Sophomore year of college - Boot Camp /Rope Course

Physical Education time in the gymnasium, and Coach Smith still has not arrived. It's irritating to wait for an instructor when you, the student, have arrived to the gymnasium ten minutes before the bell rang.

The coach must have a valid excuse this time, rather than the last one where he drank too much, that his eyes were saggy throughout the class session. I'm sure if we students took things a bit more seriously to report him to the principal and staff, the Coach would have lost his job by now. But he's the best one so far in this high school, so we can't afford to loose him.

When my brother took gym class, the school originally had an instructor named Coach Richards. Joshua said that guy was stern and hard to please like a drill sergeant. I'm glad I didn't have to go through then because he'd "eat me alive". I imagine I'll come home crying all the time.

Joshua had a disabled classmate that the Couch shouted at for being lazy. Well, that's what he thought she was purposely doing, but it turns out Joshua's classmate had a bad back after recuperating from the hospital. It was the instructor's fault for not acknowledging that, but the damage was done. Apparently someone reported the incident to the principal and the following year Coach Richards was gone. And that's how Coach Smith was hired.

Our instructor was a bald man who was a retired chef, and how he decided to become a fitness trainer afterwards still baffled me. But as a famous idiom says - life can take us away to experience the most mysterious events! Plus, you'll never know what else is in store for you, if you don't try it out.

I guess he loved teaching sports besides cooking, for I heard that he used to be a former college football player. Why Coach didn't want to join the big leagues after that remains a mystery, but it's none of my business, so I'll just let it be.

The coach and I did not see 'eye to eye' at times, due to the fact that I was the slowest one out of all my classmates to finish an exercise; so he always picked on me to be the first one up in any event.

It wasn't my fault; I guess my body wasn't in the best shape to do certain athletic sports. I admit that I should exercise everyday to stay fit, but I get lazy.

Coach said it was not to embarrass me, but to boost up my self-esteem. Everyone else could be the judge of that, because I felt like the same Marlene I was then, but others have proved me wrong. I didn't believe him, but now that I'm older, I know I should have listened.

Reminds me of the past marathon I ran for charity. Even though I joined it for fun and to help a good cause, I nearly ran out of breath once I ran through the finish line. Some volunteers helped me by straightening my back and provided me with water bottles to cool off. I was thankful for that, but it reminded me that I was not in shape to continue.

Trying to ease my pain by walking back and forth in the gym; I just wanted to get this class over with and go home.

Two weeks from now, it will officially be spring break. I picture spending my vacation at home, where I'm lying down on a hammock with my shoulders behind my back for the whole week! Maybe I'd be reading a good book while I'm munching on my favorite snacks. But the best part would be: no homework for two whole weeks!

But a dream has to be a terrible thing to waste when you 'count the chickens too fast'. Because once Coach Smith entered the room, my daydreams were about to whisked away.

"Class, I have a special announcement to make! For the spring break you have the option to come with me and attempt a rope obstacle course, and its for extra credit which some of you need to boost up your grades. Or if you have other plans, than I won't interfere. It's your choice. Signup sheets are in the back. Hope to see most of your names on there, especially you Marlene, because we all need to build up some muscles!"

Our instructor had to emphasize the last part by flexing his right arm. I facepalmed myself and nodded sideways. How typical that must be for the male figure to do, but for an instructor we students were supposed to idolize, give me a break!

I was also shocked by the mention of my name! How could Coach do this to me??? I'm glad my siblings weren't around to hear this, but from past experiences, they already know I am poor at sports.

Of course, he was eyeing me, so I had a feeling my grade for the class would be jeopardized. It would be a shame to come home and tell my family I failed P.E. - one of the easiest classes my siblings passed with flying colors.
It would be embarrassing and I wouldn't hear the last of the taunting and teasing from my siblings.

Yet, I was somewhat interested in his last phrase ... a rope course? Not that I don't have anything better to do for spring break, I should go for it!
It might deliver a satisfying rush in me thar Ive been waiting for to spice up my life.

But then again I am afraid of heights. But I'll try to defeat those odds.

I'll just take a peek at the signup sheet after class to see who wants to go. I guess there wasn't any harm in trying out. But as I was about to look at the clipboards out on the tables, someone tapped me from behind.
Once I faced him, my temper flared up.

"Hey sweetheart, are you gonna go to the rope course?"

I faced Owen and gave him a piece of my mind. I just lost the urge to go on the trip.

