“Good practice today, remember we have a meet coming up this weekend, it’s a two hour drive to and from the university, so let your parents know you’ll be home late and that you’ll need money for diner. Any questions?”
“.......”
“Nope?”
“........”
“Coach Mari, do you have anything to add?”
“We had some tension in the building today, especially among the ladies. Realize that your actions affect the team, and know that school isn’t necessarily the best place to address certain grudges. If you do that sort of thing here....you’re going to get suspended. Be smart! “
I looked at Mari and wondered if she’s lost her mind. Did she just give these kids the, “it’s ok to fight, just don’t get caught” speech? We are in the middle of a season, I don’t need a team full of injured athletes. Though...there is some wisdom there, I mean if kids are motivated to fight, they’ll find a way to do it. When the guys get into it, they tend to be a little stupid about it. They just ask “What’s up?” And then fists start flying. That means they get caught and suffer the consequences; which in high school, let’s face it, aren’t that bad. They’re not going to be arrested and the action usually gets broken up before someone gets seriously hurt. They may have to face their parents when they get home, but for some parents, as long as Junior doesn’t lose it doesn’t really matter to them. Usually the whole thing is squashed between the combatants a few days later, sometimes within the hour, and the young men can coexist from then on.
The ladies on the other hand, they’re sneaky and vindictive. On the surface everything will be as right as rain and then all of a sudden you’ll find out that one of them snuck a blade onto school grounds and planed to cut the young lady whose been pressing her buttons. They will keep a grudge like VD, it never fully goes away. If conflict is inevitable as it often seems, I guess it makes sense to practice discretion. I’ll talk to Mari about it later, plus when she’s out of that Kevlar vest and wearing a tight T-Shirt and shorts for practice, you notice those massive tits sitting on her chest. For and older women, she keeps herself in shape, I bet she was hell on wheels when she was a youth competing for CHS. This will give me something to open up with when I ask her about the fight between Ivy and Carmelita.
“Ok, bring it in. On 3.......1,2,3.....GO WILDCATS!”
*****
“A friend request? Interesting. What’s that about? After that awkward moment this morning? I’ve been thinking about that all day”, muses Mrs. Robinson. “Now she wants to be my friend? Smells like a set up to me, I’m not falling for it.”
Ikyra put her phone back down and continued to monitor students during the last hour of the day. She knew she had tutoring and then had to pick up the kiddos after school. She looked at her phone, wondering if she could use it to convince her husband to pick the kids up. She’d make it worth his while. So what, if there’s a friend request from Ms. Jackson. “We’re co-workers, you know professionals. Maybe she just saw my profile and wants to get to know me better. That’s crazy! The way she was looking at me? She looked like she wanted to rip my head off....I wanted to rip hers off. It’s probably just a coincidence, we know a lot of the same people. It’s harmless, I’ll just pick up my phone like I do all the time and press accept.”
She sent her husband a text.
*Hey babe, can you pick up the kids and grab some dinner tonight. I’ve got a little extra energy, I may go work out. I’ll make it up to you later. Love you, mwah. *
She started to put the phone down, but a notification came back almost instantly.
*no problem, I’ve got you. I love you too. Be safe*
“Be safe” kinda weird. What does he think I’m going to do? Don’t over think it.”
*you’re the best husband in the world, I’ll do my best*
“‘I’ll do my best?’ What does that even mean? See there I told you not to over think it, and here you are overthinking it.”
With her phone already in her hand she naturally checked her social media, it’s hard wired into her brain at this point. Of course the algorithm conveniently showed her stories from her new friend. “Let’s see what’s going on with Sparkle Jackson since we’re best buds now.” So down the rabbit hole she went. Throughout tutoring she found herself constantly coming back to her page, reading posts, watching videos, and searching her friends list. She’d become obsessed. Tutoring was finally over, she dismissed her students and she felt a need to reach out. Did she want to discuss what happened this morning? Did she want to see where this thing was going? She wasn’t sure. This was certainly new ground. “What should I say?”
