Lucky
by Nico Grey
II
Alex started the new school week feeling like he had lived a couple of years since he was last in the building. He was still mostly a reserved eighth grader when he took the bus home Friday afternoon. But after the Valentine's Day dance and his experiences on the weekend, Alex felt like broad new vistas had suddenly opened up in his life.
Alex was almost surprised when Fionn dropped into the seat next to him at the start of their Social Studies class. Fionn had been one of the more important considerations on his mind at the start of the previous week. By Saturday afternoon, all thought of him had almost been blown out of the water by new experiences.
But Fionn seemed happy to see Alex. He tried out a shy smile when Alex glanced in his direction.
"What's the craic?"
Alex had been trying to figure out Fionn's accent for more than a week. Now he was struggling to recognize the language he spoke.
"Was the weekend deadly?" Relying on his expectant grin, Fionn appeared to think that would be good news. When he noticed Alex's confused expression, he tried again.
"Sorry, mate. I spent yesterday on Skype with my cousins. Did you have a good weekend?"
"Yeah. It was great," Alex couldn't seem to remember why. "I went to the Valentine's dance Friday night. Then I spent Saturday afternoon with Abby."
It didn't register that Fionn would have no idea who Abby was. But Alex did notice the interest dim in Fionn's eyes.
"So, where do your cousins live?" Alex hoped that he could restore Fionn's good mood and collect a little information at the same time.
"Oh," Fionn paused to translate the question. "They live outside Antrim."
That didn't enlighten Alex. Fionn appeared to notice.
"That's near Belfast."
Alex was still confused.
"In Northern Ireland."
"Oh!" Alex had heard of Ireland. "Is that where you got your accent?"
Now it was Fionn's turn to be confused.
"I don't know. I've only been there a few times." Fionn decided that more explanation might clear up the confusion. "I was born in Connecticut. But my parents and their whole family were born in Ireland."
"As are most of the best people," Mr. Donnelly interrupted. He winked at Alex. "We'll have time for European geography later, guys. But now it's time for us to visit the Amazon rainforest. So if you don't mind. . ."
"Sorry, sir!" Fionn seemed mortified.
"We'll find some time to discuss Eire soon, Fionn," Mr. Donnelly assured him. "It's one of my favorite places."
The teacher turned and strolled back toward the front of the classroom.
Alex wasn't sure why he did it, but he reached out and patted Fionn's arm. Fionn pulled his face out of his hands. He offered a faint reflection of Alex's reassuring smile when he noticed it.
Alex hadn't giving much conscious consideration to the conversation at Abby's home Saturday afternoon. Perhaps his unconscious mind had been mulling over the subject.
Alex entered the lunchroom with intent. Without being aware of the debate going on in his mind, he had determined that he wanted to become part of a crew of like-minded individuals that stuck together, both for his own benefit and for the benefit of others in the group.
He hadn't given much thought to his peers as anything other than casual companions; fellow travelers on their journey though the Silver River educational system. He had a fair number of acquaintances in his class, even a handful of people he considered casual friends. But he didn't have anyone that he thought likely to stick with him through a serious challenge.
Alex had always assumed that he would experience few challenges— and no real crises— during his life. His family was financially comfortable. They always supported him. He expected that the adults that helped manage the lives of young people in the school system would be fair and supportive. Aside from the occasional silly nonsense from people like Thumper Frye, Alex had never really considered the possibility that his peers might cause him much trouble.
The Valentine's dance and his subsequent conversation with Abby and her friends had helped to open his eyes. He had seen some bullying at the dance. He had witnessed a school administrator threatening a student. And while Abby and friends hadn't shared many details, their conversation made it clear to him that conflicts, even in a place like Silver River, could turn nasty.
Forming a crew might pose a challenge. Alex had never thought in those terms, so he had never really considered who in his class might be someone he could depend on. He had never contemplated which of his classmates might be outside the social mainstream and looking for allies. But in just the past two weeks he had managed to stumble over someone who fit that description.
As soon as he left the cafeteria serving line, Alex sought out his target. It wasn't a great surprise to find the boy sitting alone at a table for two, located along the far side of the lunchroom. He was attempting to be unobtrusive. But once Alex actively searched for the boy, his bronze hair stood out like a beacon.
"Fionn!" Alex called as he approached.
He didn't want to call a lot of attention to himself. But he also didn't want to surprise Fionn by dropping unexpectedly into the chair opposite him.
