Standing In The Rain

Jayze Olson (Wednesday)

"Go!" he yelled. Click, his stopwatch took off. I was shocked, he kind of skipped the usually "ready, get set" part, but I took off toward first base anyways. I pounded the base with my right foot, using it to push off. I took a step with left foot, but I'd already for gotten about the tires! I accidentally kicked the first one on my right foot, which nearly sent me sprawling to the ground. To catch myself, my left foot went flying forward, but instead of going inside the next tire, it went on top of it!! I cried out as my ankle painfully twisted side ways. Terror seized me as a shock of pain seared up the side of my leg, going to the back of my knee. I jumped off to the side and jumped on my right, uninjured, leg. I glanced at Mystery Boy and saw he was calmly staring back. I limped into the fifth tire, and quickly limped/walked through the remaining 5 tires, I jogged to second, placed my right foot on the base again, but this time I remembered the next obstacle. I darted to my right, easily dropping and touching the ground, but in an awkward position to go to the next flag. I jogged to the next flag, but because the left flags put more pressure on my left ankle, I gingerly bent down, into frog position, touch the ground and moved on. Flag after flag. Once I reached 3rd, I rounded the base once again, and jogged into home. He made no acknowledgement that I had finished except by clicking his stopwatch. He grimaced, and looked at my ankle.

"Do you need to stop?" He asked. he wouldn't meet my eyes. Just stared at my left ankle.

"No." My voice was high pitched, it threatened to crack, and it sounded overly forceful.
He raised his eyebrows at me.

"I'm sure. I said no." I tried to fix my voice. He bent down to examine it.

"No! No, I said! Don't touch it!" I yelled. I don't know why. He stood back up alarmingly fast. He look scared, shocked.

"I mean, I'm sor-" I started.

"Don't be. If your fine, then, who am I to argue? Obviously, I'm no doctor." He sounded forceful at first, hurt, but he regained a loose attitude.

"Uh, yeah, thanks, I think."

"20 push ups!"

I threw myself down to the ground, and did 10 man-push ups... but after that, my slender arms were trembling so bad I had to drop my knees. He made a note of it, I think. I finally finished with number 20. As I stood up to catch my breath,

"Go!"

Once again there was no warning. I took off, this time I ignored the pain. I sprint until 5 feet to first base, and I jumped into the first tire. Quickly, the second, third, fourth! But, it was short lived. I stumbled on the fifth which shot up some minor pains. I wasn't going to let him see that though. I got through the tires. But I got thinking. He said, "who am i, then, to argue?" I started on the flags. Right, left. Who was he then? I still didn't know his name. But I trusted him. I knew I was being stupid, but, there was something about him. Touch, bend, touch. Slid into the dirt. Got up. Left, right, left, right. I stood up finally and took to the boy. 10 seconds faster.

The second I caught my breath, I said, "So, who are you?"

"You should ask more specific questions." He grinned mischievously.

"What's your name?"

"Jayze Olson."

Jayze. I let it roll off of my tongue. I liked it.

"Jayze." I said, he didn't say anything. "I like it." I smiled, and he grinned back.

"So, Jayze, how old are you?"

"16." One year older than me.

I had many questions, but I settled for an easy one.

"What is your favorite color?"

He looked at me like I was crazy, a *who asks that?* look. "uh, emerald."

"Nice."

I thought about it.