Fish and the Nurse

It was late evening. The last few rays of light whispered from behind the houses in front of us. We were sitting on a curb. There was a heavy Sunday night feeling hanging over us. The streets were empty, quiet, dead, and depressing. Our freedom was ending.

We sat speculating on what it was going to be like. We worried about how severe the hazing would be. How would the older kids welcome us? There would be the traditional knocking of books out of hands. The smaller kids would be put in lockers, no doubt. Harmless stuff, we convinced ourselves. There was nothing to worry about.

Then Fish came towards us. He was called Fish because he worked at Trautwein’s Fish Market on Seneca Street. He always reeked of fish, hence, Fish. He came out of the house across the street.

He walked on the balls of feet which made him bounce as if at sea. He wore glasses and had a thick blonde mustache. His head swiveled and his arms dangled. He was smoking a cigarette. As he walked towards his red Trans Am, he looked over at us.

“You fuckers better not scratch my car with those fucking skateboards,” he hissed.

“We won’t,” we said in unison.

He stopped and eyed us with a mean stink eye. Then he walked over. My balls tightened. Fish went to the Senior High but looked as old as my father.

“What are you shits doing out anyway? Don’t you have school tomorrow?”

“Yeah.” I said. My voice shook a little.

“What grade you going into anyway?”

“Seventh.”

“Shit. That right? Man, are you ready for the nurse?”

“What about the nurse?”
“You don’t know about the physical the first day of Junior High? Shit. I can’t believe you don’t know about the nurse. I hope you’re ready.”

“Ready for what?”

“She’s gonna pull you into the Nurse’s office, take you behind a screen, and make you pull your pants down. You’re gonna have to stand there with your little dick hanging there in front of the nurse. Then, she’s gonna make you look at a nudie mag. Now, if you don’t get a boner, there’s something wrong with you. It means it doesn’t work.”

“You’re lying.”

“You think I’m fucking lying!” Fish took a step at us like he was going to throw a punch. We all fell onto our backs. “If you’re dick doesn’t work, they’re gonna call your parents and send you home. You’ll find out tomorrow. You better hope you get a boner.”