Don't Call Me Lainy

Elaine. That's my name and that's what I like to be called. I hate when people try to be cute and make change to it. There was this one guy. His name is Danny. Ugh! Do you know what he used to call me? Lainy. Yeah. He used to call me Lainy. And I hate it. What kind of a name is that? It's just...I don't know. Weird! Anyway, this guy had been calling me that since the beginning of the school year. If you want to know what happened, listen up!

*

First, a little background. I'm freshman at Summertown High. That's not important though. What important is I'm a fencer. Not a professional one of course, but I joined the school's fencing team. Why fencing? I just thought it's cool. I get to swing a sword and have a swordfight with other people. Cool, huh? Just like that Johnny Depp pirate movie. There are 15 students in the team but only 2 are freshmen. Can you guess who the other freshman is? Yeah, it's Danny.

Anyway, it was the beginning of the spring semester and I've ready for another fencing practice. I was kinda late so I was hurrying my pace trying to get to the gym. Right before I entered the gym, I heard him.

“Lainy! Wait up!”

Aargh! I could feel blood rushing up my head. “Danny, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me that!”

“Oh, come on, Lainy! It's a cute name!”

Cute? I lifted my right foot and gave him a swift kick on the shin. “Now, THAT'S cute!” I left him grimacing and went into the gym.

“Lainy, that hurts!”

I ignored him and approached a group of people at the end of the gym. They were the fencing team of Summertown High. We had a head coach named Coach Green. Unlike the other coaches in the school, he was actually fit and did not have a beer belly. I liked him. He was patient, especially with me and Danny and made sure we mastered all the basic technique. He wanted to hire an assistant but the school would not let him because of budget issue so the seniors helped out with our training. We're not exactly the most successful sports team in the school so, ah well, maybe i'll change that in 2 or 3 years. Anyway, that day, the coach had an important announcement.

"Alright everyone!" Coach Green said with his deep voice, "In two months, the California High School Fencing Championship will be held at West Orange High School. As always, all High School fencers are welcome to attend. Anyone interested can register through me."

"Will all 3 weapons be contested, coach?" Shaana, a transfer student from Colorado, asked. I heard she was the top fencer in her old school but had to move with her family.

"Yes. Foil, epee and sabre. Although, we don't really have a sabre fencer here." Coach Green looked around. "Noone's really interested in it."

"Hey, coach, can I switch to Epee next year?" I asked. Not that I didn't like foil. I just thought the epee was cooler and didn't scream “beginner!” if you know what I meant. Foil was usually the first weapon that a beginner fencer learns.

"You haven't even mastered the foil, Lainy," sneered Danny. "I think the epee is a bit out of your league."

I glared at her him. "Neither have you!"

"I'm not the one wanting to switch to epee."

"Okay, stop it, you too." The coach stopped us. "We are going to prepare for the competition." He grabbed his Nike sports bag, and retrieved a black magician hat from it.

"We're going to do magic?" Asked Roger, a senior fencer who lost in the quarter-finals in the previous competition. I chuckeld. Roger was always the funny guy. The Michaelangelo of the team.

"Yes, Roger. You definitely need some magic if you want to get a medal in the competition," remarked his coach, which caused all of us to laugh. Nah, I take that back. Coach Green's the Michaelangelo of the team. “We're going to have a mini competition of our own. Each class will have it's own competition so we'll have four different competition.”

"Aww, I was hoping I could spar with the seniors." Danny said half jokingly.

"Danny, you can't even beat me. How could you hope to beat the seniors?" I couldn't stand his braggings anymore.

"Who said I can't beat you?" Danny replied. “You better hope you don't have to face me.”

“Actually,” Coach Green interrupted. “Since you two are the only freshmen, you will face each other for the title of best freshman in the team.”

I liked that idea. I was glad I didn't have to face any seniors before I got to Danny.

“Ah. Okay, then. Lainy, you're going down!”

By then, I was completely numb from all his nonsense so I just ignored him. I had a chance to shut him up and I intended to use it.

“Your match is next tuesday. The seniors will be judging, so be prepared. We'll have a draw for the other three classes.” The happy-go-lucky coach proceeded to put several pieces of paper into the hat. “Oh, before I forget, all 4 winners will receive a prize.”

“What's the prize?” I heard Roger asked.

“Free dinner at Juan's.”

That particular announcement was greeted enthusiastically by every member of the team, including me. Juan's is the best Mexican restaurant in Summertown. It wasn't good, it was FANTASTIC! It surely gave everyone an extra incentive to win the tournament. Anyway, I didn't really follow the draw for the other three classes. I was to preoccupied with my own match with Danny. I knew I couldn't afford to lose.

*

The cool thing about our school was that they let us use the gym on Saturday. I had asked Stan, a senior in the team, to practice with me that day. There was one technique in particular that I wanted to learn. It was something that Coach Green refused to teach freshmen like us. I arrived at the gym early in the morning and found a group of cheerleaders practicing. Stan was at the back, apparently busy with our fencing equipment.

“Hey Stan! What are you doing?”

