Fight Like a Girl

w a r m - u p

       

❝He can have heart, he can hit harder and he can be stronger, but there's no fighter smarter than me. ❞

-Floyd Mayweather Jr.

         Here's how I want the day to play out:

        My alarm begins buzzing, waking me from a deep slumber. I am already facing the ceiling, so I can see my list clear as day.

I slip out of bed and throw on my uniform, which I have set out the night before. I pack up my things, grab a protein bar, and out the door with Dad at my side.

He drives me to the tournament. In the car, we talk about my maneuvers, and slowly drift on to talking about past tournaments I’ve had. That one time, where they thought my name was Lamp. Or the tournament we thought was Saturday, but was actually Sunday.

“Hey, boxing tournaments are like, never on Sundays!”

“Well, you made me drive for nearly 3 hours to get you to that meet! And then it wasn’t even the right day!”

We burst into laughter.

I meet Coach after checking in. He says some misogynist shit, but carries on preparing me for my fight. I run a few laps, like before.

Sectionals are a bit different; there are 6 girls competing, 3 from each regional. The first round is an elimination round. The three remaining girls fight each other, and whoever has two wins advances to state. If no one has two wins, timing on each knock out is used to break the tie. Basically, the winner of the first match goes against the other qualified girl, and if she wins, she moves on. If not, the two who haven’t fought each other fight, and the best average time of the day wins.

So after warming up with Coach for a bit more, I enter my first round.

In pep talk, Coach says something annoying, and sends me off. But before I can head to the center, he says something logical.

“And Davis?”

I spin around.

“Yeah?”

“Fight like a girl.”

There’s Dad, front and center, like usual. I smile at him, he smiles back. I’m ready for the fight.

I don’t find out until after the fight that Everett is home sick. But I am happy to have some peace and quiet without him.

My first fight goes well; it’s not my best time, but I do knock her out.

I have a brief lunch break, in which I eat another protein bar, and warm up once again. The next two fights are close to each other.

I have the best preliminary time at the meet, which means I am in the first fight. It’s a harder match, but I end up beating the girl in the end.

I am expecting to see this girl Everett keeps describing in my final round, but I don’t. In fact, I don’t even see his school at my meet.

The last round is hard, but I win. And I qualify for state.

And Dad is so happy for me, he hugs me so hard my internal organs morph into one lump. Coach is supportive as well.

“Nice job, Davis.”

“Thanks, Coach.”

It’s awkward at first, we stand there for a moment, but Coach decides to open up a bit.

“Oh, c’mere.”

He pulls me into a hug. I’ve never hugged Coach in my entire life.

“You continue to surprise me, Lane Davis.”

Dad drives home and we celebrate with ice cream and a Marvel movie marathon. I rarely get time off to just do whatever I like, so this is nice.

And now, all I have to worry about is state.

But that’s not how the day really goes.

Here’s how it starts:

AN: ooh dang.