Alex was pleased to note that Fionn appeared to be happy to see him. For a moment he considered inviting Fionn to join him at his usual table. But he decided that his friend might prefer to remain quietly on the fringes of the social activity. And he realized that it would be easier to get to know Fionn better if their conversation was more private.
"Do we have time for you to finish that story about your family in Northern Ireland?" Alex wondered.
Fionn was pleased that Alex was interested enough in his family to remember their earlier conversation.
His relations in Northern Ireland, he explained, were from his mother's side of the family. Her name was Fiona MacCool, which was how Fionn came to be called Fionn MacCool O'Connor. And they had both been named after a famous Irish hero called Fionn mac Cumhaill, or simply Fionn MacCool.
His father had been born and raised in the Republic of Ireland. His name was Eamonn O'Connor. Family legend had it that their branch of the family was closely related to Arthur O'Connor, the famous Eighteenth Century Irish revolutionary figure.
His father had come from County Cork in southern Ireland and his mother had come from Northern Ireland, which was part of the United Kingdom. But they had met while they were both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. When they completed their studies, they decided to get married. Rather than choosing to live in Ireland or the United Kingdom, they decided to relocate to the United States, where their five children were born.
Fionn was rather proud of being part of such a multi-national family. And Alex, recognizing that this sort of sharing of identity could be the foundation for a close and enduring friendship, was happy to listen to his story.
Fionn's father had studied business administration and had found work with a large company in Connecticut, where he proceeded to rise through the ranks. He had relocated to Vermont just a few months earlier to manage one of the company's important subsidiaries, a defense manufacturing site called Packwood Precision Optics that was located about fifteen miles north of Antioch.
Fionn's mother had studied international law in Dublin. Relocating to eastern Connecticut made it difficult to find much work in her field. Starting a family put her career on hold. While raising three boys and two girls, Fiona had also found time to pursue additional education. She had studied law in Connecticut. Before Fionn entered middle school, his mother had earned her Juris Doctor and she was already in the process of determining how she could be admitted to the bar in Vermont.
Alex was quietly pleased to see how proud Fionn was of his parents and their accomplishments. He knew too many of his peers that had little respect for their parents and appeared to think of them as a nuisance to be tolerated, if absolutely necessary, until they were able to live on their own. He thought that Fionn's traditional outlook on his family was a sign of good character.
There were so many questions that Alex hoped to ask. But Fionn seemed to appreciate the opportunity to talk about his family, so Alex decided that his questions could wait for another day. Instead, he learned that Fionn had two younger brothers, Liam and Aidan, and younger sisters Aoife and Roisin. He seemed so proud of his younger siblings that it made Alex regret being an only child.
By the time the lunch period had ended and they were strolling across the lobby to the gym, Alex knew almost as much about Fionn's family as he knew about his own. He wanted to know more about Fionn. But in a way, he decided, he had learned a lot about his friend by discovering what mattered most to him.
They dressed out for their phys ed class and endured a lengthy wait while Thumper Frye and several of his friends selected teams for basketball games. Mr. Talbot often elected to turn running the class over to some of the 'star' athletes in the group.
Alex knew that, with Thumper as captain of his team, he would spend most of the class riding the bench and waiting in vain to be called on to enter the game. Without bothering to notify Thumper, he trotted over to the bleachers where their instructor kept a very casual eye on proceedings.
"I'm planning to try out for the track team this spring," he informed the teacher. "Is it okay if I spend the period running laps. I'll be right here in the gym if they need me to play in the game," he explained.
Five minutes later, Alex was surprised when Fionn slipped in and kept pace beside him.
He didn't want to discourage Fionn. But Alex saw an opportunity to find out even more about him. He decided to pick up the tempo to see how long Fionn could stick with him.
Forty-five minutes later, as they headed for the locker room, Fionn was still by Alex's side and keeping pace with him.
Alex had really enjoyed running with Fionn. They chatted casually at times as they ran. But for most of the period, both remained focused on maintaining a steady pace and making the most of a challenging workout.
Fionn was much more talkative than usual as they showered. He still used Alex to shield himself from the rest of the boys in their shower room, but he made no effort to shield himself from Alex.
"You run really well." It was a trite observation, but Alex really couldn't think of much more to say. And Fionn did run well.
Alex sensed that his praise made Fionn glow.
"I used to play lacrosse," Fionn explained. "Back when we lived in Connecticut. We did a lot of running."