*what’s up bitch, you want to fight me?* [Delete]
“No, too direct. I do have a job here I’d like to protect.”
*Hey, let’s talk*
[Delete]
“Fuck no, that’s too passive, I’ll look like a chicken. Uhhhh, why is this so hard! I feel like I’m IN high school, not teaching it!” She thought about Ivy asking for permission to go to the restroom this morning. “I had no clue what she was going there to do, I’ll bet her heart was racing, but she looked so collected and confident. I wonder if she even knew she was going there for a fight, maybe all they were supposed to do was talk. I need something in between, I want to leave the door open to all possibilities. Hell I’m not a hundred percent sure what I want. Something open ended.” Feeling a since of urgency to complete the task before Ms. Jackson went home, and with Ivy still on her mind she typed:
*I’m going to the ladies room at the end of the hallway, care to join me?*
To her surprise, she saw that Ms. Jackson was on the app as well. Her breathing fluctuated and her heart started pounding. “Oh shit! That was too aggressive, she’s going to think I’m a freak.” It became apparent that a message was being typed in return...
*nothing would please me more*
Oh wow! What dose that mean? Does she think we’re going to girl talk, or are we going to talk Woman to Woman? Stop thinking! Be ready for everything. This is so crazy, but I can’t turn back now.” She gathered her things to head out of the door, so she could have some plausible deniability in case Ms. Jackson was not thinking what she was thinking. “Nothing would please her more?” She had to be on the same page. She turned out the lights and locked the door, then put one foot in front of the other charting a course for the same restroom that played host to a girl fight this morning. “Ok. Here we go.”
*****
The late activity busses were pulling off and the parking lot was relatively empty. The admin team’s parking spaces were abandoned, so were the counselors. Coaches and a few straggling teachers were heading out for the day. I waved to Mrs. Martin as she was pulling off. A few cars for the late shift janitorial crew had arrived. My car, Coach Mari’s, Ikyra’s and Sparkles were all I recognized. Mari had returned to the security desk and checked the monitor.
“Hey Mari”
“What’s up Coach?”
“Nice little speech you gave there, you think anything is brewing on the team?”
“You know Boss Man, you never know. They switch gears so fast.”
“True. What happened with those two girls this morning? I heard you checked it out.”
“Haha, I keep my eyes out. You never know when something’s going to happen. I was watching on the monitor and I saw one of the girls from that scuffle in the hallway during passing period enter the restroom. I didn’t think much of it at the time.”
Just then Mrs. Roberson who appeared to have gathered her things to exit the building was on the monitor and made a stop at the 2nd floor restroom. Mari observed it from the monitor. Nothing alarming.
“So I was minding my business, you know me, and the other little girl came out of the room and walked into the restroom too. That’s when I knew something was up.”
Ms. Jackson closed her door but didn’t appear to have her things. Her signature heals could be heard echoing trough the empty building click clacking down the hallway, even at the front door. I turned around anticipating her arrival, but the sound stopped upstairs. Mari saw on the monitor that she also had gone to the restroom, and remembered the awkward transaction this morning between the two educators. She may have had an idea of what was to come, but she had a good poker face.
“Wow! That’s crazy! So who won?”
“It was even, quiet as kept, I took my time breaking it up. The way I see it, if you start something, you’ve got to be prepared to finish it.”
“Haha, you’re a mess. Think they’re finished?”
“I doubt it. It took three big officers to keep them separated, but they’ll have a little time to cool off before they come back in here.”
“True indeed.”
Mari looks at the monitor and realized that neither of the women who entered a few minutes ago had exited.
“I’m going to conduct a sweep, make sure everything is locked down.”
“Cool, I’m going to get out of here. See you tomorrow.”
I leave the building, get to the car, then realize that I left my car keys in my work clothes; and had left those on a closet hanger in the classroom. Luckily I have my badge and can swipe to reenter the building.
