My Awkward Phase

Hip-hop blared and the disco ball swirled strobe lights around the knots of students huddled in their cliques. Anne and Barb were Bonnie and Clyde. We huddled nervously in a corner as Marta’s gangster friends glared from their corner and the jocks and their dates gawked, incredulous at our stunt. I didn’t care what they thought of our burlesque of their celebration. Soon, I would be going to a UC or Michigan; they were going to Cal States, community colleges or fast food McJobs.
Miguel glared at me and Marta, ordered his henchmen, Jack and, toward us.
“Rios, what the fuck?” Seth pawed the fabric of my gown.
“He’s a girly-boy,” Jack said.
My face reddened. Had my visual metaphor revealed too much? I had to reframe the issue.
“Don’t you get it?”
“Don’t fuck with me,” Jack said. He shoved me into the wall, and I dropped my tasseled wand. He ground it under his feet.
“Like your skinny little dick.”
Thad Jones pushed us apart.
“What’s the big joke?”
“We’re switching roles, spoofing Sadie Hawkins-”
“No one’s laughing,” Thad said.
“Think about it. You’ll figure it out.”
“Think about this, faggot.”
Jack gut-punched me, knocked the wind out of me. I staggered into Marta’s arms. Thad blocked Jack from pummeling me to the ground.
“Back off, Jack. Rios’s stunt’s not worth getting this party shut down.”
Jack withdrew, snarling.
“We’ll see who gets the last laugh.”
Marta pulled me toward the exit.
“We went too far.”
Barb’s eyes flashed with rage as she intercepted us.
“The right wingnuts who blamed gays for 9/11 created this intolerance.”
I caught my breath, picked up my splintered, and waved it at the crowd.
“The Intellectual Mafia doesn’t cave to bigots.”
“Run now and we’ll never stop,” Barb said, “Let’s dance.”
Marta kissed my cheek.
“OK, but only dancing. No more speeches to ignorant people.”
Marta led me to the dance floor. I easily copied Marta’s sinuous salsa. Lessons from a season of Cotillion my mom forced on me helped me anticipate her well-practiced spins and turns. My body became one with hers. We energized the nervous crowd, and soon the whole room was dancing with us. Our costumes were stippled with perspiration when the music finally paused.