You Had It Coming by B.M. Carroll (snow like ashes series .txt) 📗

59

MEGAN

Jess is delighted to see them. ‘You came! I can’t believe you came! You too, Seb. This is great.’

They’re standing in the foyer of the community hall, where an area has been sectioned off for the fighters and their coaches. Alex is here too, and Jess’s sister, Natasha. Megan introduces Seb and they form their own little group.

‘The canteen is open, if you want drinks,’ Jess says, fidgeting with the lanyard around her neck. ‘If I were you, I’d go through to the hall pretty soon. The seats are filling up. I’d better get back to Billy. See you later!’

Billy, wearing blue, is sitting on a plastic chair, on the receiving end of a pep talk from Vince. He is listening and nodding, but his inky eyes stare in their direction. Megan assumes his opponent’s in red. Which one is it? Each looks as terrifying as the next.

‘Who’s for a drink?’ Alex asks, and takes orders before zigzagging through the crowd towards the canteen. He returns holding four cans in his huge hands.

‘To old friends,’ he says, raising his can of Coke with a hang-dog expression that suggests he doesn’t often find himself at no-alcohol events.

‘And sisters and brothers,’ adds Natasha, clinking enthusiastically.

Megan and Seb share a smile, and echo the toast. ‘To old friends, and sisters and brothers.’

Pink’s ‘Try’ is booming through the sound system, the lyrics apt for the occasion. It’s 7.45 p.m.: fifteen minutes until the first fight. Billy is fourth in the order. They join the line for the hall, paying the ticket price at the door in exchange for a fluoro-green wristband. Officials in white shirts and black trousers sit at tables on each side of the boxing ring. The atmosphere is electric. Voices, camaraderie and anticipation rise above the music. This is a grassroots event. The crowd is a mish-mash of ages, mainly comprised of friends, family and fellow gym members. There is the strong sense that everyone, from kids to pensioners, shares a love of the sport.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, welcome, welcome, welcome. We’ve got sixteen bouts for your entertainment tonight, including some belts up for grabs. We’ll be kicking off in a few minutes with some action in the heavyweight division.’

They find seats, towards the back. Alex and Seb are talking and laughing; they’ve hit it off. Megan feels another shift within herself. She has been unfair to Jess’s boyfriend, suspecting him of all sorts of awful things. And here he is, being so friendly and genuine. Sorry, Alex.

The lights in the hall dim, the ring illuminated with floodlights on each of the corners. The heavyweights are waiting to be called. They’re enormous: ninety kilos, according to the announcer. Megan is half enthralled and half appalled at the spectacle that’s about to unfold.

‘Megs? Have you got a sec?’ Jess has materialised, her expression anxious. ‘Billy’s complaining about a niggle in his shoulder … would you mind having a look?’

‘You know I’m not a physiotherapist, right?’

‘Yeah, of course. I think it’s all in his head. He’s nervous but won’t admit it. Fucking lawyers. Never tell the truth.’

They laugh without a trace of bitterness. Megan hands her Coke to Seb for safekeeping, and follows Jess out of the hall and back to the sectioned-off area in the foyer.

‘Which shoulder?’ she asks, looking into Billy’s almost-black eyes. ‘What’s the problem?’

‘Left one. Jarred it while I was warming up.’

Gently, she manoeuvres the arm in a few directions, checking the impact on his shoulder. ‘Doesn’t look like anything serious … Which one is your opponent?’

Billy nods towards a competitor wearing a red vest and shorts, shadow boxing a few metres away. His hair is shaved and he has a mean-looking face.

‘Shit.’

‘Thanks for the vote of confidence.’ He grins.

‘How about a massage to loosen up the shoulder?’ Megan offers, more as a sympathy gesture than anything.

‘Great. Thanks.’

Jess produces some gel from the medical kit. Billy’s skin is taut, tanned and warm. His shoulders rise and fall in line with his breathing. Megan’s breathing unconsciously syncs with his. The music pulses in her ears, fills her heart. Sometimes life presents a randomly exquisite moment. She goes with it.

60

JESS

Boxing is about trying to hurt someone, while abiding to a strict set of rules. Boxing is about intimidation and aggression, to give yourself an edge. You’ve got to have someone to hate in that ring. If it’s not your opponent, then you need to imagine someone else in their place.

‘Have you got someone?’ she asks Billy. ‘Someone you hate and want to hurt?’

‘Yeah. Yeah.’

Jess hopes Billy can summon some real aggression because Kyle, his opponent, looks dangerous. His shoulders are broad and powerful and he’s a few inches taller. This is his third amateur fight; experience is on his side, too.

Three rounds of three minutes each. Billy and Kyle receive some pre-fight instructions from the referee. They’re poised to begin, eyeing each other from behind raised gloves. Billy has swagger, but Jess can tell he’s scared shitless. She’s scared, too. He’s the first person she’s coached to this level. It’s her debut, too. The presence of Alex, Natasha, Megan and Seb is gratifying, but adding to her nerves.

The clang of the bell and they’re off. Billy and Kyle dance around each other, the referee watching closely. A half-hearted jab by Kyle, which Billy defends easily. He’s doing well. Being patient. Using the space.

‘Come on, Kyle,’ someone shouts from the crowd. The music has been turned down, the babble of voices acting as a soundtrack.

Two more jabs, which Billy defends, before landing a cracking right hook.

‘That’s it, mate,’ Jess responds. ‘Keep working. Don’t let him get away. Stay there and work!’

The bell rings. The first round is over. Billy returns to the corner and she hands him his drink bottle and a towel.

‘Great defence, mate. Don’t let him pressure you. But don’t give him too much time either.’

He nods, mopping the sweat from his face.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for the second round of action between