Wickless

Gym

       The start of Spring Break and Dee Dee was in a beat up red pick up truck with two doors, and a busted rear view mirror. She kept to herself, her mind was busy going over events that happened in the week, the people she interacted with, and most importantly to her, the people she wasn't able to interact with. Unbeknownst to her, David gave her glances every now and then as he drove to the new gym that opened up in the small town.

       The gym was the new hang out spot for the youth, much more popular than the burger joint. One of the boys' dad in school built it up, and turned it into a boxing gym. There were other activities but boxing and mixed martial arts were the most popular. Many of the students on Friday and Saturday would go down to watch either the spars or amateur matches that took place. That Friday was one of those days where an amateur match or two were taken place.

       Dee Dee placed her head back on the seat of the truck and sighed. She closed her eyes and tilted her head toward the window. Of course, there was nothing out there, not much besides sand, dirt, and cement roads.

       "Hey, are you okay? You've been quiet this whole ride?" David asked.  

        Just to be polite, Dee Dee turned her head over to look at David. It was then she saw the creature flying next to the window. David couldn't see it though because he was worrying about Dee Dee. She felt her expression was out of character and context of the situation, so she ignored the flying monkey and focused back on her friend.

       "Yes, I'm-I'm a bit tired is all." She said.

       The truck pulled into a parking lot with about five light poles which shown bright white. Dee Dee got out the truck, slammed the door, and was sure to tug on it. She placed her hands in her blue jean jacket her mother bought her some time ago, in which it had a light brown cross on the back. The night air wasn't chilly but the wind was chatty.

      David walked around the truck and smiled widely at her. He looked toward the newly built building in front of them. The sign on the front entrance, and the letters on the blacked out windows read 'Johns Gym'. Dee Dee had heard about the new gym around school. The new spot the students were spending their time at, including Clara. The thought of her-Dee Dee sighed. There was no doubt in her mind Clara would be there-

       A motion at the corner of Dee Dee's eye made her glance over at the green dumpster over at the end of the parking lot. Her lips were suddenly dry so she licked them just a bit, only to fumble in her jacket pocket for lip stuff. With shaking hands, she found what she was looking for. David had already walked ahead. He glanced at her, motioning his hands for her to follow.

       The gym, it held the smell of alcohol and smoke, something of which Dee Dee detested and felt was illegal due to the age of the current clientele. The two of them stood in the front entrance, both taking in the scenery. In the center of the spacious gym was a ring such as for cage fighting. To both sides were bleachers, no more of about five rows of steeliness. In the ring were two half naked young men. The bleachers held the students of the local school, and their gossip and laughter, cheers and taunts filled the air.

       Dee Dee felt herself getting warm and took her jacket off. She folded it over her arm and followed David to an empty spot on the bleachers.

        "So you took me to see half naked boys duke it out in a ring?" Dee Dee whispered with glee to her good friend.

       She didn't have to look at him to know he was smiling when he replied back, "You know me too well, Double Dee."

       Still, the motion was there at the corner of her eye. No longer would she ignored it. She excused herself, and brushed past the students in the gym and avoided eye contact with Clara who sat on the bleachers adjacent to her's. She walked out into the warm air and walked in between the cars until she felt the presence of magic-Oz magic. It was a scent, a sense she had come to learn.