Standing alone in the small workout center of our condo building gave me an overwhelming feeling of insecurity. I had not seen the young black man yet, but I knew he would be coming to meet me soon. I was almost sure that he would be out by the pool with Julie, and the best part of me was afraid to look outside. This realization made me shake nervously as I headed for the equipment box to gather my protective gear for the workout.
While I realized that I had agreed to "spar" with Tra'mon and help with his workouts it was obvious that I had had enough. He had told me that I would be simply assisting him with his workouts now, and the actually boxing practices would be over. Somehow, I wasn't convinced by his words and I began putting on my pink and white head gear with the pink lower body harness and gloves.
I stood there and looked at myself in the workout center's full length mirror. I didn't like what I saw because I looked like a big "pussy" in pink colored boxing gear. It was humiliating to be dressed this way but I knew that I needed as much protection against the young black stud as possible. That is, if he decided to spar with me again.
After a few minutes, I began wondering why he had not arrived yet. That is when I walked over to the glass entry doors that lead to the pool area to peek out.
From a distance of about 60 feet I saw the young, dark stud standing poolside and holding a clipboard and talking to the wives. He was wearing a flimsy, thin-sided nylon bikini in a tiger-print design as he read from his clipboard. His chiseled body glistened in the sunlight and he stood there with complete authority.