Inevitably Yours

“It’s our last game,” Carl said with melancholy. “We won’t wear this uniform again.”

“Thank Goddess,” I huffed, zipping mine up. “My boobs suffocate in this.”

We both looked at each other and broke out laughing. “It’s just weird. We’re only like a quarter of the way through the school year, and things are already ending,” Carl said as we calmed.

“I know. But we still have plenty more to go,” I told him. “Let’s not get sappy until Senior week, okay?”

“Alright,” he said, picking up his instrument. “I’ll see you out there.” Carl left the storage room where we were pulling on our marching band uniforms for the last time. I buckled my harness over my too-small jacket and looked down at myself. It was pretty bittersweet. It had been a little rocky at the start, but I made a lot of friends in marching band and had some fun times.

I ran my hand over my sax and chuckled to myself. If M had met me a little sooner, maybe I would have gotten to play the instrument I wanted as a Freshman. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and snapped a picture. My blue hair fell in a long braid over my shoulder, and my beret sat at a perfectly jaunty tilt on my head.

M“Quinn, it’s starting,” one of the new stat girls linked me.

“Hey, everything is starting. I’ll call you tonight; I really want to watch tonight. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten to from start to finish without keeping score,” I laughed.

“Have fun, Blue,” M said.

I got up and headed back into the gym. I decided to make sure they were all ready at the head table before taking my spot in the bleachers. The girls were handing the seniors the gifts we made them as they were called forward.

As I checked they had all the correct score cards ready, Riley and Jose, another Junior, came over to the table. “What’s up, guys?” I asked.

Riley pulled a bouquet of flowers from behind his back. “If you all would direct your attention to the head table. There is one more Senior we need to recognize tonight. This young lady has gone above and beyond in every regard as our Team Manager for the past four years, and the team knew we couldn’t say a proper thank you and farewell to our Seniors without including her,” the coach’s voice carried over the microphone. I looked around, confused.

Riley smiled at me, holding the flowers forward. I took them in complete surprise. “Thank you guys, but I don’t have anyone to walk across the mat with,” I said in a hushed voice. No one was presented on Senior Night without a parent or mate; it just didn’t work like that.

Riley and Jose held up their elbows. “I think we can help with that,” Riley said. Tears stung my eyes. I took both their arms, and they led me around the table and across the mat.

“All the fantastic statistics you hear about our team, we wouldn’t know any of that without the help of this young woman. She does a remarkable job with all the numbers as well as taking care of the wrestlers. We can all truly say she will be sorely missed next year, but she is always welcome back.”

We got to the end of the mat and stopped. The crowd began to clap, and I was starting to lose a battle with the tears. I hadn’t expected them to say that or walk with me. Alex and Swag left their parents, each coming over to me with a gift in their hands.

“From the team,” Swag said as he handed me the large, yellow bag.

“And from us,” Alex said, handing me a tiny blue one.

“Thanks, guys,” I whispered.