hole, and texting doesn’t make my peripheral vision disappear.’
‘There are cameras everywhere so they can see when people are breaking laws and arrest you.’
‘For texting and walking?’
‘Though some of the cameras are broken and they’re not on every corner.’
‘How do you know that?’
Rosa shrugs. ‘I like knowing things. They might not have filmed you. This time.’
‘Why are you such a brat?’
‘Because it’s fun.’
‘Wh
y did you make sure the parentals found out I was sparring?’
‘You don’t know I did,’ she says, confirming it. She looks both sly and smug. ‘It’s fun having you be the bad one. I think you should stay the bad one. I’ll be good from now on.’
She looks up at me. It feels like she’s waiting for me to ask why she told. I’m not going to.
I know why. Because she could.
‘If I wanted to get you into trouble,’ Rosa says quietly as we cross to our block, ‘I could get you into worse trouble than this.’
Once we’re home I take my gym clothes to the laundry and put a load on. The parentals still haven’t said anything.
I hear Rosa asking if she can have ice-cream and the door of the parentals’ office closing.
When I finish in the laundry Rosa is sitting at the kitchen island eating ice-cream and leaning over her tablet. Playing chess, most likely, or plotting world destruction, or sitting conveniently close to the office so she can listen at the door when the parentals call me in. If they call me in. They might let me stew overnight.
I realise I have no idea what they’ll do because I’m never in trouble.
I pour myself a glass of milk.
Rosa doesn’t look up.
I walk over to the windows. In the apartments opposite the lights are either out or the blinds down. I can’t spy on the people living opposite like Leilani and her sisters do. I sit down on a couch, pull out my phone. I text Natalie first —Am loving sparring. Thanks for the advice.
I text Jason again —Parentals found out I started sparring. Am so busted. How’s with you?
To Nazeem —How’re you doing in the land of love?
Lastly to Georgie I text —One of my friends here is really into fashion. You’d like her. She took me to this ridiculously expensive shop full of the kind of clothes I think you’d drool over.
I wish I could text Sojourner, but I don’t have her number. I’ve been too chicken shit to ask. I could have asked tonight, but not in front of everyone else. At the gym Jaime’s always around.
A reply comes through from Georgie —Cool. What’s the boutique called?
—Dunno. It had a picture of a spool of thread on the door. It was weird. They keep the door locked. I guess you have to do that here. But you’d think a shop would want people to get in.
My Sister Rosa Page 16
