by T. M. Meek
Alex paced Leena’s room as they waited for Julio to show up. It had been nearly a week since all three of them had last worked on the presentation for the Triple-C and Alex was anxious to see how Julio had kept up his end of the deal. After ringing the doorbell and being admitted into the Lilly home, Julio came bouncing up the stairs and quickly entered Leena’s room.
“Hey! What’s up?” Julio asked a little out of breath.
“Just waiting for you.” Leena smiled politely. Then she snuck behind Alex and mouthed to Julio, “Alex is upset.”
“So, Julio. I understand that you may not have been able to work on the Triple-C when you were suspended at home. But just out of curiosity, how much have you been able to get done. I mean, after all, we were all working on this before you got suspended.” Alex said in some frustration.
“I got some stuff done. I couldn’t use the internet but we do have encyclopedias at my house,” Julio responded timidly as he plopped himself down on a nearby chair at Leena’s desk. He then let himself get distracted by a piece of crystal that had sunlight shining through it displaying a rainbow of colors on Leena’s wall.
“Hey, rainbow boy. I’m talking to you.” Alex said as she folded her arms across her chest.
“Don’t call me rainbow boy! I know what you’re implying,” Julio turned and said angrily back at Alex.
“I’m not implying anything Julio.” Alex said defensively.
“He’s been cyber bullied lately about being secretly gay. He’s a little touchy about it and I don’t blame him.” Leena said in Julio’s defense.
“I was talking about the rainbow on the wall from the crystal.” Alex said apologetically. “I didn’t mean to imply you were gay. But if you were I wouldn’t condemn you for it.”
“But I’m not gay!” Julio added emphatically.
“I just said if you were.” Alex said sympathetically. Leena decided to chime in and use her talent for peacemaking before an emotional war of words breaks out.
“Look let’s just all agree that if any of us were then it wouldn’t have to be a touchy subject. None of us here would condemn anyone else so let’s just leave it at that and drop the subject. Besides, we’re here to work on the presentation right? Not fight.”
“I agree. But I still want to say that I’m not gay and I don’t think it’s right for someone to cyber bully me by texting me and accusing me of it when I’m not. I know I’m not and I’m not offended by someone else being that way, but it bugs me that those people who are offended by something that isn’t even true would be so blind as to see someone for something that they’re not. Some people are just idiots. I just think it’s sad that those who are gay and don’t want to be made fun of for it probably can’t handle the bullying as well as I can. Personally, when it comes right down to it, I don’t really care what other people think unless I am setting a bad example and I’m hurting someone. Other than that, God knows what’s true and if someone else believes something about me is true that really isn’t, then too bad for them. I’m not going to lose any sleep over it!” Julio said in a controlled tone of righteous indignation.
“Unless you’re being framed for sexting. Then it does matter what others think of you.” Leena countered.
“Yeah but that problem is solved.” Julio replied with some regret.
“I feel the exact same way.” Alex smiled. “I don’t usually care about someone else’s opinion either unless they think I’m setting a bad example. If they correct me, I try to be open to it. But otherwise, just like you said, God knows what’s true and that’s good enough for me. If I’m doing something I know is right and someone criticizes me and says it’s wrong, I let my conscience guide my actions, not the opinions of other people.”
Leena looked on in wonder as she saw Alex and Julio revealing a deep inner strength and sense of self confidence in a way Leena at times lacked. That common ground caused Leena to feel a mix of feelings. On one hand she felt a bit jealous and left out of what seemed like super human emotional powers of strength that Julio and Alex shared, and on the other hand, she felt a surge of excitement to have these two as such close friends to her and such good examples by not being so easily swayed to follow the popular trends of peers and others.
“Well, it looks like you two have found something in common that you both agree on. That’s nice. Why don’t we get back to work?” Leena smiled trying to mask her mixed emotions.
“Sounds good to me.” Julio answered somewhat half-heartedly. He was more eager to have fun if the opportunity presented itself rather than to actually work. He felt like he had just been released from prison. He wanted a break from anything too serious.
“My favorite brother, Glade, has been accused by others of it just because he’s still a virgin. And I think it’s great that my older brother values virtue.” Alex said this honesty just in case Julio had also been mocked for setting a good example by placing a high value on chastity. Julio let out a heavy sigh as he wondered if maybe he had overreacted. But he said nothing more.
“So where were we?” Leena asked and then felt a sharp twinge of regret for asking as she quickly remembered Alex started out ready to lay down the law if Julio hadn’t kept up his end of the deal for getting work done for the Triple-C.
“Oh yeah, I was asking Julio what work he’d gotten done so far.” Alex smiled contentedly. Julio looked at Leena with a look of frustration as if to blame her for not doing a better job of staying off of the subject of Julio’s potentially lax attitude about his responsibilities. “Well, not to worry.” Alex said. Both Julio and Leena looked confused. “After all, Julio recalls the agreement I emailed him about a month ago, don’t you Julio? You know, the email that said what you would agree to if you didn’t do your part and you instead opted to have me do more of your work on the presentation for you. You remember, right Julio?” Alex smiled wryly.
“Yeah. I remember.” Julio said.
“And you did, in fact, read the email I sent, right?” Alex inquired of him cleverly.
“Yeah. I read it.” He lied.
“Oh good. Then you remember the part that said that I was willing to do any of the research work you didn’t do and that I would have no problems doing it. Right?”
“Yeah. That’s right.” Julio leaned back with a confident smile.
“So how much of your work have you done. Remembering that I’m happy to do most of your research work instead.”
“Hardly any of it.” Julio said relieved to not have to try and cover up his shortcomings in the research he had originally agreed to do.
“No problem.” Alex said. Julio nodded and smiled naively not even realizing what was coming but Leena knew Alex was not likely to let him off easily and so Leena lowered her head shaking it in regret for Julio’s sake as she could see Alex was coming in for the verbal contractual kill. “Well, Julio, then its settled.” Alex said.
“It’s settled.” Julio continued to smile.
“The email agreement, as I’m sure you’ll recall since you said that you read it…”
“Yes I did.” Julio lied again.
“…It said that if you chose not to respond to my email then it is correct for me to understand that you are agreeing to my terms which of course were that any research work I do that you do not do by October 15th, would cost you in Halloween candy in an effort to encourage you to acquire more healthy eating habits.”
“What?!” Julio exclaimed in shock and disbelief.
“The proceeds will be given away to a much more worthy cause. In other words, your payments due, in candy, will be used to either sell to other students at school in November, with the money raised going to fund any supplies needed for our presentation efforts, or the candy will go to the trash at my option. Unless it’s a low sugar, more healthy candy or treat.” Alex said calmly.
“I didn’t agree to that!” Julio protested.
“Oh, yes… you did.” Alex smiled slyly.
“No I did not.” Julio insisted.<
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“It’s in the email that you opted not to reply to.” Alex said clearly.
“Well, I’m replying now.” Julio said anxiously as he quickly grabbed his cell phone from his pocket to send a fast email back to Alex.
Alex quickly swiped the phone out of Julio’s hands as she said, “It’s too late. You had to respond within 24 hours of the date my email was originally sent.” Leena looked on in helpless sympathy for Julio.
“Oh, for a fluffy puppy!” Julio said loudly in frustration. “Leena! Are you going to let her do this?” Julio contested. Leena said nothing but looked at Alex and shook her head giving Alex a strong, disapproving stare.