*****
A cell phone, 3 rings, a watch, 4 bracelets, a pair or hoop earrings, a nose ring and a nipple ring are piled into the desk drawer. Sparkle isn’t sure what she’s walking into, but she refuses to go unprepared. She takes a gander at the mirror in her closet and makes sure that she still looks her best without the accessories. A quick freshening up of her lipstick, some gum to freshen up her breath, and a quick pump of lavender body spray. A straightening of her form fitting size 8 dress, she’s not a size 2 like the last time she anticipated a physical conflict. And who knows, she may just be meeting in private on neutral territory to discuss matters further. Sparkle never anticipated meeting on school grounds like this again, especially with Mrs. Roberson. An image may have flashed through her mind of snatching an assistant principal bald after a less than stellar observation, or following the instructional coach to her car because she bad mouthed her to the Admin team, but this particular paradigm may actually materialize. Anyway, for the life of her, she didn’t know why. Either way, she won’t be caught looking less than her standard, regardless of what this little meeting held. She positioned a few locks of her ginger and blond dreads into a pleasing position. “Okay, I’m ready. Here we go.”
Her door locks behind her as she walks with only her door key on a lanyard in her hand. Her dreads bounced as her heels recoiled off the tile floors. She arrives at her destination, takes a deep breath, and then pulls the door to enter. As expected Mrs. Roberson is at the sink, apparently freshening up her look as well. A quick glance is inconclusive, she has her purse and a light jacket laid on the adjacent sink next to her, she has apparently removed her smart watch, necklace, and wedding band. Her stud earrings were still in place, which were only visible because her naturally curly hair was pulled back exposing well maintained edges and rouge cheek bones.
“So....what’s up?”
“No, hey girl? I mean we are Facebook friends.”
“Haha, that we are. I’m a little thrown off. After that moment this morning. What was that?”
Ikyra makes eye contact through the reflection in the mirror as she applies red tint to her full and pouty lips. “I know. I’ve been thinking about that all day. I don’t know what came over me.”
“It’s like we were watching the girls come into this restroom and I felt something. I don’t know what, but it was like some powerful primitive urge.”
“I know what you mean, like even coming in here knowing that Ivy and Carmelita fought in here has me kind of tingling.”
Sparkle looks around as she takes in the surroundings like a veteran on the beaches of Normandy. “Can you imagine how many girls have fought in this bathroom over the years? I would guess at least once a month for the last 40+ years.”
“Yeah, it’s almost like sacred ground, a coming of age ritual.”
Each word uttered summons the imagery of mine sweepers traversing a field. One false step could lead to a similar outcome. Ikyra having finished her preparations returns her tools to their proper locations and turns to face her coworker.
“May I say, you look good girl! I love the dress and those shoes! Red looks good on you. Have you ever thought of pledging Delta?”
“Thank you, girl you’ve got the outfit popping as well. Those shoes are Cuuuute! Naw I’ve been Me-Phi-Me for a while. I never really got into Greek life.”
“You should think about it. What happened to the jewelry you had on earlier, it was cute.”
“Oh, I’m embarrassed to say. I didn’t know what I was walking into, so I decided to be ready for anything. It seems you’re not wearing any either, accept for those earrings.” Stated pointedly.
“Yeah, I’m like you, just being prepared. What did you want to happen?”
“Haha, if I’m being honest. My emotions have been all over the place. Part of me knows that this is my job, and that you’re my colleague, and professionally speaking it’s nuts to even think of confronting someone like you in the restroom. The other part of me has been on fire all day thinking about letting go of social norms and just finding out if I still have it in me. What did you envision happening?”
“Um, mixed emotions. I think the lizard part of my brain wants to know how we measure up. You know, physically. I think about being a mother and a professional, and know that that’s going to be the case for the rest of my life. I’m like you, I wonder if the door has closed on my youth and I was part dreading but part anticipating a confrontation. You know?”
