The Long Road to Nowhere


(... a time of Maple School and Chateauguay High)


Mr.Peterson pushed the bar down with a slam opening the door.

"Come on boys, get moving."

Warm air was sucked out of Maple School by the deep February freeze.

We scrambled across the no-mans-land separating Maple from Chateauguay High, our blue shorts, t-shirts, pungent traces of locker room sweat and unwashed socks in our wake, the compact ice crust beneath our sneakers squeaking.

With pained expression, Mr.Plewinski held the door open across the yard.
"Hey you! Skinny! Get you-self moving!"
Roddy's glasses fogged up upon entry.

The fragrance of floor wax and detergent welcomed our stomping feet as we passed the T.D. class on the right. Tradition was upheld as our gaggle of thirteen year-olds booed and screeched up the unlit winding staircase to emerge within the "Old Gym".

Steve motioned to Bobby. Bobby knelt behind Barry. Just one nudge was all it took. Barry flew eyes wide in disbelief following the trajectory of his feet above his head, crashing onto the floor-mat losing his breath with a jolt. Pandemonium and guffaws rose to the heavens.

The gym teachers tried to locate the cause of the outbreak. Barry rose, wondering if he could take him but saw that Steve would be most willing to accept the challenge right there and then.

The shrill tones of the 'ref' whistle cut through.

"Get your feet on the black line." barked Plewinski. "Hey skinny! Get down and give me ten!"

"But sir! It wasn't me." protested Roddy.

The diversion worked. We all watched Roddy try to perform his task.

"...Two.....Three..." he grunted pushing his frame off the floor.

"Start again! I did not see your number one push-up!" sneered Plewinski.

Roddy's face turned crimson, humiliation getting the better of him more than exertion.
He was everybody's 'good guy', but even Roddy had his limits.

"O.K. - O.K., that's enough," Shouted Mr. Peterson, "get off the floor Mr.McManus and get back to the black line. Today we're playing dodge ball. Start with twenty laps around the gym. Alright - go!"

"Fuckin bastard!" Roddy's whisper was just loud enough.

Plewinski, grinning, walked towards the showers.

We ran, on our long road to nowhere.

One day, surely, we would get out.