That news felt disheartening. If Fionn played lacrosse half as well as he ran, the lack of any lacrosse program in the area would cost him an opportunity to shine and build his confidence.
Alex commiserated, but he was also scheming.
"If you like running, I'm going out for the track team next month. Maybe you could join me. . ."
Fionn responded with more enthusiasm than Alex had anticipated. He figured that he would still have to persuade Fionn. But it seemed like he was willing to be persuaded.
Alex didn't intend to intrude. But he was curious. Before they left the shower room, he let his eyes drift casually downward.
What he saw didn't surprise him. Fionn still wasn't very far along with his development. And unlike most of the boys in class, he was uncircumcised. That and his basic lack of self-confidence certainly helped to explain why Fionn was so shy.
But Fionn, while slightly built, was evidence that running paid dividends. Alex tried not to let it show, but he liked what he saw. He hoped that Fionn's newfound comfort around him would endure. More important, if it did, he hoped that he would control himself.
Alex was pleased to see Caleb on the bus when they rode home that afternoon.
"Did you get in any trouble with that principal?" he wondered. "The one who yelled at you and Tyler during the dance?"
"He never said a word to me." Caleb didn't seem surprised. "I heard him admit to Abby's father that he had. . . done something bad to a boy a long time ago. I had good reason to refuse to be alone with him. He isn't going to try to discipline me for defying him and have that story come out!"
"Just be careful," Abby warned. "Rogaine isn't going to forget what you did. He'll nail you if he thinks he can get away with it."
It was a sobering thought. Caleb was aware that the game had graduated to the big leagues when he threatened to reveal the vice principal's admission of sexual assault. The best course of action seemed to be doing everything he possibly could to avoid appearing on Callahan's radar again, and hope that the vice principal would prefer to avoid risking his past coming up if he forced a confrontation with Caleb.
Fionn was already waiting for him when Alex arrived for their Social Studies class the next day. Alex couldn't figure out why, but he seemed anxious.
"Who's Abby?" Fionn asked.
Alex couldn't figure out where that question had come from.
"The girl you took to the dance Friday," Fionn explained. "I don't know anyone in our class named Abby."
It took Alex a minute to remember that he had mentioned Abby to Fionn before class the previous day.
"She's not in our class," Alex said. "She lives near me. Our families have been friends for years. Abby's a sophomore."
"So you date older women," Fionn smiled awkwardly.
"Oh, we aren't dating," Alex hurried to explain. "She invited me because she wanted me to meet some people at the dance. Then we all got together Saturday afternoon."
Alex had fond memories of Saturday afternoon. He hoped that the swelling in his pants didn't give him away.
Fionn seemed confused. Valentine's Day was usually for couples. But he was new to the area and to Vermont traditions.
"Abby is kind of like a big sister," Alex tried again. "She looks out for me. She thought I should get to know her friends, so I did."
"Oh."
Alex thought that Fionn appeared to be uncomfortable. It looked like he was trying to solve a math problem and couldn't find a reasonable answer. Finally, he decided that he needed more information.
"Were they freshmen?"
"No, no. They were in Abby's class. They're sophomores, too." Alex noticed a sour expression on Fionn's face. "They're really great guys!"
He realized, a second too late, that it might be too much information. Fortunately, Mr. Donnelly interrupted.
"If you're finished with your interrogation, Detective O'Connor, I should probably get class started soon."
Fionn was too deep in his own thoughts to remember to laugh.
Fionn didn't object when Alex joined him for lunch again. But they spent a far less animated thirty minutes than they had the previous day.
In Phys Ed class, Fionn didn't join Alex when Mr. Talbot gave him permission to spend the class running. Eventually, after Alex cast several disappointed glances in his direction, and after watching the basketball game from the bench for half the period, Fionn did finally join Alex. But it didn't appear that his heart was in it.
In the shower afterward, Fionn used Alex to shield him from the rest of the boys again. But he kept his back to Alex and didn't appear interested in starting any conversation.
Fionn went to bed early that night. He had been feeling hopeful recently, but the day had been disappointing.
It took him a long time to fall asleep. He was distracted, reflecting on what Alex had shared during their Social Studies class. He had a hard time getting that information out of his head.
He liked Alex. He thought that he was a pretty nice guy. But the idea that Alex spent his time hanging around with much older kids made him feel very uncomfortable.