“I do”
An uncomfortable silence fell upon the increasingly tense discussion. Both women standing at opposite ends of the restroom maintained eye contact and could sense the rise and fall of each others chests as breathing intensified. It felt like all of the oxygen had been sucked out of the room.
Sparkle offered, “Sooooo what are you thinking now? Do You want to go home as mother’s and professionals, or see where this space and opportunity lead?”
Sensing the presence of a challenge Ikyra responded in a similar tone. Not yet bitchy, but self assured, and resolute. “I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure if I could ever forgive myself for passing up an opportunity like this. To learn a little more about myself.”
“Was that shade? ‘I don’t know about you...’” Sparkle scoffed internally. “Did she just insinuate that I may not be equal to the task. She’s about a size 10-12, but I know I’m in better shape.” She felt a dislike for Mrs. Robinson that had not previously existed. Good, she needed fuel for her fire. Her response allowed some of those embers to float across the room.
“You may not like what you find out.”
“Oh shit! Did she just come for me?” Ikyra attempted to maintain an outward projection of calmness, while internally she was simmering. The bitchiness was arriving and beginning to seep from their pores. A subtle shift in position, the placement of their hands, the variation of their tone.
“Or it could be, that you don’t want to know. I mean it’s not too late for you to get in your car and go home. What do you want to do?”
That sealed the deal. This is happening! A catfight between two teachers in the restroom. Sparkle didn’t say another word, she stepped back toward the door intentionally maintaining eye contact with her coworker and turned the lock. I’m reminded of the scene from “A Bronx Tale”, “Now yous can’t leave”. Ikyra recieved the message. She finished removing her earrings and taking off her heals. Sparkle took her heels off placing them carefully under the sink and then unzipped the back of her dress. She had to walk out of here after kicking this bitch’s ass and didn’t want a torn dress on the security tapes. She shimmied her hips until it fell revealing her black lace underwear. Her flat tummy was not as defined as it once was but men never complained. She has a Coke bottle figure and was unashamed to present it to a newfound rival. Without loosing eye contact she bent over to retrieve the garment, while displacing a beautiful round honey brown ass that served as counter balance to her ample breasts. Ikyra taking the cue, unbuttoned her blouse revealing a Kelly green satin bra before unzipping her skirt and gyrated to loosen the fabric from her thick golden thighs. Not wanting to be out done, she reached around to her back to unclasp the hook, releasing her golden orbs. Brown nipples stood at attention, pointing at Sparkle to act in kind. Of course Sparkle returned the favor and uncovered the sensitive nerve endings jutting out from her tits.
Preliminaries all but resolved there remained one question. How do we get this party started? Specifically, will this be a sparring session as there had been no previous animosity, or will this be blood sport as their forebearers had contested on this hallowed ground. Standing at opposite ends of the confined space, wearing nothing but thongs and faint scowls, the women deliberately walked toward each other until standing close enough to kiss. One slowly raised two open palms with fingers spread, the other soon joined her in a test of strength. Soon they stood forehead to forehead pushing like two interlocked rams.
Ikyra’s powerful legs earned her an early advantage as she was able to drive her opponent back the the door, prompting Sparkle to switch tactics. She slipped her fingers out of the mutual interlacing and shot her arm around Ikyra’s neck initiating a head lock. Ikyra now bent at the waste pressed her shoulder into the swinging breasts in front of her, utilizing the momentum to squeeze oxygen from Sparkle’s lungs as she had her back to the wall. Realizing the forward thrusts were taking a toll on her, Ms. Jackson slipped one hand up to grab the curly follicles of her attacker in an effort to slow her momentum. Recognizing the rule change Ikyra grabbed the woven dreadlocks of the woman inflicting pain on her to return the favor.
