Cade and the stranger stood, side by side, watching Charlie disappear among the houses. The stranger turned to him. "Hey, cara. I can tell you didn't mean to. It looked like you two had something going on for a while there, though. Are you two close?"
Cade shook his head sadly. "Nah, he can't stand me. I don't blame him, really. I'm such a dumbass."
The stranger chuckled, "I think most of us guys are. I know I am."
Cade laughed, the tension in his shoulders and chest slowly releasing.
"Obviously," the stranger continued, "I don't know what's going on, but I'm guessing he needs some space. "
Cade nodded, then looked down at the ground. "Yeah, and some time to plot revenge."
A look of surprise crossed the stranger's face. "He... seems harmless."
Cade shook his head. "Charlie's... actually got a bit of a reputation. He's nice, unless someone crosses him."
The stranger's eyebrows rose. "Gotcha." He jerked his thumb back to his lawnmower. "Well, I'd better get back to it. "
Cade turned back toward the school as the stranger headed back to his lawnmower.
Cade stopped and turned around. "Hey, uh, me and a buddy are going bowling Wednesday night. You... wanna come?"
The stranger turned around. "Wait, really?"
Dylan shot Cade a questioning look.
Cade ignored Dylan. "Yeah, really. Name's Cade, by the way."
The stranger grinned. "Oh, hell yeah, man! Sounds fun. Thanks, Cade! Oh, and I'm Max."
Cade smiled. "Cool! See ya Wednesday, Max."
Max smiled back. "See ya Wednesday, Cade."
Cade headed toward where the tables and chairs were being set up. Dylan grabbed his shirt off the ground and tossed it over his shoulder. He jogged up to Cade and jabbed him in the ribs. "What the hell, bro? You coulda asked me first."
Cade winced, rubbing his side. "Whoa, easy bro! He seems cool. Besides, I know what it's like to be new in town."
Dylan rolled his eyes. "Ok, whatever. But if it sucks, I'm blaming you."
************
Nate and Jake headed straight to the locker room. The locker room was abuzz with laughter and jokes about Cade and Charlie as some of the guys changed back to their school clothes. Nate and Jake scanned the room as they walked in. Jake walked over to the bench Andrew was sitting on and picked up a shirt from under it. "No Fear" was printed boldly on the front. He called over to Nate and held it up. Nate grinned and nodded, continuing to scan the area. After a few moments, he dove around Matt's legs and under another bench. After he grabbed what he was after, he stood up triumphantly and made his way to Jake, ginning as he placed a button in Jake's palm. He raised his eyebrows at Jake. Jake grinned and nodded.
***********
When Cade and Dylan got to where the tables and chairs were being set up, some of the other guys chuckled. Curtis slapped Cade's arm. "Way to go, Jenkins."
Cade glared at him. "Fuck off!"
Curtis snickered. "Oooh, Testy, testy!"
Phil set his table down and started setting it up while watching Cade.
Braden, still shirtless from the game, walked over and nudged Cade. "Man, you really let him have it! The look on the stiff's face was priceless!"
Cade set his jaw and clenched his fist.
Mike snickered, "You two did make a cute couple out there for a while, though!"
Cade slammed the chair he was carrying onto the ground and started marching toward the school. "Screw this," he snapped, "Enjoy your fucking banquet!"
Cade charged toward the school, head down, almost running into Katie.
Katie jumped. "Whoa! Easy there, Cade!"
Cade brushed by her. "Sorry."
Katie called out to him, "Whoa, what's wrong with you?"
Dylan walked over, watching Cade storm off. "Cade, um, exposed Charlie in front of everyone."
Katie took a sharp breath. "Cade!"
"It was a fucking accident!" Cade hollered back, not turning around. "Get off my damn back!"
Katie turned to Dylan, pinning him with her gaze. "What happened?"
Dylan squirmed and started twisting his shirt in his hands. "It really was an accident. Cade just, you know, gave ol' Charlie a little tug on the shorts, sort of a 'way to go!' thing, ya know..."
Katie rolled her eyes. "Ugh! Men! I swear none of you have evolved beyond Neanderthals."
Dylan blushed and stared down at the ground, still twisting his shirt.