“Oh, hey Elaine! I'm counting our equipment. We might be missing an epee.” He had laid out the different weapons and gear and was sorting them out.

“I thought we count them after every practice.”

“We do. Maybe the coach took it. Anyway, they should be done in ten minutes.” Stan returned the weapons to their designated storage and observed the cheerleaders.

“Don't we have this place booked?”

“They've had it for an hour. They should've been done by now. I guess they went overtime.” He took a fencing jacket and threw it at me. “I guess we can warm up first.”

After waiting for the cheerleaders to finish, I stated my intention.

“You want to learn the Fleche?” Stan asked.

“It's the one technique we haven't learn. I want to have every advantage I can have for our match.”

“Hmm.” Stan paused for a moment. “It's against the coach's wish but, sure! Why not?”

“Yay! Thanks, Stan!”

In fencing, the two fencers usually duel each other from their own side, rarely passing each other. The Fleche, meaning 'arrow' in French, is the only attacking manouver that would take one fencer pass the opponenet. In simple words, it's a running attack with the blade pointed towards the other guy. I intended to use it against Danny.

“Remember. If you miss, he will have a free shot at you.”

“Got it!”

We spent thirty minutes practicing the Fleche. From the basic movement, to pulling it off in the heat of the match. It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be, but I thought I could get the hang of it. After that, we reviewed all the basic stuff. After all, I could not rely on just one technique. We had several practice matches where I tried using the Fleche, but Stan wasn't too impressed.

“Elaine, you were too obvious. Anyone could see that Fleche coming.”

“Sorry. I tried to mask it.”

“If in doubt, don't do it. Stick with the basic.”

“Okay, one more bout.” I started tiring and wanted to finish the practice session. I thought I was ready at that point. But when I was about to resume practice...

“Lainy! Getting an extra practice?”

Argh! I couldn't believe he showed up. Was he spying on me?

“Danny! What are you doing here?” I immediately walked to him, weapon still in hand. He ignored me and walked towards the storage area.

“I was thinking of getting a little extra practice myself.” He grabbed a foil and started swinging.

“We have this place booked. Wait your turn.”

“Actually, Lainy, the fencing team has this place booked so I have every right to be here.” He put on his fencing gear and started to stretch his legs.

“Enough! Don't call me Lainy!” I swung my foil towards his legs but he blocked it with his own.

“Okay! How about this.” Danny pointed his foil towards my face. “If you win, I will stop calling you Lainy. But if I win, you can't get mad if I call you that.”

I beat his foil to the side. “Fine!” I started thrusting and swinging my foil at him while he desparately parried every single attack. “When it's all over, you will learn how to treat girls with respect.”

Danny retreated towards the middle of the gym. “Hey, hey! What's the matter with you?”

I didn't relent and continued attacking him. He finally got sick of defending and fought back. I had been waiting for this. An all out, epic duel, no holds barred, and none of the restrictive rule of foil-fencing. We swung, thrusted and parried at each other. The sound of steel banging against each other filled the indoor gymnasium building. Seeing that neither of us could get the upper hand. I feigned retreat towards the back. Danny chased me there and thought he had me cornered. But I had another plan. I switched the foil to my left hand, and grabbed an epee with my right. I planned to overwhelm him with two weapons.

“Hey, wait a minute. You can't do that.” Danny started to back off.

“Yes, I can.” I started attacking again, managing to hit him several times as he could not block two blades with one.

“Enough! Elaine. Stand down.” Stan decided to step in and stopped the imminent bloodshed. “Settle this on Tuesday.”

I complied. I made my statement. I would not hold anything back on Tuesday. Deciding to end the practice early, I took off my fencing gear and grabbed my bag.

“I'm off. Thanks, Stan.” As I passed by Danny, I issued the final challenge. “You're going down, Danny.” Then I left. I felt good about my preparation. It's the waiting that had become the hardest part.

*

Before we get into the action, let me explain a few things. For foil, the target area is the torso, front and back. A hit on any of the four limbs doesn't count. The torso is divided into four areas. Above the bellguard and to the inside of the front arm, it's the 'four' area. For a right hander, that's the upper-left part of your torso. The upper-right is the 'six' area. The lower-left is the 'seven' and the lower-right is the 'eight'. Got it? Just reverse left and right for left hander. Okay, let's finish the story. It's just about to get good!

*

Finally. The long-awaited Tuesday had arrived. I arrived at the gym early to warm up and found that almost everyone in the team was already there. They were all staring at a piece of paper posted on the bulletin board. It was the order of play for today. There would be matches for the other classes and my match with Danny would be the main event for the evening. That wasn't ideal for me as I was really roaring to go and waiting would just get me nervous. Anyway, Danny arrived later and we didn't really talk until our match.

While waiting, I tried to watch the other matches and picked up a few strategies but I couldn't really focus. I just wanted my match to start as soon as possible. After waiting for almost an hour, Coach Green finally called us for our match. I grabbed my foil and mask and headed towards the piste, which is the narrow strip where fencing matches take place.

