The Life of Ely

by Jason L. McWhirter

  It took a long while for Ely to know what the hog reference was even about, and he always wondered about it considering that the school’s mascot was a cougar, not a hog. Eventually he learned that it was a reference to a television series in the seventies called Welcome Back Kotter, and that Mr. Kotter was a teacher who taught a class of students with behavior and academic issues. Mr. Kotter referred to them as the sweat hogs, the tough kids in the school, the ones that were a challenge to teach. So Mr. Seljin started calling the wrestlers Sweat Hogs, in reference to the show, because in reality many of the kids that were wrestlers were just the sort of students that would have been in Mr. Kotter’s class anyway. And the wrestlers accepted the name with honor, never really knowing exactly what the connection was, but trusting in Mr. Seljin that the name was given to them because they were tough. They were Key Peninsula wrestlers, and that meant something at this school.

  It was first period, and Mr. Seljin was giving a lecture, his eighth grade students busy taking notes. He moved slowly through the aisles, lecturing and advancing the PowerPoint slides with a remote as he spoke.

  “Alright everyone, let’s do a quick review of what we covered today,” Sel said as he completed the last slide.

  Cisco, Jeff’s friend, raised his hand.

  “Yeah, Cisco, go ahead,” Sel prompted.

  “Sel, why do we have to copy the notes during these lectures? Why don’t you just copy off the slides for us?”

  “I’ve already talked about this, Cisco. Who can help Cisco understand my reasoning for writing notes?” Sel asked the class.

  Shannon, a cute red headed girl with blue eyes and dimples, raised her hand. Sel just nodded at her, giving her the go ahead.

  “When we write it down it helps us remember the information. It forces our brains to remember the stuff. I think you said it helps imprint it on our minds,” she explained.

  “Very good, Shannon, I’m glad someone was listening,” Sel said, looking pointedly at Cisco, but smiling nonetheless.

  “Ah, come on, Sel. I’m listening. Well maybe not yesterday, but I am today,” Cisco replied with mock innocence.

  “I’m glad you’re listening today, Cisco, I guess I can’t have everything,” Mr. Seljin laughed. “Besides, note taking skills are important. You are all going to be in high school next year and I need to prepare you for that. Anyway, let’s get back to our review. When was Jamestown established?”

  Several people raised their hands, including Jeff Hanson.

  “Go ahead, Jeff,” Sel said.

  “1608,” Jeff answered.

  “Close, very close. Anyone else?” Sel asked a second time.

  Again, several hands went into the air. Mr. Seljin paused for a moment as he scanned the faces. He stopped on Ely who was looking down at his desk, seemingly not paying attention.

  “How about you, Ely,” Sel said.

  “1607,” Ely said quickly, not looking up.

  “Good,” Sel responded. “Now, can you explain some of the problems they faced when they arrived in Jamestown?” Sel continued.

  Ely was still staring at his desk. “They built their town on a swamp,” he said softly.

  Adam, the same kid that had bullied Ely by the basketball court, interrupted him. “What’s wrong with that?” he asked, as if it was the stupidest thing that Ely could have said.

  “Adam, please don’t interrupt,” Sel said sharply.

  Mr. Seljin was impressed. They had talked about the various problems the first settlers had encountered, but they had yet to discuss that issue. He had planned on bringing it up tomorrow when they studied the English colony in more detail. Ely must have read ahead, or maybe he had learned it before in his previous school. Nonetheless, he was impressed that he would bring up something that they had not actually discussed. “Ely, go ahead, finish what you were saying.”

  Ely looked up shyly at Mr. Seljin and then glanced quickly at Adam, his look clearly telling Mr. Seljin that the two had already had a run in. “Go ahead. You’re right, so please tell the rest of the class why building on a swamp was a mistake.”

  “Well,” Ely stammered. “The swamp was infested with mosquitos.”

  “That’s stupid! What the heck is the problem with a few bugs?” Adam blurted out again.