He'd have been happy to become better friends with Alex; had hoped that perhaps they might have become best friends. But he didn't like the idea of the older guys. And besides, if older guys wanted to be Alex's friend, why would Alex care about being friends with a scrawny little kid like him?
Alex didn't go to bed early that night. He might have. But before he could finish his homework, his phone rang.
Abby had been at loose ends. Since Caleb and Tyler started their jiu-jitsu training in Brattleboro every Tuesday evening, she had been without her usual distractions after dinner.
When confronted with no other choice than to start her homework, Abby remembered that her weekend therapy crew had acquired a new member. She thought it might be a good idea to check in with him to see how his week had been going and to make sure his Saturday afternoon was free on the coming weekend.
Alex considered mentioning Fionn when Abby inquired about potential boyfriend material. But he remembered how badly Fionn had reacted when he heard that Alex had spent Saturday with Caleb and Tyler. That felt like a bad omen. So Alex just told Abby that he wanted to observe how it was done for a while before diving into the dating pool.
The good news was that Abby was definitely expecting to see him again on Saturday. So he could hope to see more of Caleb and Tyler. And despite feeling a bit weird about letting Abby gawk at him for a couple of hours, he still thought that the experience had been a net benefit for him. All things considered, he was eager to continue his studies in sports medicine. . . and more.
Alex was disappointed that Fionn became more distant as the week progressed. Fionn continued to sit next to him in their Social Studies class. On a couple of occasions, Alex caught Fionn looking at him thoughtfully, but he didn't seem inclined to start a conversation.
Alex sat with Fionn at lunch. But again, they really didn't find much to say to each other. Alex was starting to wonder if Fionn would be more comfortable eating alone again.
In Physical Education class, Alex continued to run. None of the basketball players missed him. Not even Fionn. . . who spent most of the class sitting on the bench and watching the star athletes race up and down the court.
Alex thought he may have caught Fionn following him around the gymnasium with his eyes. But he remained on the bench and nothing was said. They continued to shower together, but Fionn kept to himself and hurried to finish quickly.
On Friday, Alex found himself in a groove as he trotted around the gymnasium. He barely noticed when Mr. Talbot advised the team captains to finish their basketball game and hit the showers in a few minutes, before he disappeared into the locker room.
When Alex glanced up again, he was alone in the gym. The wall clock indicated that his next class would begin in less than eight minutes, so Alex hustled into the locker room.
Most of the boys had finished showering and were back at their lockers getting dressed. Mr. Talbot was nowhere in sight. Neither was Fionn. There was a sense of foreboding in the air.
Alex dashed into the shower room. No one else was there. He rinsed off quickly under a showerhead and toweled off even faster.
Alex returned to his locker. There was a definite feeling of excitement and trouble in the air. He could hear commotion coming from the direction of the boys' bathroom.
"What's happening?" he asked a boy that had just finished getting dressed. Alex was pretty sure the kid had a name, but he really couldn't remember it.
"Thumper got lucky," the boy shrugged. Noticing Alex's confusion, he explained further. "You know. Lucky. That Irish kid."
"Shit!" Alex rarely used bad language. "What did he do?"
The boy shrugged again.
"Thumper invited him to a party. Lucky said he was busy this weekend. Thumper said he was thinking about right now, and that little Irish kid took off running." It was clear from his demeanor that he didn't consider it any of his business.
Alex took a quick glance at Fionn's locker and noticed that all of his clothing still appeared to be hanging inside. He sighed. He wished that he could affect the other boy's indifference, but he knew that he had some sort of obligation to Fionn. He already suspected that it was going to hurt.
Alex found a couple of Thumper's goons standing guard at the door to the boys' bathroom. When they stepped forward to intercept him, he didn't waste words.
"Either I'm going through that door or I'm going straight to the principal's office," Alex announced. The commotion coming from the other side of the door convinced him that he had made the right choice.
One of Thumper's friends reached out to detain him and Alex dropped his shoulder and rammed it into the kid's chest. The boy bounced off the locker room wall with a satisfying thump.
The other guard panicked. He pounded on the bathroom door.
"Get out of there!" he shrieked. "Trouble!"
He didn't even stick around long enough to help his friend off the floor.
Alex burst into the bathroom. Several bodies departed rapidly in the opposite direction. The door leading out into the cafeteria lobby was already starting to swing shut, but he was pretty sure it was Thumper Frye's ass that he saw framed in the narrowing doorway.
Alex didn't have to think very hard about what to do next. He checked the toilet stalls. As expected, Fionn was sitting on the floor in one of them. His towel was hanging over the top of a partition.
