Memories came flooding back. His first best friend in kindergarten. Wanda. His teacher separated the girls and boys in the class, but he always sat closest to the girls’ side and Wanda always sat closest to the boys side so they could sit together. He didn’t remember anything they talked about, but he remembered that they always talked at recess. At least until the teasing started.
Mario had started it, and his minions had followed his lead. Mario was that kind of kid. He made other boys feel like they were stronger because of him. He called Vic a girl. A fairy. Victor-no-dickter, which his followers thought was the funniest thing they had ever heard. Vic remembered boiling with rage and insisting that he was a man, not a girl. Prove it, Mario said. Punch your girlfriend in the face or you got no dick. Vic walked up behind Wanda and called her name angrily. She turned around. She looked afraid. Vic’s fists were balled up, but he couldn’t punch her. He pushed her to the ground and shouted “I’m not a girl! Just leave me alone!” He still remembered the look on her face. Shock. Confusion. Betrayal.
He couldn’t look at her or he’d lose it. He turned around and walked back toward Mario and his henchmen. Mario was smiling. Vic was already on the edge, and Mario’s smug, victorious grin was too much. Vic stomped up to him, pulled back his right fist, and punched Mario right in...