Play

Chapter 3 Team Work

CHAPTER 3

TEAM WORK

   The bus doors opens, it’s an overcast day, there’s little light creeping through the clouds, air outside is wet it’s another humid day.  Kids  get off the bus sweating and tired, the weather this time of year is horrible; they constantly say winter is a better season.

   Theo steps off the bus and follows the concrete path through the  front gate, he looks ahead to a group of boys that always give him a hard time about the talent show, most of the boys in the group aren’t too bad but there’s one guy in the group  Nick that gives Theo hell. Most days it’s just a spurt of verbal abuse but on a few occasions has taken things a little further. Theo always stands his ground and knows Nick will only pick on weaknesses; any sign of strength will quickly defuse a sticky situation.

    Calmly he walks past Nick and the boys.

  “Sing us a song lover boy” Nick yells out.

   Theo ignores the comment, remains passive so not to provoke a situation, he continues up the concrete path up to his group of friends.  Steve’s already there. He must have caught the early bus which is unusual he doesn’t like getting out of bed most mornings.

   Theo gets to his group and sits down on a long steel seat next to Steve, His not in the greatest mood and doesn’t feel like talking. Lindsay and his mother upset him most days, to them Theo doesn’t know his place, it’s not like he does anything, it seems his presence is enough to make them mad. There annoyance is usually shown by nagging, “you’re not good enough”, “your just stupid” or there most used… “Just give up and go away”.

    Theo and Steve hear a bit of carry on over the other side of the concrete block.  Nick and the boys have a few girls over at their group; the boys are squirting water at the girls. The girls laugh and carrying on; they seem to be enjoying the game of cat and mouse. Nick comes across as the King pin, the loudest and more outrageous, his got one girl pinned down soaking her from top to bottom.

   Theo’s not impressed; the cocky arrogance nearly makes him nauseous he doesn’t really mind not having any attention from girls when they act like mad bimbos.

     Steve starts to look uncomfortable and turns in his seat. “What’s the big deal about those stupid guys, are girls really that stupid they have to be treated like some stupid backyard dog that you kick around and tease” says Steve jealously

   “Don’t know… some people call it confidence… I’m not sure about that” replies Theo.

   “Confidence… man I’m gunner kick you in the balls that’s the stupidest thing you’ve said all day” says Steve smiling.

   “Yeah your probably right, I don’t get it either”

   “Act like a stupid dilbanger and get all the girls to say your something special… man there’s nothing too it” says Steve jealously.

   “It’s like that actually” says Theo smiling “I should be high on drugs or something… make a dick of myself and get all the girls”

   “You’re not stupid Theo that’s actually what it’s like… I’m positive where doing it all wrong”

   “Easier said than done … it’s like putting yourself in the frame of mind that you actually don’t care how stupid you look” says Theo amused.

   “Hmmm they must be high on drugs” mumbles Steve

   “It could be worse”

   “How” Steve asks surprised.