Alex didn't bother to asking questions. He helped Fionn to his feet, grabbed his towel, and wrapped it around his waist. Fionn didn't appear badly injured, so Alex was pretty sure that the most important first step in helping him recover from the attack would be restoring his modesty.
He guided Fionn out of the stall and into the bright lights in front of the row of wash basins. A shallow, ecru wall on the right side of the basins provided a partial enclosure and some protection from prying eyes or from another assault.
Alex inspected Fionn carefully. He didn't notice any blood or bruising, although it did look like Fionn's lower lip had been banged up a bit. He appeared to be on the verge of tears.
"What happened?" Alex demanded.
Fionn couldn't meet his eye.
"Are you hurt?"
Fionn shook his head. But he rubbed at his lower lip briefly.
"Was that Thumper?" It seemed like an easy enough question to answer.
Fionn nodded.
"What was he doing?"
Fionn still couldn't meet Alex's eye. He swept the floor erratically with his gaze like he was looking for something. . . possibly an explanation.
Alex watched Fionn fidget while he tried to make sense of his friend's reluctance to explain what had happened to him.
"I just want to help you," Alex pleaded.
Fionn finally looked up slowly. Alex was surprised at the embarrassment and even fear he detected in Fionn's eyes.
Fionn raked his fingers through his hair and reluctantly met Alex's gaze.
"I really wish you could help me!" Tears were starting to glisten in his eyes. "It's awful!"
Alex sighed. He didn't think it would help if he tried to press Fionn further for an explanation; at least not yet. Instead, he reached out tentatively and waited for Fionn to respond.
Alex didn't understand the emotions playing out on Fionn's face. Part of it seemed like shame. There was still some fear present. But he also looked hopeful.
Alex left his hand extended. He tried to project concern and empathy. He thought that hope was gradually winning the struggle going on in Fionn's eyes.
Slowly, Fionn reached out and grasped Alex's hand. He let Alex pull them together and embrace him. Alex felt the dampness spreading across his shoulder before he sensed the shuddering sobs. He held on tighter until Fionn eventually got his emotions under control.
Fionn seemed embarrassed when he signaled that he was ready to be released. But he seemed grateful, too.
Alex accompanied Fionn back into the locker room. There wasn't really time for him to shower. But since he had spent the class sitting on a bench, there also wasn't any need.
As Fionn dressed, Alex tried to check him out unobtrusively for injuries. But aside from the swollen lip, the only other marks he noticed were several red areas on Fionn's backside. He couldn't really determine what had caused them. But since they didn't appear to be serious, Alex decided to say nothing about them.
When Fionn was ready to leave, he turned to face Alex.
"Thank you." Fionn still seemed embarrassed. "I'm lucky to have a friend like you."
Alex hoped that it didn't make Fionn uncomfortable. . . and that there wasn't anyone else watching in the locker room. . . but he pulled his friend toward him for another quick hug. Then, without giving Fionn time to feel any awkwardness, he guided him out of the locker room.
When they connected again for their Computer Skills class, Fionn seemed to be over his embarrassment. He sat down next to Alex and stuck to him like glue for the entire period.
By the time his short bus ride home was over, Fionn O'Connor was kicking himself. He was still feeling angry and ashamed about what had been done to him in the boys' bathroom at the end of his Phys Ed class. But he was also starting to feel hopeful again.
He knew that he would eventually have to tell Alex Fortin about what was going on with Thumper and his friends. Fionn worried about how Alex would react to that news. But Alex's courage when he ran Thumper off, and his obvious concern and his tact when he found Fionn in the boys' bathroom, had resurrected Fionn's hope that Alex and he would become friends.
Alex might have older friends. But he still cared about Fionn. And Fionn was pretty sure that Alex liked him. His biggest concern was about those older friends.
Fionn didn't have an encouraging history of social interactions with older kids. But he figured that if Alex liked these older kids, and they liked Alex, they just might not be that bad. Maybe they'd even welcome someone like him if he was Alex's friend.
Fionn was frustrated with himself. He was feeling quite positive again about his friendship with Alex. But after three weeks of sharing much of their daily schedule, he still hadn't thought to ask Alex for his contact information.
Fionn had just experienced a good conclusion to a challenging week and a terrible day. But the school's winter vacation had started when the school day ended. Now it would be almost twelve days before he had contact with Alex again.
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