was.
I opened the door
and five kids with glasses and superhero t-shirts turned to look at me.
“Can we help you?”
They looked a
little scared of me, as if I was going to shake them down for their lunch
money. “I’m here to join.”
They all looked at
each other, then back at me.
“It’s not a joke,
guys. I’m good at math.”
The tallest one
stepped up. He was almost my height, but skinny and pale. These kids were all a
walking stereotype. There was even a dorky girl in the corner.
“Oh, really?”
“Yes,” I said. “I
need to join an activity and someone suggested you guys.”
Did I have to be
hazed first? Solve six differential equations in some short time period? They
exchanged a glance again. The taller one stepped closer. “I’m Jake.”
“Dylan.”
We shook hands.
The rest seemed to relax. The girl stared at me as if she’d never seen a man
without a superhero shirt in her life.
“Why do you want
to join us?” one of the others spoke up.
“Well, I’m living
with a family and the father said that I need to find an activity. I tried out
for baseball and didn’t make it. A friend recommended your club. She said I
would fit in okay.”
I wasn’t so sure,
but I refused to judge them on their appearances. That wouldn’t be fair. Jake
nodded. “It’s fine guys. I don’t think it’s a prank.”
“A prank?”
“One of the jocks
joined and made us lose our first meet. On purpose. Then he left. I’m guessing
the football team thought it was funny.”
“Oh, no, this
isn’t a prank. What do you guys do?”
“Well, we compete
in tournaments. We have to solve math problems and are asked questions about
math related topics.”
“Well, I’m getting
an A in calculus. Do I qualify?” I said.
“That would do.
We’ve never tested anyone or turned away anyone,” Jake said. “People aren’t
knocking down the door to join us.”
I shrugged.
Whatever. If it made Mr. Dean happy, I didn’t really care. Having been an
outcast my whole high school life, being a part of something might be nice. I
was surprised that Taylor had known about them. Guess she wasn’t that much of a
snob, after all.
“Then, I want to
join. Is it too late?”
“No, but we have a
tournament coming up and you won’t be eligible to compete.”
I shrugged again.
“That’s fine.”
Jake made the
introductions. I learned the girl’s name was Sandra. She was reluctant to shake
my hand, but I’d win her over. I had that kind of touch with the ladies. She’d
be charmed by me. Eventually.
The meeting lasted
an hour and when I walked out of the classroom, Taylor was waiting for me. I
said goodbye to all of the mathletes. They saw Taylor and stepped back like she
was a queen or something. I guess in some ways she was.
She smiled at all
of them, but didn’t say anything. I fell into step beside her.
“How was it?”
“A little odd at
first, then it was okay.”
“You think it’s
the right club for you?”
I nodded. “I do,
Taylor. Thanks. I don’t look like a geek, but I guess in my heart, I am.”
She laughed. Each
time she did, my heart skipped a beat. I had always thought that was bullshit,
but it happened. I swear. “Did they ask you about your tattoos?”
“Yeah, they did. I
don’t think I’m the only one in the school with them, so I don’t know why
people bring them up.”
“But you’re the
only I’ve ever talked to,” she said. “People with tattoos are scary.”
“Am I scary?”
“No, not at all.
You’re just Dylan,” she said.
I liked how she
said my name. Damn. I had to remember that her father had let me into his
house. I doubt he’d like me dating his daughter. “But I have tattoos.”
“I was afraid of
you when I first met you.”
“I know.”
“Did that bother
you?”
“No.”
It hadn’t. I was
used to it.
“I’m sorry that I
was afraid.”
“You don’t have to
be sorry about how you feel. It’s just how you feel. I appreciate that
I opened the door
and five kids with glasses and superhero t-shirts turned to look at me.
“Can we help you?”
They looked a
little scared of me, as if I was going to shake them down for their lunch
money. “I’m here to join.”
They all looked at
each other, then back at me.
“It’s not a joke,
guys. I’m good at math.”
The tallest one
stepped up. He was almost my height, but skinny and pale. These kids were all a
walking stereotype. There was even a dorky girl in the corner.
“Oh, really?”
“Yes,” I said. “I
need to join an activity and someone suggested you guys.”
Did I have to be
hazed first? Solve six differential equations in some short time period? They
exchanged a glance again. The taller one stepped closer. “I’m Jake.”
“Dylan.”
We shook hands.
The rest seemed to relax. The girl stared at me as if she’d never seen a man
without a superhero shirt in her life.
“Why do you want
to join us?” one of the others spoke up.
“Well, I’m living
with a family and the father said that I need to find an activity. I tried out
for baseball and didn’t make it. A friend recommended your club. She said I
would fit in okay.”
I wasn’t so sure,
but I refused to judge them on their appearances. That wouldn’t be fair. Jake
nodded. “It’s fine guys. I don’t think it’s a prank.”
“A prank?”
“One of the jocks
joined and made us lose our first meet. On purpose. Then he left. I’m guessing
the football team thought it was funny.”
“Oh, no, this
isn’t a prank. What do you guys do?”
“Well, we compete
in tournaments. We have to solve math problems and are asked questions about
math related topics.”
“Well, I’m getting
an A in calculus. Do I qualify?” I said.
“That would do.
We’ve never tested anyone or turned away anyone,” Jake said. “People aren’t
knocking down the door to join us.”
I shrugged.
Whatever. If it made Mr. Dean happy, I didn’t really care. Having been an
outcast my whole high school life, being a part of something might be nice. I
was surprised that Taylor had known about them. Guess she wasn’t that much of a
snob, after all.
“Then, I want to
join. Is it too late?”
“No, but we have a
tournament coming up and you won’t be eligible to compete.”
I shrugged again.
“That’s fine.”
Jake made the
introductions. I learned the girl’s name was Sandra. She was reluctant to shake
my hand, but I’d win her over. I had that kind of touch with the ladies. She’d
be charmed by me. Eventually.
The meeting lasted
an hour and when I walked out of the classroom, Taylor was waiting for me. I
said goodbye to all of the mathletes. They saw Taylor and stepped back like she
was a queen or something. I guess in some ways she was.
She smiled at all
of them, but didn’t say anything. I fell into step beside her.
“How was it?”
“A little odd at
first, then it was okay.”
“You think it’s
the right club for you?”
I nodded. “I do,
Taylor. Thanks. I don’t look like a geek, but I guess in my heart, I am.”
She laughed. Each
time she did, my heart skipped a beat. I had always thought that was bullshit,
but it happened. I swear. “Did they ask you about your tattoos?”
“Yeah, they did. I
don’t think I’m the only one in the school with them, so I don’t know why
people bring them up.”
“But you’re the
only I’ve ever talked to,” she said. “People with tattoos are scary.”
“Am I scary?”
“No, not at all.
You’re just Dylan,” she said.
I liked how she
said my name. Damn. I had to remember that her father had let me into his
house. I doubt he’d like me dating his daughter. “But I have tattoos.”
“I was afraid of
you when I first met you.”
“I know.”
“Did that bother
you?”
“No.”
It hadn’t. I was
used to it.
“I’m sorry that I
was afraid.”
“You don’t have to
be sorry about how you feel. It’s just how you feel. I appreciate that
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