  Mr. Seljin turned his angry eyes on Adam, and gave him a stare that immediately shut the bully’s mouth. “Adam, I asked you not to interrupt, and I mean it. One more outburst and we are going to have a problem. Do you understand?”

  The entire class was silently staring at Adam. Mr. Seljin’s glare was famous, and everyone in the room felt the heat from it. And the wrestlers in the room, including Adam, had seen that glare on more than one occasion, and it usually meant that something bad was going to happen. It had the desired effect on Adam and he nodded his head in acknowledgement, his mouth clamped shut.

  “Go ahead, Ely, finish your comment,” Sel continued, his glare disappearing as he turned back to Ely.

  “Mosquitos carry malaria, which is a deadly disease. Many people died of malaria. Only thirty four of the original one hundred and four were alive after the first year,” Ely said, suddenly finished.

  “Excellent, Ely, I’m very impressed. Now,” Sel said to the rest of the group, “were there any other problems?”

  John, an athletic looking boy with a messy mop of light brown hair, raised his hand enthusiastically.

  “Go ahead, John,” Sel said.

  “They didn’t have enough women,” John blurted, in his mock ‘gangster wanna be’, voice. Everyone knew John and liked him. He had a definite style about him, talking in a mixture of surfer lingo and rapper style. He was funny and kind, and not afraid to get involved. “If I was there, I’d…bam!, take control. I’d have all the ladies. You know what I’m sayin’ Sel?”

  Most of the kids began to laugh, including Mr. Seljin, who, no matter how hard he tried, could rarely hide his smile when John spoke, which was quite often. During the laughter, he noticed that Ely was not participating and still looking down. That is when he noticed that he was reading a book under his desk.

  “Well, that is true, they didn’t have many women at first; however, that wasn’t one of the main problems during the first year. What were some of the serious problems they faced?” Sel asked as the laughter subsided.

  “Come on, Sel. You can’t get more serious than that. You’re crazy, man,” John added with a flourish of his hands. He liked to talk with his hands and the kids just loved it.

  They began to laugh again when the bell rang, ending first period.

  “All right everyone, no homework tonight. We will get into Jamestown, Virginia in more detail tomorrow. Have a good day,” Sel said, excusing everyone from class.

  Everyone got up, gathered their things, and moved for the door like a herd of sheep. There was an occasional “Bye Sel,” mixed in with the usual middle school banter as the kids left the room.

  Mr. Seljin walked over to Ely as he was walking toward the door. “Hey Ely, can I talk to you for a second?”

  Ely turned shyly, looking up briefly as if he might be in trouble. “Yeah…sure.”

  “I have a favor to ask you.”

  “A favor?” Ely responded, looking up, his eyes making eye contact for more than a fleeting moment.

  “Yes. I noticed that you were reading during class.” Ely looked away again. “It’s alright,” he continued. “I don’t want to discourage you from reading. I think it’s great that you’re a reader. I just can’t have you doing it during class, okay?”

  “Okay, I’m sorry,” Ely whispered. It was weird. Ely felt like he had let Mr. Seljin down. He felt guilty. It was a strange feeling to Ely as he realized that he felt guilty because he actually respected this man. Respecting adults in general was new to Ely, and it would take some getting used to.

  “It’s no problem. Do you mind me asking what book you’re reading?”

  “Oh, it’s just some fantasy book.”

  “That’s gr
eat. Don’t you remember from my presentation? Fantasy is my favorite genre. I have so many fantasy books that you’d think that is all I ever read. I’m a certifiable fantasy nerd. What’s the title of this one?”

  “It’s called The Path of Daggers, by Robert Jordan. You really do read fantasy books?” Ely was clearly surprised, and maybe even a little impressed. He remembered Mr. Seljin saying that in his first day presentation, but he didn’t really believe it. It seemed too far-fetched. But maybe he did read fantasy. That realization seemed to create a change in Ely’s demeanor. Where he was typically quiet and shy, he was now smiling and asking questions.

  “I told you I’m a fantasy freak. In fact, I’ve read Robert Jordan’s entire series. You want me to tell you what happens to Rand Al’Thor?” Sel teased.