Heard last year he went to the nearby community college to finish his General Education requirements to get his high school degree and before I knew it, he became my classmate ... again!

Hated the fact that he was in all my classes already ... how did he do that so fast? Owen probably had some connections with the administration department, so I assume he was able to obtain my class schedules.

"Um, first of all Mr. Nosy, I am not your sweetheart anymore and don't think I want to go now, if you'll be there."

"Who said I'm going Marlene? I've got baseball practice."

I blushed ... words couldn't come out of my mouth after hearing his statement.

And with that - Owen slowly walked away, grinning like a bad boy with an ulterior motive under his hot skin.

What's he up to? I followed his glances until I couldn't see him anymore.

I was deeply entangled up with my imagination again, that I didn't realize that Robinaire was standing next to me.

"Hey Mae ... Earth to Mae!"

His hands were hovering over my eyes now.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Robin. I was just thinking about ... anyway did you want to tell me something?"

I have a feeling he saw me looking at Owen with a grin. Was that a sign of jealousy?

No, Robin couldn't be envious, could he? He's like my second brother.

"Was wondering Mae if you wanted to go on the trip with me? I'm going ... need to stay flexible for practice after vacation, you know!"

He flexed his strong arms while saying this, making me giggle. But then I turned back to reality.

Say what??? Isn't he Owen's teammate? What's this baseball practice I thought was going to happen during break.

"Robin, don't you guys have a baseball event during break?"

My friend nodded his head no, but told me they had baseball practice after class. Perhaps that's what Owen was trying to tell me.

Knew it, Owen was playing mind games with me again.

It made me angry. I'll show him! I can do this obstacle course!

"Count me in, Robinaire! I'll be your 'Maiden Marian' for the break, so you can catch me if I fall," I uttered teasingly.

Robin smiled at me at the mention of that as we both signed our names.

I knew someone would become zealous, and that was my intention.

But once the coach collected all of his clipboards on the table, my smile quickly turned into a frown, since the first name on his last clipboard had...

Owen Thomas!

I facepalmed myself, as I was taken as a fool. I thought he wasn't coming.

What did I just get myself into? It's too late to back out now; the coach collected all the clipboards. I could try to bargain with him, but Coach Smith really wanted me on the team. I couldn't let him down now, could I?

But am flattered that both Robin and Owen want me there.

It's not that I don't like the attention I'm getting. In some ways, I feel flirtatious; but unlike many girls, I am trying to hide my emotions.

We were flying to San Francisco for the whole Spring Break. I guess I would rather be excited to leave Texas for a while, but was sad to hear that Paige couldn't come with us; since she chose to take a photography class instead of this course.

However, the Coach made all of us students who were going to the trip, take part in two fundraisers to raise money.

One was of a root beer float day and the other was a class garage sale, which took place during the following weeks prior to the trip. And it did well, despite the fact that it was pretty difficult to get customers to buy our goods.

Coach Smith also asked the school board to assist us in acquiring an efficient amount of funds for the rope course trip to California. The negotiation for tis took a long process, but in the end, the Coach succeeded. Thus that was why he was late for class. Fair game.

This was not how I wanted to spend my vacation, but it changed my outlook on life.

When I told my family about my plans for Spring Break, they couldn't be any happier. I couldn't believe it! Yet, my father wanted me to go on the obstacle courses to challenge myself as he knew that I was always scared to try something new. And as always, my mother supported my decision.

***************

In order to make ends meet, students had to either create fancy poster boards to indicate that there was a school function going on or go as far to the parking lot to ask customers to support the root beer fundraiser.

And it was pretty embarrassing to do the first course of action - that was to get people to notice us, because bothering those who were either already set to go home or who wanted to leave rather than stop by to help my group, made me uncomfortable. But I didn't have a choice. Go with the flow or be a no show.

Despite my unwillingness, both boys made me go out with them to do that unnecessary job. They kept urging me to fight my fears of talking to strangers and that it wouldn't be so bad. Yeah, right! As if that were so easy.

However they did not keep their promise, since once we were out on the parking lot, the two actually left me like a fool to deal with the random people they selected. I felt that they just wanted to observe what I did, as if the girl should do all the 'dirty' work and the guys would take all the credit.

The boys kept their mouths shut like scarecrows; while I felt like a toothpick, tossed by two strong men 'into the open field' in order to do a simple, awkward task.

A relationship has to have trust, or the relationship is pointless. jealousy blossoms from fear. Point is, jealousy shouldn't be bottled up, or pushed aside.