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Chapter 3

Another powerful memory replayed in Indigo's mind's eye. "As you know, my family had moved here from Spain only one month before school started." Janet nodded, her ears leaning forward slightly as if eager to catch every word as soon as possible. Indeed, her whole body seemed to be tuned toward Indigo as he relived the day they met. "Papa was so certain I would be teased or picked-on that he prepared me to fight from the day he knew we would move to the States. On the first day of school, he was more concerned with my self-defense mindset than on my willingness to learn. So I went through that first day of school waiting for someone to give me an excuse to punch them in the face. No one did. Everyone seemed more friendly and curious about me than angry or resentful. Nobody even made any comment about my poor English. But that did not stop me from looking for potential fights. Papa had me ready to fight, and I guess I didn't want to disappoint him. Though I'm sure I wasn't consciously thinking that way at the time."

"Of course." Janet said. Indigo studied her for a moment, trying to read her posture. She was engrossed in his story like she had never heard it, but he was sure he had relayed some of this to her before. 'Maybe', he thought, 'she just wants to hear me tell my side all at once.' So without any more thought he continued.

"So I saw the three red foxes, the O'Malley brothers, would always group together before they went out on the playground. Then as a group with one or two others hanging on, they would do whatever they wanted because they had the strength of numbers. I knew it would not take long before we faced off. I was scared of them too, but I knew I had to fight if it came to that. But all day there was no confrontation between me and them."

"Until school let out." Janet said like she was trying to hurry the storyteller to the happy ending.

"Right." Indigo smiled at her enthusiasm. "After the bell I was as eager to go home as any boy. But Jason had stopped me to ask me how to say something in Spanish." I don't remember what, but it was probably profane."

"Boys." Janet shook her head.

"Yep, we never change."

"So then what?"

"Well, then I heard a scream. Of course it was the O'Malley brothers and three or four others tormenting a helpless girl."

"You mean a freakish looking red-haired girl."

"Janet," Indigo's voice was full of annoyance and warning, "stop."

"Sorry, I won't self-depreciate any more."

"Thank you. So I heard you scream, I saw who was leading the mob, I knew what I should do, and I was afraid."

"What?"

"I knew Papa would want me to fight those bullies, but I was outnumbered. Also, John and Jake were a year older than me. I was scared."

"But, you..."

"Yes, I did act. Papa made certain I knew I had to act even when afraid. 'Do first what you fear, and you will see the death of fear.' He made me memorize that. Remembering it helped me that day."

"Yes, it is a good quote. But, you yelled something else before the fight. What did you say then?"

"I shouted: '!Hijo de puta! Dejala en paz, coyones!' I was amazed at how much courage I gained from swearing at them."

"What was your trigger? I remember being harassed a while before you showed up. If you watched some, what made you decide to act?"

"You became the picture of defeat: shoulders slumped, ears laid down, and your face buried in your books like you were trying to hide. Yet all of them were prancing about like there was still game to this. Jerry was wearing your glasses, Jake was trying to get your books away to see your face, and then John went behind you and grabbed a handful your hair and yanked your head back hard." Indigo eyes hooded like he had just seen it happen again. "Well, that was when I shouted. That was my trigger. I guess I was fine with the teasing, until you surrendered. Then I thought: 'okay move on already, there's no challenge here'. But when the harassment became brutal, it made me sick."

"What happened next?"

"Nobody understood a word I had said, of course. But my tone made it obvious what I meant. They were starting to square up on me but, I stormed straight up to Gerry, ripped your glasses off his face with my left hand, and then punched him in the nose with my right."

Janet's eyes went wide with shock. "Wow, no posturing or warning?"

"No. Remember, Papa had me trained the month prior to do just what I had done. Find my adversary and hit him."

Janet nodded, "Then what happened?"

"I then dropped your glasses and started in on John. I hit him three times before he tried to hit back. They were all too surprised to act, and I made the most of that. John turned and ran from my assault, Jerry was on his knees holding his bloody nose and crying, and Jake just stood there like a statue through it all."

Janet laughed. "Really? He never tried to fight you?"

"Nope. He just stared at me as I picked up your glasses, wiped them clean with my handkerchief, and gave them back to you."

"But the next day he had a black eye." Janet puzzled, "I thought you gave it to him?"

"No, I didn't" I gave you my handkerchief to wipe your face and carried your books home for you. It makes you wonder who gave him the black eye. Was it his twin brother, or his father?"

Janet was silent for a few breaths. Indigo poured himself another coffee and glass of water. All the talking after his run was making him thirsty. "I don't feel sorry for him." Janet said finally. "He teased me mercilessly that day along with his twin and younger brother."

"Jake was a follower. He might be a decent guy if he could think for himself."

Janet nodded, but Indigo felt she didn't agree. "So why did you fight for me that day?"

"I thought I answered that question."

"Try again." Janet grinned, "Just the short version. Just you. What made you fight?"

Indigo reflected on that day, trying to conjure up all his emotions and thoughts. "I think I fought them because I knew I would have to eventually. They were bullies, and being a foreigner, I was just another mark waiting his turn." Janet nodded with a stony neutral expression. Indigo felt he had said something wrong, and tried to explain further. "Papa had me primed for a fight with bullies. Once I knew who they were, I was ready to fight them, and so I did."

"Mm hmm." Janet nodded in agreement. Her countenance unchanged. She took a drink of water and stared out toward the park. Indigo felt a little shamed, thought he had no idea why. There was nothing wrong with his answer, he was sure of it, but he could tell she found it unacceptable. "So Indigo," Janet looked back at him, "you asked what job I thought would fit you?"

Indigo was unsettled with the abrupt change of subject, even if it was back to their original topic. "Yes." He said, feeling insecure and uncertain.

Janet's face went taut like conflicting feelings were pulling at either side. "I think you would be a good cop." She said finally, but without emotion.

Indigo jerked his head back. "Come on," He said disdainfully, "Be serious." "There!" Janet said smugly, "That is why I didn't want to tell you. You aren't even considering my opinion. Don't let your experience with our local police cloud your judgment. You would be a good cop."

"Why do you say?"

"First, you agreed you have a passion for justice. Second, you like to keep in shape. Third, you are an extrovert and enjoy dealing with people. Fourth, I believe it fits with your helping/protecting nature. And fifth, it provides enough variety to keep you interested." Janet looked so intently at him he was transfixed for a moment. He wondered about the expression on her face. If he was reading her correctly, she seemed to contain sadness, longing, understanding, and bewilderment. But before he could ask she added: "And sixth, you are primed to fight bullies."

"Wow," Indigo said at last. "You have a lot of good reasons."

"I'm not trying to tell you what to do." Janet reiterated. "You may be more drawn to the FBI, or maybe your protective instincts will make you a high priced bodyguard for some famous person, or maybe even a Secret Service agent. Just, keep an open mind and don't dismiss anything too soon."

"You must have been thinking about this for a while to have such strong thoughts about it." He expected her to deny it immediately and attribute her fast thinking or her recent attention to the issue, but she didn't.

"That is my opinion." Janet said with business like finality. "Now if you will excuse me for a minute, I need to visit the ladies room before we tackle your last issue."

"Which is?" Indigo asked as she picked up her purse and turned toward the door.

"We need to find your next girlfriend." Janet's voice wasn't even, but she was walking into the cafe and Indigo couldn't see her face to get a hint at what she was feeling.