Chapter 5

A grand sense of excitement was felt throughout the school on Friday. As Karmen had told Scott, each class period had been shortened to allow time at the end of the day for the Homecoming Pep Rally. The early part of the day was uneventful, until lunch. Surrounded by friends, Karmen and Scott were enjoying their sandwiches when they were approached from behind.

“Karmen, once again, I’m asking that you accompany me to the dance tomorrow.” Merced scowled at Scott. “I will concede you going to the football game tonight with this person, but that is all.”

Karmen started to puff up and reply when Scott squeezed her hand and smiled. Turning, he faced Merced from his seat. “It’s so nice that the school allows mentally challenged children to attend class here. What do they call it? Inclusion?”

Giggles swirled around the table.

Merced started to draw a breath but Scott cut him off. “Look, asshole, she said she’s not interested in you. So wander off and find another girl. Just accept ‘no’ as her answer.”

“You have no right to be here and need to be taught a lesson!”

“Oh, no!” Scott cried out in mock fear. “A lesson!” As Merced made to move closer, Scott stood up. “Here are your choices. Try to teach me a lesson, and we both get kicked out of here after I destroy your ass. I go home in a few days, but you stay here and get to deal with the repercussions. And are you dumb enough to think that beating me up will make Karmen want you? Or, you accept reality and walk away. Even mentally challenged children can figure out what is in their best interest.”

Merced studied his opponent. While they were the same height, Merced was thin, with a wiry frame. Scott had a nice set of muscles from sports and work. He had not expected the ‘Cali-Boy’ to be a concern, thinking he was just going to be a pushover.

Realizing that this was not the time or place for a physical confrontation, Merced turned and strode from the room. However, pride and honor demanded he take some type of action. Soon.

“I think from now on we call him ‘M.C.’ instead of Merced,” one of the students at the lunch table smirked. “Mentally Challenged!”

The students were seated in the football field bleachers by grade level. Between songs played by the school marching band, and the cheer squad calling out to the students to whip up enthusiasm, Scott found himself enjoying the moment with Karmen. After a bit, the school principal came out with a microphone and asked everyone to sit.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Corona del Sol high school pep rally for our big game tonight!” Whoops and cheers greeted him. “Tonight, our team, the Aztecs, will meet their arch rivals from Desert Vista and CRUSH THEM!” Enthusiastic screams were heard for several minutes. “Just a few quick items and then I will step aside. Remember, the game starts at eight, so be here in time to find a seat! Also, if you have not yet voted for the Homecoming King and Queen, you can still cast a ballot with a member of the student council.”

“I don’t think I got to vote,” Scott whispered to Karmen.

“Don’t worry. I took care of it!”

“And now, I will hand the microphone over to Coach Vargas!’ The principal turned and greeted the coach, dressed in a team jersey of burnt orange and yellow. Again, the students cheered.

“Wow! The energy level here is amazing! I’m looking forward to all of you being at the game later to keep it going! Tonight, we will see how great our athletes are as they send the folks from Desert Vista home in defeat!”

By now, the cheerleaders were lining up in two rows near the side entrance of the field.

“Who are we?” he screamed.

“AZTECS!” came the reply.

“AGAIN!”

“AZTECS!”

The name was chanted over and over, louder with each repeat. The coach was wavingwaved his arm in a big circle to excite the crowd. Suddenly, he stopped and pointed to the sidelines. “Ladies and gentlemen! Here they are! The Corona del Sol Aztecs!”

The team burst out onto the field, as the cheerleaders jumped up and down, waving their poms in the air. Several did cartwheels alongside the football players. In the bleachers, Scott looked around at everyone, cheering for their team and smiled.

Each member of the team was introduced, and Scott muttered to himself; “Wow! Those guys are huge!” One of Karmen’s classmates replied. “Yeah. But half of them are graduating in the spring, so next year they will have to rebuild the team from the ground up. Still, this is going to be a great season!”

The rally eventually finished with reminders to be at the field that evening in time to get good seats. Karmen told everyone that she would make sure that Scott would be wearing his brand new Aztec sweatshirt so he would fit in with the crowd. Walking towards the bus lot, they were surrounded by friends. Felicia would be driven home later, after Tank had changed out of his uniform.