  “No,” Ely blurted out with a laugh. He really did read these books.

  Sel sat on the edge of the desk next to Ely. “So, what are some of your other favorite books? Don’t worry about class. I’ll write you a pass. It’s my planning period.”

  “Oh, okay. Well, The Hobbit goes without saying for any fantasy reader. I like Druss the Legend, by David Gemmell, Terry Brook’s first Shannara books, and I also like Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera books.”

  “You have good taste,” Mr. Seljin offered. “I’ve read them as well, and of course I’ve read The Hobbit. Like you said, that goes without saying.”

  Ely looked at Mr. Seljin with something akin to awe. Three minutes ago he was bored and alone and now he was talking about his passion with one of his teachers. “Wow, I can’t believe you actually read those kinds of books.”

  “You better believe it. I even played Dungeons and Dragons all the way up until I went to college,” Sel added with a smile.

  “Really? I have some of those books, but I don’t play.”

  “Why not?” Sel asked.

  “Well, I don’t have anyone to play with,” Ely murmured.

  Sel looked at Ely again as the young boy once again reverted his gaze to the floor. He had had him, even if it was just for a moment. He found the spark inside him and now it was just a matter of nurturing it to a flame. “How many books do you have?” Sel asked, changing the subject.

  “Not too many. I can’t afford to buy them, so I have to get them from the library. They don’t really have much of a selection.”

  “You got that right. Their selection of fantasy books sucks,” Sel said bluntly. Ely laughed, not used to hearing a teacher talk like that. “I’ll tell you what. I have tons of books. Why don’t I bring in some of my favorites and you can borrow them. You have to read R.A. Salvatore’s Dark Elf books and Elizabeth Moon’s Paksenarrion series. You’ll love them.”

  “Really? You’ll let me borrow them?”

  “No problem. As long as you tell me one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Why do you like to read fantasy books so much?”

  “Oh…I don’t know,” Ely responded.

  “Yes you do,” Sel said smoothly, smiling at Ely. “Come on now, my books are important to me. I don’t want to loan them to just anyone. I want to know if you’re worthy of them.”

  “Okay, I think I see what you mean. Well,” Ely said, thinking. “I guess I read them to escape, to go somewhere else. You know, to disappear.”

  “Yes, I do know. When I get stressed out, the first thing I want to do is escape into one of my books. I want to bury myself in a story and go to a different world where the stresses of my life don’t follow me.”

  “All the books have heroes,” Ely continued, “someone who is pure of heart, who is strong and unbeatable in combat. I like to pretend that is me.”

  “Well that is the answer I was hoping for. The books are yours.”

  “Cool.”

  “I’ve kept you long enough. Let me write you a pass to your next class.” Mr. Seljin walked over to his desk to grab a sticky note. “What class do you have now?”

  “I have Mr. Helgrin.”

  He wrote a note and handed it to Ely. “There you go.”

  “Thanks,” Ely said, taking the note and moving toward the door.

  “Hey, Ely.”

  “Yeah,” he responded, turning back to Mr. Seljin.

  “You ever thought about wrestling?”

  “No,” he said simply.

  “Well, we sure could use you. We need an unlimited wrestler. Why don’t you think about it,” Sel offered.

  “I don’t think I would be a good wrestler. I don’t know anything about it.” Of course Ely had no idea what an unlimited wrestler was, but he figured it had something to do with his size. Either way, wrestling didn’t even remotely sound like something he would like to do, let alone be good at. Who in their right mind would put on a pair of tights and wrestle other guys in front of lots of people? Just the visual image of his own body stuffed into a spandex suit made him cringe; he could only imagine what it would do to others.

  “Hey, even heroes have to start somewhere. Just think about it, okay?” Sel asked.

  “Okay, thanks.”

  “No worries. I’ll have your first book tomorrow,” Sel said as Ely turned to leave again. “One more thing, Ely.”

  “Yeah,” he said, turning toward Sel with a smile.

  “What happened to your face? Did you fall again?” Mr. Seljin asked with concern.