A struggle played out as both women became increasingly aggressive in their hair-pulling, contorting each other’s necks in unnatural angles. Mrs. Robinson desired to improve upon her hunched position. She reached out with the palm of her hand to Sparkle’s face hoping to break the hold on her hair or at least gain leverage. Sparkle reacting to the hand in her face and spoke for the first time since the exchange became physical, “Get your hands out of my fucking face.” Realizing that the tactic was working Ikyra persisted prompting the first strikes of the contest. Sparkle in frustration freed her right hand to deliver body shots to the offender’s ribs and back.
*****
I’ve arrived at the top of the stairwell on a mission to retrieve possessions from the classroom and noticed that Coach Mari is leaning against the girl’s restroom door. She appears to be intently listening to something going on within, and her hand may or may not be reaching underneath her t-shirt to fondle her left boob. Hearing me approaching she straightened up and raised a single finger to her lips giving the universal sign for “shut the fuck up, something’s going down.”
I walk a little closer and whisper, “what’s going on?”
“Ms. Jackson and Mrs. Robinson are fighting in the bathroom!”
My mind is absolutely blown! “What the fuck did you just say?” Faint noises could be heard through the door.
(((“Ugh!” Slap! “Bitch!”)))
“You heard that right”
“Oh shit! What are you going to... what are we going to do? Do you need some help breaking it up?”
(((Cough! cough! “Ouch!” Slap! “Fuck You!”)))
“Slow down Speed Racer, let’s give it some time. Occasionally women just need to sort out some things amongst themselves. We don’t always need you mansplaining how to problem solve. Sit back and enjoy, Boss Man.”
“Ummmmm, okay? Do you know why they’re fighting?”
“Hard to tell, but I walked in on them in the teacher’s lounge this morning and they were acting real strange. They made some story up about an eyelash or something, but I could have sworn they were squaring up to fight then. I guess I was right!”
“Oh wow!”
(((Thud! Bump! “Ahhh!” Shuffle! Shuffle!)))
“I saw them on the monitor walking in here while we were downstairs. I did a quick sweep of the building but saved this door for last.”
(((“Let go of my fucking hair!” Thud! Thud! Ramble!)))
“That’s crazy! Both of them did seem weird coming back from planning period. I didn’t think much of it at the time.”
(((“You fucking cow!” “Aghhh!” “You fucking scratched me! You Bitch!” Plop!)))
“I didn’t put it together until they didn’t come out.”
“How long have they been in here.”
“About 10 minutes, I showed up about 3 minutes ago and they were already at it!”
(((Crash! Slap! Slap! Slap! “Ughh!” Rumble!)))
“Sounds like it’s getting rough in there.”
“Ok, I’ll go in first and call if I need you.” Mari searches for her master key and inserts it in the lock. “Stay close, I may need you.”
*****
At every turn an unwritten rule was broken. Hair pulling begat hands to the face, hands to the face begat body punches. Body punches crept up toward the head and face. When an unwritten rule was unmade, it vanished forever. When you trade punches to the eyes and nose, you don’t suddenly stop and deescalate. The only path is forward. You must deliver such blows with enough force to potentially end the fight. Violence encourages more violence. These women were in a full blown war of attrition. They were not colleges, they were enemy combatants. They were not at their place of work, they were transported to a village along the Congo where honor and survival were at stake. There was no tomorrow, only the woman in front of them and threat of their physicality.
The women shifted positions to gain leverage, in hopes of throwing their fierce opponent off. Sweat created a viscous coating that protected the Warriors from certain holds and provided an aura giving the image of two celestials engaged in eternal struggle. Their backs, shoulders, and bountiful asses must have touched every wall, stall door, and sink in the restroom. Probably half of the mirrors as well. The struggle continued as one teacher successfully cast the other to the floor and failed to maintain her own balance. Two glistening bodies wound around each other on the ground. While laying side-by-side the kicking and pulling and scratching and striking continued wherever an opening presented itself.
