Chapter 103: There’s always one.

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In any crowd, no matter what you are doing, no matter where you are, there’s always a jerk. I know that for a fact. The jerk is usually me. One reason I avoid crowds is to avoid other jerks. We don’t play well together. It makes my life simpler to just avoid the drama.

I was helping Shaniqua with her dead lift. I was sitting on a bench in front of her and steadying the bar with one hand as she lifted. I was critiquing her style while getting a very nice view. She’d planned it that way I’m sure..She loved to tease me. She was lifting a fair amount of weight for a female newbie. Like I’d said once before she was pretty strong for such a little thing.

“What have we here?” a loud voice said. "Santa Clause and a masked chocolate elf?”

I could see Shaniqua’s eyes turn red. That was something considering that her eyes were dark brown. This guy was walking on thin ice. He had no idea how much danger he was in. I’d try to save him.

“Why don’t you just mosey along son.” I told him. "You do NOT want to irritate me... if you annoy the lady that will definitely do it.”

“He’s already irritated me” Shaniqua said. "I need to get rid of that last little bit of phobia anyway. He should do.”

The guy was puzzled. Something wasn’t quite right.

“Look you...” he started to say... but Shaniqua interrupted him.

"No..YOU look. I take offense at what you said. I’m calling you out. I challenge you to a Grudge Match.”

Roy was standing in the door impassively. He had watched the whole thing.

The guy turned to him and said.”Can she do that?”

“She just did Charlie. You screwed up big time.” Roy told him.” You either accept and take a whupping like a man or you’re no longer welcome here.”

The guy started to say something and thought better of it.

“Ok” he said started to walk away.

“ Ten minutes” Roy said "Back stage behind the ring...be there.”

He nodded and continued on. Yeah..I think I might be able to get along with Roy.

The three of us went directly back stage. Sally met us there. When we told her what had happened and what we were going to do she cackled in glee.

“Oh this is going to be good” she said.

I whispered in Shaniqua’s ear.”Don’t kill him. He’s a jerk but he might not be a really bad person. Hell I’m a jerk myself.”

She looked at me then said " Yeah you are, but you’r MY Jerk. He had no business saying that. I won’t kill him...shoot...I won’t even hurt him much...not permanently anyway. But I’m going to work off my mad...I hate that Androphobia..this will be a good way to get rid of it once and for all.”

Sally looked concerned "What happened dear?” she said.

“I’ll tell you about it some time.” Shaniqua said " Not now.”

“Sorry Charlie, this is gonna HURT.” Roy said as the person in question arrived. Sally took one look at him then put her arm around Shaniqua and escorted her into the ring.

“Laydeeeees and Gentle men.” she said over the PA. "We have something special for you tonight. A Grudge Match”.

The crowd hooted and whistled. This was a rare treat.

I looked at the guy. Apparently he knew what to do. He was a regular customer.

”Good luck” I told him.

Then I left back stage and joined Roy at a front row table.

“Is she gonna kill him?” Roy asked

“I don’t think so” I replied.

“Could she?” he asked

“In an eye-blink” I told him.

“That’s what figured.” he said .

His daughter brought us a carafe of coffee. He turned to me. "What kind of spike do you prefer?”

“Anything as long as it’s alcohol” I told him.” 200 proof is good. Say...how’d you know that I liked to spike my coffee?”

“You look like that kind of guy” he said. Then we settled back to watch.

It was going to be bad.

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Not very long after that it was over. Yup..it had been bad...for him. He was carried out in a stretcher. Jenny assured me that he wasn’t hurt..bad. He’d be ok in a while.

“Can I have one of those pills like I gave Shaniqua to give him if he needs one?” I asked Jenny in AR..

“Yes dear. I’m proud of you boy...you’re showing compassion. A bird is on the way.” Kitty answered instead of Jenny’s.

And she was gone.

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