Page:Jay Little - Maybe—Tomorrow.pdf/48

 look directly into each other's eyes. I'd sure like to tell him to go to hell, he thought. And someday I'm going to.

He tugged at the buttons on his shirt and slowly uncovered his chest. He strove against his warm-fleshed nudity as he pulled off his underwear. He felt eyes watching him standing there naked and he was glad he wasn't short and fat like some of the others. He grabbed his blue gym trunks and quickly slid his slender legs through them.

He stood there with the others, arms folded, waiting for the instructor to speak. He looked at the tangled hair, the blotted pinkish chest of his teacher and the dirty red trunks around the flabby waist. You ugly thing, he thought. You filthy person. At least you could have your trunks washed.

He squirmed, wishing they'd start, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. He hated the class and after the first trying week, was on the verge of quitting, but decided against it. He was determined to have a good physique, and the exercises would do that for him. He had worked hard all year but it had been worth it. He had developed handsomely. Even his hatred for his teacher had subsided at times—other times his hatred had deepened.

There was a mad scramble of naked legs and arms when the instructor yelled, "That's it for today, fellows. Hit the showers!"

Gaylord stepped aside to let a running boy pass. Another stuck out his foot and tripped the would-be Mercury … then laughed. They all laughed at the sprawled out body on the floor, all except Gaylord. To him, it wasn't funny … why, the fall could have broken a leg.

Yells of delight filled the room and echoed in the huge beams overhead.

Gaylord slowly walked to his locker. He was anxious for the others to shower and leave. He wanted to be alone when he took off his trunks. Wanted to be alone when he stood under the long line of showers.

He opened his locker and ran his hands through his pants' pockets … trying to locate something … anything to take up time. Then he hung them back, glanced around the almost deserted room. I guess 38