  Ely’s smile disappeared quickly. “Yes, I’m pretty clumsy.”

  “Looks like it hurt. If anyone gives you any problems, you let me know, okay?”

  “Okay,” Ely said softly, turning and walking out the door, leaving Mr. Seljin to his own thoughts.

  Four

  Why the hell would anyone want me to wrestle? I remember rolling that idea around in my head for a while. I’m fat, socially inept, and more than likely not a very good athlete, although I’ve never really tried, so who knows. But I have to admit that it felt good that he asked.

  Why was that? Why did it feel good that he asked me to wrestle? I thought about that for a while too. Why did it feel good to be asked to do something that I probably was not going to do, and that if I did try, I would more than likely fail miserably at? Here is what I concluded:

  I have never been asked to do anything before. No one has ever picked me to be on their team in physical education class. No one has invited me over for a birthday party, or to go see a movie. Well, that’s not totally true. I remember in second grade I was invited to Billy Marsden’s house, but that doesn’t really count. Pretty much everyone in our class was invited. Anyway, after I really thought about it, I realized that no one had ever asked me to be a part of something, to join them, to be included in something. It felt so good to me because finally I felt like someone actually wanted me to join them in a common cause. It didn’t really matter what it was. He could have asked me to join a satanic cult, and it still would have felt good.

  I mean, think about it. Most people go through their lives taking for granted that people actually want to hang out with them. They get invited to parties, people actually talk with them at lunch, or they take it upon themselves to join clubs, teams, and other organizations. I was so used to being alone, that the idea of anything else seemed like it was out of the question.

  Now, I’m not looking for a pity party. I realize that most of my fate was brought on by me. But I also realize that my actions in life were a reflection of what I thought was possible. Since my self-esteem was at an all-time low, and I really had no positive experiences that would support the fact that I could be a part of something, I simply believed that it was impossible, and that no one would want me even if I tried.

  Let me just say that that the words, “we need a wrestler,” could have been chanted by Gregorian Monks and stamped in gold and hung above my bed. This simple phrase was the catalyst for positive change in my life. It got me thinking that maybe I could do something out of my comfort zone, and that maybe there could also be some friends beside me while I made that leap of faith. I didn’t really believe that right
away, but unbeknownst to me, the fuse was lit.

  Ely Carter

  ——————————

  Several weeks had passed and Ely was going through the motions as he always had. His daily goal was to be invisible, to keep his head down, and move through the halls without any incidents. For the most part he was successful. Several teachers made efforts to talk with him, as they always did. He liked most of his teachers, and in fact, two, in his opinion, were very good. They laughed, enjoyed their jobs, and truly seemed to care about the success of their students. One was Mr. Seljin, and the other was his language arts teacher, Mrs. Overmeyer. She was the soft spoken, motherly type, who treated every student like they were her son or daughter.

  Things at home were okay as well. At least he hadn’t been hit lately. He managed to stay away from his father and most of his time was spent in his room reading and listening to music. That was the one thing that he looked forward to, the opening of a book, the smell of printed paper, and the feel of a glossy cover in his hands. Every night he would escape into a different realm and dream of alternate worlds, attempting to bury the realities of his life beneath the courage and honor of a fictional character.

  Ely would read during any spare moment he could find at school. One day Ely was sitting at a table by himself, reading a book that Mr. Seljin had given him and listening to his head phones. His face had completely healed and no one was paying him any attention. Most of the kids had eaten and were now either in the gym, or on the field taking advantage of the last ten minutes of honor time. For some reason the half hour of free time they had after lunch was called ‘honor time’. It was still pretty loud, but Ely’s headphones muffled the chatter and Mozart’s delicate notes did the rest.

  Suddenly three boys sat down next to Ely, forcing him to look up from his book. Jeff was smiling at him, and Cisco, Jeff’s buddy that had helped Ely with Adam a few weeks ago, was there, along with John, the funny kid from several of his classes. Ely looked at them a bit apprehensively, but didn’t say a word.