4
FEAR THE BATHROOM

It was an odd group at the kitchen table. Tommy. Rich. Their parents. Mr. Fay.

Mr. Fay had been at their house two years ago. When Tommy learned about fight school, he begged to go. But his parents said no way. Rich had stuck up for Tommy.

He even asked Mr. Fay to come meet their parents. Then they agreed. But just for a tryout. That tryout changed Tommy’s life.

“Thank you for having me,” Mr. Fay said.

“Always glad to see you, Mister Fay. What brings you out?” Tommy’s dad asked.

“Tommy had a bad day on the mat. Isn’t that right, Tommy?”

Tommy felt his face burn. He nodded. “Yeah.”

“Excuse me, Tommy?”

Tommy winced. Mr. Fay hated the word “yeah.” Tommy knew it.

“Yes. I did.”

Mr. Fay turned to Tommy’s parents. “He fought with Ben to see who would be in the MMA show. Ben beat him. It’s a problem.”

Tommy’s father rubbed his chin. “Ben always beats Tommy. So what’s the problem?”

Ugh. Tommy felt bad to hear his dad say that. But it was true. Ben did always beat him.

Mr. Fay looked right at Tommy. “The problem is this. When Ben got home, he slipped. The bathroom floor was wet. He broke his right leg.”

“What?” Tommy yelped. “Is this a joke?”

“It’s no joke,” Mr. Fay said. “Fear the bathroom. He’s at the ER now. His mom called. He can’t fight.”

“So who will …”

Tommy stopped talking. He understood the problem. Stars MMA needed a sub. The next best person was Tommy. No one else was even half as good. It would not be fair to put Hugo, Shelly, or Mac in the ring. They were good kids. So were the others in the class. Everyone loved MMA. But Tommy had the skills.

There was only one kid who could do it.

But the crowd. The noise. How could he keep his head on straight?

“Tommy?” Mr. Fay asked. “Can you do this?”

Tommy looked to his big brother. Rich smiled at him.

“Tommy, I know how hard big fights are for you. But this is your chance to change that,” Rich said. “Take it.”

Tommy looked at Mr. Fay. Rich was right. “Okay,”

he told Mr. Fay. “I’m in.”