From a distance, Phil quietly watched the scene, a satisfied, thoughtful look on his face. Katie glanced his way and headed toward him.
He straightened up and grinned as he saw Katie approach.
His smile froze as she glared at him. "What are you gloating about, Phillip?"
Phil's eyes narrowed, and he bit his lip as he watched her walk over to a few other cheerleaders.
Cade yanked open the door and charged down the stairs into the locker room, ignoring the few guys who were still visiting as they changed. He brushed aside a comment from Blake as he grabbed his school clothes and shoes, not even noticing his shirt had been moved. He slipped his hand into his pants pocket and pulled out the key, slipping it into his shorts pocket. He rolled his eyes as he passed the showers, rolling the key in his fingers. Being undressed with a bunch of guys down here? No problem. But if someone knew he was undressed alone up there, he'd be in deep shit.
He hesitated at the foot of the grand staircase. He was seriously not in the mood today. But... he'd been planning for this opportunity for months, and he'd never have a chance at home over the summer. The school would be open for the banquet, but completely empty. No one would wonder why he was in the building. If they saw him, they'd just assume he needed to use the restroom. And he'd already paid for the damn key. Besides, maybe it would help get his mind off of everything else.
***************
Charlie ran past the school grounds and down the street, passing simple older homes mixed with stately Victorian style houses, trying to shut everything out, trying to forget about Cade and everyone else at school, trying not to think about the "Mrs. Rachel's" who might be gazing out the windows and wagging their heads as he passed, and who would be sure to be wagging their tongues about him later.
His thoughts returned to school. He'd have to go back tomorrow to check out and get his stuff, but how could he possibly show his face when everyone would be sure to be gossiping about his bare butt? All because of that shit head Cade. If only he had learned to fight with fists as well as with words. He'd love to give that jackass a black eye.
He gradually slowed to a jog, but continued until the houses thinned out and the pavement ended. As he neared the last house, he saw a young girl, around 9 or 10, gazing up at a tree.
Great. Now, a girl is going to see me like this.
He slowed to a walk, looking around to see if there was a way around her, but he'd have to continue on the gravel road to get home. As he neared, he heard a pitiful mew from up in the tree. He shook his head. Stupid cat.
The girl turned to him as he approached, an anxious look in her eyes.
"It's in a hawk's nest." She pointed up to one of the branches. Charlie scanned the branches until he could see the large nest on one of them.
She looked back at him. "It's going to get eaten if we don't get it out of there," she pleaded, panic in her voice.
Charlie looked around to see who "we" might be. But it was just the two of them.
Charlie sighed, then nodded and surveyed the tree.
I wonder how high the nest is.
Gee, if someone had been paying attention in class, maybe we'd be able to figure it out?
Uh, ok, you got me.
He noticed that the tree was multi-stemmed, with a smaller trunk jutting out at an angle from the base.
Charlie started climbing the crooked trunk, the branches digging into his arms and chest. He got up high enough to reach a branch, which he grabbed a hold of and started pulling, groaning as pain shot through his arms, still sore from all the push-ups earlier. He managed to pull himself up with his arms until he could step on another branch. He paused, wheezing for breath.
Oh man. I'm so out of shape.
He studied the branches above him. Fortunately, they were close enough together that he thought he could make his way through them. Unfortunately, it was probably going to hurt like hell.
Hold on, the branches aren't the only things that are going to scratch the crap out of me.
Oh, crap. I didn't think about that. We need gloves or a towel or something.
Gym shorts, maybe?
Charlie groaned.
This dang cat better be grateful.
She will be if it's not.
The cat started mewing more loudly.
Ok, ok, I'm coming!
Holding on to a branch with one arm, twisting and turning, then lifting one foot, then the other, Charlie managed to slip his gym shorts down his legs and past his shoes. Then he untangled them from a few branches, blushing furiously in the process.
Great. Now a girl is seeing me in my boxers.
Maybe we should just toss the cat down and stay in the tree for a very long time.
Ouch! Stupid branch.
Ok, bad idea.
So, how are we going to hold the shorts and climb this dang tree?
Well...
Oh no, no, no...
