Evan and Cody only want one thing for Christmas: to watch the big UFC fight on pay-per-view.
Me? I’m asking for hip-hop lessons with Lalita and Kenna once wrestling season is over. After Kenna and I apologized to each other, we agreed that we need to plan something fun we can do together now that she’s not wrestling. And since hip-hop classes were Lalita’s idea, the three of us are signing up together.
Of course, Mom got super excited when I told her what I wanted. “Maybe I’ll get to be a theater mom after all,” she said. No, thank you.
Mom is not so happy with Evan and Cody’s idea. “Kickboxing. Exactly what we need to get in the Christmas spirit,” she complains. “Wouldn’t you rather watch The Sound of Music?”
Mom’s sarcasm is wasted on Cody’s peanut brain. “UFC is in the Christmas spirit,” he says. “Jesus kicks Judas’s butt in a mixed martial arts showdown.”
I slap my palm to my forehead. Cody gives new meaning to the word inappropriate. Anything that pops into his head pops right out of his mouth.
“Wrong holiday,” I say. “The Jesus/Judas smackdown is Easter.”
“You two need remedial Sunday school,” Mom says. She lifts a Santa dressed in a wrestling singlet and headgear out of the ornament box. We’re religious, but this time of year, that religion is wrestling. We spend more time at tournaments than we do at church.
No surprise, Dad takes Evan and Cody’s side. I never realized it before, but they are the Delgado family’s Fearsome Threesome, and I want in.
“I think we should do it,” Dad says when he picks Cody up for a dual meet. “If you’re okay with having the party here, I’ll handle the rest. Food. Everything. I’ll ask Billy and some of the Gladiators dads. The boys can invite their teammates.” Dad is convinced that the kids we know from wrestling are a good influence on us. I guess he’s never seen Cody and his St. Matt’s teammates attack a pizza. Mom says they should change the team mascot to a vulture.
“What about me?” I ask. My brothers aren’t the only ones with wrestling friends. But my question gets lost in Dad and Cody’s whirlwind of plans for the party.
On Christmas Day, we’re supposed to be relaxed and happy, singing Christmas carols and opening gifts, but Evan’s wearing his I’m-too-old-for-this face. He spends most of the day hunched over his phone. I haven’t seen him lately. Evan’s supposed to bring up his grades this semester, to impress colleges with his GPA, not just his wrestling record. He’s had some interest from college scouts, but nothing he can count on. No one’s promising my brother a scholarship. I hear my parents fight about it over the phone sometimes. Dad says Mom babies Evan and that if she keeps emailing his teachers, stepping in to fix things, he’ll never grow up.
After Christmas cookies and hot chocolate, Dad, Evan, and Cody clear the table so they have room to plan a menu for Fight Night. I linger in the kitchen, dunking Christmas cookies in my hot chocolate. Cody knows I’m eavesdropping.
“Come on, Mikayla,” he says, pulling out a chair for me. “Admit it. You want to watch the fight.”
“Only because girls are the main event,” I say. The champ is a former Olympic women’s wrestler who’s defending her MMA title.
Cody leans close to me. “It’s going to be bloody.”
I put my hand over his face and push him away. “I want to invite a friend too.”
“As long as you leave us guys alone while you do your makeovers.” Cody flutters his eyelashes at me.
I try to grab him in a headlock, but Cody slips away.
“Shrimp,” he calls me under his breath. It’s so annoying when Evan comes home. Cody starts showing off, acting like his old jerky self. I like it better when he thinks he’s the big brother. When he’s Next Man Up, he’s nicer to me.
“Who do you have in mind, Mikayla?” Dad asks.
“Lev Sofer.” I ignore Cody’s kissing noises. “Stop being gross, Cody. He’s my partner.”
For the past two months, I’ve spent most of my time with the Gladiators. Sixth grade will be halfway over in a few weeks, and I know Lev better than the kids at Dickinson Middle. I think about inviting Kenna too. But she’s been spending all her free time with Lalita lately. Besides, she wouldn’t be interested in staying up past eleven to watch kickboxing.
Evan tells Dad, “Lev’s a nice kid. He’s been a good partner to Mickey. Right, Mighty Mite?”
“Mickey’s got a boyfriend,” Cody teases. I should leap out of my seat and chase him up the stairs, but it’s Christmas, so I settle for giving him the Sisterly Death Glare.