Ikyra found her claws buried in her rivals right breast and found the squirming and anguish it caused titillating. It almost made the talons in her own left breast tolerable. Their legs intertwined in a fashion that left their scantily clad vaginas adjacent and in contact with an unfamiliar but warm thigh. Ikyra readjusted her grip on the supple breast to evoke a scream. Sparkle countered with intent to minimize her rivals access to her abused mammaries. She reached around her opponent and squeezed her intensely in a prostrated bear hug. Her actions were immediately returned. The two women lay on the restroom floor covered in perspiration, tender breast mashed against tender breast. Breathing heavily though they are denying each other air in a firm embrace. At their close proximity and elevated respiratory activity, they couldn’t help but take in each others aroma. The sweet smell of lavender and vanilla perfumes, combined with the salty scent of perspiration, vaginal secretions and pheromones to create an intoxicating blend. Their slippery struggle to reanimate their grip in the begrudging embrace made difficult by the lack of friction, became rhythmic. The women could feel a familiar growing tension in their bodies as their feminine anatomy aligned and realigned and realigned. Soon their hips joined the fight and in tandem bucked and wound in a violent propulsion that produced a sloshing noise repeatedly. Backs were scratched raw and hair was pulled vigorously but somewhere in the struggle pain had become pleasure. They craved it harder and faster and harder and faster!
Sparkle succumbed to her urges first screaming,”AGHHHHHHHHHHHHH! OH SHIT! OH SHIT! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!”
The sensory overload was too much for Ikyra and she released, “FUUUUUUCCCCCK! OH! OH! OH FUCK! OH FUCK!”
They laid in each other’s arms, surrounded in a pool of various fluids with loose hair floating about, emotionally vulnerable and confused. Nose to nose staring deeply into each others eyes not knowing if passion or rage was the feeling they were witnessing. Simultaneously they leaned in further and their lips grazed each other’s. A light touch gave way to a sloppy, wet, battle where tongues were engaged as reinforcement. Ikyra’s beautiful full lips would have engulfed most women, but not so of Sparkle who was giving as good as she got. Eventually the pounding drums that were their hearts retuned to a standard beat. They withdrew from each other and finally noticed Mari who was in the corner on the floor with her back against the door. One hand in her shorts and the opposite cupping a massive brown boob with areolas the size of a small dinner plate.
Both women were frightened by their own actions, the thoughts running through the minds of their opponent, and the unexpected visitor. Each resolved to dress as hastily as possible to escape to sanctuary. They threw on outer layers and neglected to replace supportive gear. Dreading being exposed to the hallway cameras they were reassured as Mari was stirring and keying into the broom closet, next to the door exiting the restroom. “Don’t worry, I’ll clean up in here and edit the recordings.” Satisfied Ikyra grabbed her bag and rushed out of the door to find a bewildered Coach. She placed her hand over her face as if she was able to hide behind it, and rushed down the stairway to the exit and her car. Weird! Sparkle soon followed, saw me and offered an embarrassed smile and shoulder shrug as she fled to regroup in her classroom with her heels and bra in hand.
I waited for Mari to come out and inquired, “Coach? What happened in there?”
To which she replied, “Um, I’ll put it like this....Boss man....I can’t tell you.” And locked the door before retreating to her security desk to work on the computer.
All I could do was shake my head. Still concerned, confused, and in need of my forgotten materials; I wandered back to my room. To be honest I was also pretty horny, a fact betrayed by growing mound in front of the gym shorts I wore outside to practice. I noticed that Ms. Jackson’s door was wide open.
“Knock, knock, you ok neighbor?”
She wasn’t in plain view, so I ventured in to check. She was at her closet, naked from the waist up, applying alcohol to the war wounds on her chest. Unflinching, possibly expecting a check in, she looked up and saw me and my sheepish expression. The shimmer returned to her eyes.
“Hey neighbor, you come over to borrow some brown sugar.”
“Um...”
“Come on in and close the door.”