Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: START (02/25/16)
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TITLE: Career Plans | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gary Ritter
02/29/16 -
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I barely left the room when I ran into a brick wall that knocked my math book to the floor. When I straightened from rescuing the book from being trampled, I saw my obstacle was the mysterious new guy we’d all been talking about. “Sorry, man. Didn’t see you.”
He gave an indifferent nod of his chin and was about to continue on his way. Being slight of build the encounter obviously shook me more than him. If he’d started the school year like the rest of us, with his size he could have made a fine tight end. I grabbed his arm. “Hey, wait a minute.”
His glance down at my hand resting on his forearm bristled the hairs on the back of my neck. I quickly let go, but wasn’t about to admit defeat. “What’s your name?”
When he squared around, his black greasy hair spilled over one eye. He brushed it back and patted it in place. “Who’s asking?”
No wonder I never saw this guy hanging with anybody. “My name’s Mack. Just trying to be friendly. I know you began attending classes around Christmas and I haven’t spoken with you. Thought you might want to join us guys right now after school.”
His eyebrows shot up. “What do you do?”
I pointed a finger at him while giving him the hint of a smile. “Your name first. Also, where you from?”
“Nasir. Pakistan.”
“You a Muslim?”
His chest swelled when he responded. “A follower of the Prophet Muhammad.”
“Come on, Nasir. This’ll be interesting.” He let me propel him along until we reached the late afternoon sunshine of the parking lot. “See those cars clustered at the far end? That’s where we park. My buddies are there.”
My friends raised a couple of catcalls on our way over and I gave the business right back at them. We joined the gathering sitting on the hoods of their muscle cars taking discreet swigs from the cans they cradled between their legs.
Nasir and my three pals took a moment to examine each other until Toby broke the silence. “Who’s this guy, Mack?”
“Nasir. From Pakistan. He practically flattened me earlier. Thought it might be fun to meet him.”
Bennie reached into a cooler and tossed Nasir a can. After an acrobatic catch – I knew I was right about tight end – he frowned. “This is alcohol?”
“Colt 45. Breakfast of Champions.” I reached for a can for myself and popped the top.
“I cannot drink this.”
I let the malt liquor slid down my throat. Did he think he’d get in trouble? “The school won’t do anything. We only got a couple weeks left till summer.”
“As a Muslim I cannot accept this. It is against my religion.”
Toby hooted at me. “Mack, this guy’s a Mooslim? What’re you thinking?”
I knew it’d be interesting. I may have been destined for factory line obscurity but I liked unique experiences. “How many Muslims you know?”
John chimed in. “Who needs ‘em? Look how they diss women by covering them up head to toe.”
I jumped off my red Trans Am where I’d tried to take a load off. “Come on. You’re not like that, are you, Nasir?”
“Women are temptresses. If not covered, they are whores.” He pointed at two pretty girls walking nearby. “Whores. Every one of them.”
Toby upended his can and threw the empty on the floor of his convertible. “You’re one of them radical terrorists, aren’t you? What are you doing here anyway?”
“Whoa, boys. No need for this.” I hadn’t anticipated playing peacemaker.
Nasir drew himself up and crossed his arms. “I will tell you, foolish boys. When I graduate I will attend college and study structural engineering so I know how your buildings are made. That will give me the knowledge to build devices to blow them up. Your 9/11 will be nothing compared to what I will begin to do.”
He walked away leaving us with our mouths hanging open. Toby summed up our thoughts. “That’s one scary dude.”
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