I stood on my side of the piste, foil unseathed. Across, I saw Danny with his eyes focused on me. I was wondering if he was nervous. I raised my foil to salute him and he did the same. I didn't really want to do that but it's the custom for two fencers to salute each other before a match.

“Okay, as usual, it's a race to 5 points with a three minute time limit. If the score is tied after three minutes, there will be a sudden death overtime.”

I looked at the coach, who refereed the match, and put on my mask. For some reason, it felt warmer than usual and I started to sweat. I couldn't wait to start and wished for the coach to give the green light. Finally, the word was given.

“En Garde! Ready! Go!”

I stepped forward and lunge towards his four immediately. Danny was there to parry the attack. I tried a different angle. From the outside this time. I feigned attack to his four, then pulled back and went for his six. Unfortunately, Danny was faster than I expected. He didn't buy the feign and parried my attack. In a quick move, he counted and hit me.

“Touch! Danny leads 1-0.”

Argh! I had to be more careful. When the match re-started, it was Danny who was more aggressive. He quickly launched a few attacks. I managed to parried them all but couldn't find an opening for a counter. Finally, Danny lunged just a bit too far and he went off balance. I took advantage and attacked his four succesfully after beating his blade away. 1-1.

Danny seemed a bit irritated by that and again was aggressive in his approach. I decided not to sit back this time and tried to press myself. We beat each other's blade back and forth for several seconds. I decided to feign again. Aiming towards his four, I lunged forward and then changed the direction of my blade down to his seven. Score! 2-1.

Phew. I got my first lead. Danny didn't look happy but he seemed to keep his focus. I tried to use my momentum and went for the attack. He seemed to be holding his blade closer to the center, guarding his four and seven. I tried to launch several attacks in those areas and true enough, he parried all of them. His guard stance left an opening on his six so I decided to attack him there. As soon as I lunged, he parried my blade with a stronger force than usual. I was taken by surprise and his parry flunged my right arm away, leaving me unbalanced. He took advantage and scored easily. 2-2.

That one surprised me. I guess I just had to hold it stronger. The next point would be very important. I decided to be more defensive, stepping back to inivite him to come forward. He tried several attacks, focusing on my four. I managed to parried them away, and it seemed to make him uncertain on how to proceed. Sensing his indecision, I made my move. I beat his blade to hard to the side and attacked his four. He moved his blade to parry, but I slid mine under his and attacked his six instead. That's a touch! 3-2 to me.

Sensing a momentum swing, I decided to end this quickly. Just two more points. I pressed him hard, stepping forward and forcing him back. He stood firm near his end and suddenly started to move forward. I retreated hastily. Too hastily. As I moved my feet to retreat, I felt a sudden pain on my left ankle and lost my balance. Danny took advantage to tie the match. 3-3.

“Argh!” I let out a scream as the pain on my ankle intensified. I was quickly surrounded by everyone in the team.

“Are you okay, Elaine?” I heard the coach's voice.

“I'm fine.” I was not going to let him or anyone stop the match.

“Are you sure, Lainy?”

“I'm fine!” I got up and decided right then and there that it would be the last time he called me that. It was just a minor injury and i wouldn't throw the match oever something like that.

“Okay then. 3-3. En Garde! Ready! Go!”

I had to end the match quickly before the pain became unbearable. I tried taking small steps forward. It didn't hurt much so maybe it was nothing. As soon as tried lunging, however, the pain came back. I lost focus for awhile and Danny took advantage. 3-4.

Crunch time! Down 3-4, I had to win the next two points. Sweat was running down my head inside the mask. I needed a new plan. I decided not to lunge unless I absolutely sure it would win me a point. Two lunges, that's all I had. I had to make them count.

I had a plan. I had been practicing this move with Stan on Saturday and it was time to put it to use. When the match restarted, I relaxed my defense, trying to draw him to attack. He moved forward, I stepped back. That's it! He took the bait! He lunged towards my six. I was ready for it. I brought my blade across as if to parry his blade away to my right. But I circled under and parry it the other way, to his right. He didn't expect it and his blade went too far outside. A quick counter later, I've tied the match! 4-4.

Ah! The pain! It was almost unbearable at that point. Just one more. One more point to decide the match. I was so close. I wondered what to do. Same thing? No. He would anticipate it. Then, I decided. The Fleche. That would be the way to end it. I got one shot. If I missed, he would have an open shot at my back.

I tried to focus, waiting for an opening. The last bout made him hesitant to attack. I beat his blade a couple of times, testing his defense. I needed to open him up, take his blade away from center. So I made a few moves towards his six, without lunging. It seemed to have worked. He put his blade closer to his six. That's the opening I have been waiting for. His four is vulnerable. It had to be quick. One shot. I extended my arm and made my move. The Fleche...

*

And so, that's how the match ended. Oh, you wanted to know who won?

“Excuse me, miss. Here's your Beef Burrito.” A friendly latino man came over to serve my order.

“Thanks, Juan!” I took the plate from the restaurant's owner.

Well, let's just say Danny won't be calling me 'Lainy' again. Thanks for reading my story. If you would excuse me, I have a burrito to eat.