Charlie gulped, then pulled a grossed-out face as he shoved the shorts between his teeth, trying not to gag at the horrible taste and texture of salty, sweaty cloth.
The girl called up. "Are you ok?"
Charlie grimaced and gave her a thumbs-up sign, then reached up for the next branch and started pulling himself up again with sore, trembling arms. As he got another foothold, a branch jabbed into them. He gasped in pain, almost losing his grip, but somehow managed to hold on.
When he finally caught his breath, he reached up again and continued to climb the tree. Finally, his fingers brushed against the branches in the nest. The mewing was much louder now. He pulled himself up a little more, but couldn't find a way to get high enough to see the cat, so he reached down and grabbed the gym shorts from his mouth, spitting in an unsuccessful attempt to get rid of the horrid taste.
He slipped the shorts over his hand and used them as somewhat of a mitt, then began feeling around the nest for the cat. He found it quickly and gently grabbed it. To his relief, it didn't put up a fight. He figured the poor thing was too tired and scared to.
Since the cat was holding still, he decided it would be better to hold it to him instead of risking it slipping out of his shorts, so he unwrapped the little fur ball and tossed his shorts aside, so intent on the cat that he didn't notice that his shorts got snagged on a branch. The kitten looked at him with its big blue eyes and started purring as it snuggled up against his chest. A warm feeling spread through him from that fuzzy little body as he gently stroked it, trying to guess its age, but he couldn't figure it out. He had never paid too much attention to cats.
With the cat snuggled against him, he carefully descended the tree, not noticing the scrapes and pokes as he climbed down– just the warmth of the furry cat purring gently against his skin.
When he was low enough, he handed the kitten into the girl's outstretched hands. She took it and brought it close to her, giggling as she stroked its soft head. "Oh! You're so adorable!" She cooed.
Charlie got low enough to jump out of the tree, then stood there panting and sore, but the warm feeling stayed in his chest. The little girl looked up from the cat and ran to him, giving him a huge hug while still holding the cat close.
She looked up into his eyes. "Thank you!"
Charlie barely choked out a "You're welcome," as she walked slowly away, talking to and gently petting the contented kitten.
A huge smile crossed Charlie's face as he watched her walk away.
Something fluttering in the tree's shadow caught his attention, and he turned to see his shorts snagged on a branch high overhead. He somehow managed to retrieve them, getting more scratches in the process.
Checking to make sure no one was around, he pulled open his shorts to check on them. Fortunately, everything seemed normal, at least his normal, and there was no sign of blood. Relieved, Charlie let go of the band, and it snapped back into place.
He gazed at the tree's shadow and the shadows of the weeds growing beside it as he slipped off his shoes and pulled his gym shorts back on.
The image of a triangle formed by the tree, its shadow, and a line running from the top of the tree to the end of the shadow came to mind. A similar triangle formed between a tall weed growing next to the tree and its shadow. He slapped his forehead.
The shadows. Duh! The triangles formed by the tree and its shadow, and by the weed and its shadow, have the same proportions.
Charlie started untying his shoes.
If I had been carrying the box that people apparently carry around for this purpose, I could use it to measure the shadows, then calculate the height of the tree by multiplying the box's height by the tree's shadow and dividing the answer by the length of the box's shadow...
He slipped his shoes back on.
Oh, man! It's so obvious now!
He scowled and shook his head as he re-tied his shoes.
He noticed blood trickling down his chest and started looking around through the thinning grass. Unfortunately, he didn't find any yarrow this time, so he wiped the blood as best he could with his thumb, holding it in the scrape for a few moments as he started walking back down the road.
He stopped to watch a brilliant bluebird perched on a fence post, followed it as it flew away, then lifted his gaze to the sky and watched a few puffy cumulus clouds. He took in the sun and breeze on his skin, trying to drown out the day's events, trying not to think about going back tomorrow. He started to listen to the birds. The vigorous chirps of the robins, the shrill calls of the blackbirds, and the lively conversations of the cheerful meadowlarks. He took in a deep breath. The air still smelled of spring. His nose itched, and he sneezed a few times; then he took a few more breaths, sneezing more as his eyes watered and stung.
************