I picked Stretch up the following day and headed off to the competition. Juice couldn't make it today so I would be sitting solo. As excited as Stretch was for the first competition, her mood was radically changed. She was quiet and somber.
"Stretch is everything ok?"
"Sure, I am just a bit nervous today."
And that was the total conversation between us until I parked the car at the auditorium.
Suzie entered the side entrance and headed for the warm up area behind the stage. She flashed a smile as she saw Kate and was about to greet her with a hug when Kate spoke up.
"You learned quickly how to play the game. I thought you were better than that" as she quickly passed by and greeted some other friends warming up in the corner.
Kate's comments hurt like a punch to the gut. If Kate knew, then others knew as well. Suzie wanted to throw up.
I watched as Suzie completed her routine. By now I was a good critique of the quality of her performance. All the movements were well executed but there was no life, no passion. none of Suzie's personality that usually brings the routine to another level. Well maybe next time I thought.
As they announced the winners, Bronze, not Suzie, Silver, not Suzie and the Gold goes to.... Suzie Solomon. What, did I hear right! Suzie won. She should have won last time not with this performance. But hey a win is a win as I dialed Juice.
In the most excited voice I could muster, "Juice, Suzie won, she won the Gold." There was a pause on the phone. "Did you hear, Suzie won her category!"
Juice's voice was soft and controlled "I am sorry to hear that" and she hung up.
I waited until the program finished and rushed to give Suzie a warm celebratory hug. "Let's go celebrate, where should we go?"
"It's been a long day for me Jay, why don't you just take me home."
Confused but obedient, I drove her home. I would usually be asked to come upstairs but she just gave me a kiss in the car and said she would call me later.
As Suzie opened the door to the apartment, Bear was standing there with a warm tray of celebration brownies.
"Jay called me, congratulations to the most recent Gold medal winner of this family" said Bear as he opened his arms to embrace her.
But instead of smiles Stretch burst out in tears and ran into Bear's arms. Bear had the good sense to wait a minute as he felt Stretch's tears soak trough his clean white shirt. "Did Jay do anything inappropriate, I warned the bastard?"
"No no, not Jay, he is the best thing in my life right now. It's me. I am a whore, a prostitute, I feel like a piece of shit."
Bear tried to separate them so he could look into her eyes but she was holding too tight. Stretch knew that she couldn't look directly at Bear while she was recounting the previous night at Jimmy the Greek's. She told him about the pre-audition, about the letter she signed, about the sex but leaving out certain details of the pain and humiliation that she knew would trigger Bear into a rage. As she talked she could feel Bears muscles and body tense.
After finishing all she wanted to say, Bear gently but firmly pushed her away.
"I think I need to pay Jimmy a visit."
"Bear, no, please don't. It was my fault. I signed a letter saying it was all consensual."
"Fuck the letter, I know Jimmy for many years. He is the biggest con man in the game. It isn't your fault Stretch. He used your vulnerability to his advantage. It's not on you Stretch. It's all on him and I need to have a talk with him" slamming the door behind him.
Bear left before he could hear Stretch's final words of "Be careful."
Finding Jimmy's condo was no problem. Everyone in the body building game knew his address and what he had to offer. Knocking at the condo door, Jimmy answered, "Hey Bear, long time no see big guy. What can I do for you?" and he proceeded to rap
I got EPO, I got blow
I got cocaine as white as snow
"I am not here about the shit you are selling. You abused a friend of mine."
"And who would that friend be?"
"Suzie"
"Suzie", Jimmy said smiling "that is one fine woman. She has the tightest pussy and ass I've had since the high school girls I used to fuck."
Bear could feel the anger growing inside of him. "I want you to stop this pre-auditions shit and judge the way you are supposed to."
Jimmy's smile was now gone. "You are coming into MY house and telling ME what I should be doing! Who the fuck are you telling me what to do!"
With all the calm he could muster "Jimmy, you need to stop this."
"Or else...?" was Jimmy's reply
Bear wasn't used to be challenged. Usually his size and obvious strength were sufficient for him to make his point. But here he had a man, a previous power lifter, somewhat smaller and somewhat older, that was challenging him. Bear knew that Jimmy was a street fighter. In his early years Jimmy had the reputation of going out Friday nights looking for the biggest guys he could fight. He would hit on gang members girlfriends just to bring the boyfriends out into a dark alley to settle it like men. At first Jimmy used to get his ass kicked but as years passed he would be leaving the alley with the other guy bloody and beaten.
Bear watched as Jimmy was shadow boxing like Mohammed Ali warming up for a boxing match. Bear was not a fighter. The closest he came to fighting was high school wrestling. But Bear had pride, he couldn't walk away now. Bear held up his arms and slowly approached Jimmy.
Jimmy was moving side to side.
"Float like a butterfly
Sting like a bee
Ali was a chump
Just try to fight me"
Bear saw the first punch coming and shifted both arms to block only to realize too late that it was a fake and left his middle open for the real punch that landed right in his stomach. As he bent over in pain he had the perfect view of Jimmy's knee as it came crashing into his face. Bear fell heavily to the floor.
"Next time I will yell timber" was Jimmy's sarcastic comment. Jimmy continued to shadow box waiting to see if Bear was getting up.
Bear got up wanting nothing more than to wipe that stupid smile off of Jimmy's face. Again he raised his hands and approached Jimmy. Jimmy gave him a few jabs but bear could see him loading up for a big punch. It was a big right cross aimed squarely at his jaw that Bear was able to dodge. The force was so strong that as Jimmy followed through, Bear was able to get him into a Full Nelson. Now Bear knew this hold would only be able to restrict Jimmy, or so he though until Bear felt the power of Jimmy's heel directly on his instep on his foot. In the moment that Bear reacted, Jimmy was able to break the hold and swing a sharp elbow against Bear's ear and left side of face.
Bear stumbled but did not fall. He felt pain in his jaw and ringing in his ear. Bear realized that he could not outbox or outwrestle Jimmy. His only advantage was his strength and his determination.