Out of the Woods: Chapter 1
| June 1, 2021“Because you need to talk about your precious album right in the middle of the basketball court, the rest of the class needs to lose out? That’s fair, sure”
"Hey. Heeeyyyyy.”
Elchanan skidded to a halt just past the big double doors leading out of the school building. Behind him, several of his classmates came to an abrupt stop, too.
“What’s going on, Elchanan?” Meir Rottman asked, elbowing his way forward. “What happened to 'basketball, basketball, everyone outside pronto, or we won’t have time for a game?'”
Someone snickered. Elchanan ignored it, shielding his eyes with one hand against the sunlight. “What on earth,” he asked, deceptively calm, “are they doing there?” He pointed ahead at the school’s basketball court, where a group of boys clustered smack in the center.
“Isn’t that Avi Shine?” someone asked. “How did they even get here so fast?”
“He’s always doing these things.” Elchanan felt something strong and tense building up in his chest. Of course it was Avi Shine. It was always Avi Shine. “Just because the kid has money—”
“And brains, don’t forget brains,” Hillel Shapiro added helpfully.
Elchanan’s neck throbbed. “Yeah, that too.” A brief memory of the marked-up Chumash test stuffed into his knapsack surfaced, and he quickly banished it from his mind. He’d ask Ma to sign it tomorrow morning, right before she left for the girls’ carpool, yeah, that was a good idea. She’d probably frown and tell him that Ta should see it, and he’d grimace and say Rebbi wanted it back this morning, he’d get into trouble if not, and she’d give in and sign. And then forget all about it.
Now something in his stomach was hurting, too.
Time for distraction. Basketball. The court.
“Avi Shine! We’re using the court, could you guys go somewhere else?” Elchanan hollered, crossing the yard with rapid strides.
Avi looked up, but didn’t deign to respond until the entire group had jogged over, Levi and Shua tossing a ball between them.
“Sorry, but we’re using the court already.”
Elchanan crossed his arms. The kid was seriously aggravating. “Oh, really? Why don’t I see a ball anywhere? Or are you playing without one today?”
Avi rolled his eyes. “We’re not playing basketball, we’re doing something else. You guys don’t own the court, you know.”
“No, but a basketball court is made for b-a-s-k-e-t-b-a-l-l, not for random other things like your secret ‘something else.’ I would’ve thought you knew that already, genius.”
“As it happens, I know lots of things, and I think you’re wrong. We can use the court if we want, just like you can.” Avi folded his arms, too. Thirty pairs of eyes darted between him and Elchanan as the class watched the showdown unfold. (“Been waiting for this to happen all year,” someone muttered behind Elchanan.) “You think it’s fair for you guys to have the court every recess, while we hang out by the picnic tables with the seventh graders? Leave us alone. You go find somewhere else if you want to play a game.”
“What are you even doing?” Meir asked Yitz, one of Avi’s cronies, curiously. “Studying for the science test or something?”
Yitz shrugged, eyes darting towards Avi, then at the ground. “Nah. Course not. Who studies during recess?” He laughed uncomfortably.
“We’re just — discussing the new Menachem Minko album,” Avi stepped in smoothly.
“Really.” Elchanan spun round, letting his eyes roam over the group of boys huddled at Avi’s side. Some of them looked nervous, and Tuvy Frank actually flushed crimson and dropped his gaze. “Discussing a music album like a bunch of teenage girls?” He snorted.
“Yeah,” Avi said, opening his eyes wide and staring straight at Elchanan. “Yeah, that’s what we’re doing. Got a problem with that?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I do, actually. Because basketball courts are made for that kinda thing, excuse me forgetting.” Elchanan stalked over to Avi, glowering. Avi wasn’t tall, but he stood very straight, meeting Elchanan’s glare with daggers of his own. “Because you need to talk about your precious album right in the middle of the basketball court, the rest of the class needs to lose out? That’s fair, sure.”
“The basketball court doesn’t belong to you, you know,” Avi said, staring him down. “We were here first, we’re not moving just because Your Highness wants to throw a ball around.”
“We were here first,” Elchanan mimicked. Behind him, he heard snickers. “That’s so first grade.” He moved in even closer. “Grow up, Avi. You don’t need the basketball court to do whatever it is you’re busy with. If you’re really just talking about music and singers, you can go do it somewhere else. What’s your issue with letting the guys who want to actually move around a little have the court?”
Avi shrugged, superbly unimpressed. “We’re not moving, so you may as well find somewhere else to play.”
Now the rest of the class was snickering. “Babies,” Hillel muttered. No one else said anything, though. Elchanan breathed through his nose. He was hot and sweaty — and the game hadn’t even begun.
“We’re not the babies. You’re the ones wasting everyone’s time,” Avi said. He gave a condescending smile. “Just get over it and find somewhere else to play.”
Anger flared inside Elchanan, intense and uncontrollable. He felt his fists clench, and he took a threatening step forward. Avi stood his ground.
“You’re gonna fight me like a kindergarten kid?” he said, quietly. “Why can’t you just admit that I’m right?”
Someone whistled, low and long. Elchanan’s fingers tensed. The nerve—
His eyes lit on Tuvy Frank, lurking in Avi’s shadow. There was something, Elchanan noticed, sticking out of his pocket, one hand protectively sheltering it from sight.
Tuvy Frank, who’d spent all day yesterday boasting about the MP3 he’d received for his birthday.
The new Menachem Minko album…
Elchanan might not be a genius like Avi Shine, he might even fail a test or two, but even he could put two and two together.
If Rabbi Mandel found out — boy, would there be trouble. Earlier in the year, one of the sixth graders had been suspended for two weeks for bringing some Gameboy to school. Electronic gadgets were banned, banned, banned at Yeshivas Mayim Chaim.
No wonder Avi and his friends were insisting on staying put, dead center of the basketball court, safe from prying eyes.
“You’re right, huh?” Elchanan said, just as softly, as he lowered his arm. “Then why don’t we just find out what Rebbi has to say about what you guys are doing with your recess?”
to be continued…
(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 863)
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