Nancy's Challenge : Part 1
by M.C.
Nancy and Andrew meet at the park.


The pretty young girl walked over to the large boy who was standing near the
basketball court where she and her friends were playing. " Are you Andy
Duncan ? " she asked him.

" My friends can call me Andy; you can call me Mr. Duncan," he said as he
looked down at her. " And who might you be ? "

" My name is Nancy. I just moved into the neighborhood a few weeks ago."

" Well then my sweet young thing; what can I do for you ? "

" Well for starters - Andy - you can stop bothering me and my friends while
we're playing basketball.  We find those lascivious statements you were making
about us very offensive. So I'm asking you politely, please apologize to us
and kindly discontinue your boorish behavior.

" Lascivious, boorish ? " he asked with a perplexed look on his face.

" Oh, excuse me, I forgot I was speaking to a Neanderthal. I suppose the word
'salacious' would be equally incomprehensible to you." The blank stare on his
face indicated that it was. Nancy sighed. " Well then, how about ' lewd', or '
crude' ? " This time she got a reaction.

" What's your point ? " Andy asked angrily. The powerfully built champion
light-heavyweight wrestler  was not used to being spoken to in such a
condescending manner - especially by a girl that he literally towered over.

" My point is - and I'll try to use small words so you'll be able to
understand me - we girls don't really appreciate the way you speak to us. We
find those sexist comments you made while we were on the basketball court very
offensive. Please apologize to us and reframe from making any more...or else
I'll have to resort to *sterner* measures."

The six-foot one inch, 190 pound seventeen year-old boy folded his muscular
arms and stared down at the sixteen year-old girl in front of him. She
couldn't have stood more than five-feet five inches at the most and weighed,
perhaps, 130 pounds." And what 'sterner' measures did you have in mind, my
little cupcake ? "

Nancy looked up at him. She knew he was baiting her but she kept her cool and
simply said, " you don't want to know Andy; trust me on this, you really don't
want to know. Now, I'm asking you nicely for the last time - please apologize
and promise you won't make any more sexist remarks to us. Then we can all just
go about our business."

" And what if I refuse ? " he asked with a smug smile on his face.

" Then I'm afraid I'm going to have to beat you up," she replied as casually
as one would say ' I'm going to take out the trash'.

" You ? " he laughed," you're going to beat me up ? I'm larger, stronger and
more powerful than you are. I'm the defending city champion high school light
- heavyweight wrestler and...I'm a man. What chance would you possibly have
against me in a fight ? "

" Well, we'll just have to see about that, won't we ? " Nancy removed her
sweatshirt and handed it to Cathy, one of her friends who was standing
near-by.

" Are you sure you know what you're doing Nancy ? " Cathy asked. " I know
you're new here so I'll fill you in; Andy is one of the toughest kids in our
school. You'll find out next week when the summer vacation ends and we all go
back."

Nancy smiled at her friend, winked and said," you mean one of the toughest
*boys* don't you ? " She then turned her attention back to Andy. " Very well
then tough guy, let's see what you've got." Nancy put up her small fists and
began bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet like a boxer; her long,
blond ponytail swishing from side to side as she did." And don't forget Andy,
I did warn you didn't I ? "

Because she was challenging him publicly in front of the other girls, Andy
felt he had to do something; he couldn't just walk away. If he did, then word
might spread that this small girl forced him to back down and his pride
wouldn't allow that. As he outweighed her by some sixty pounds and stood a
good eight inches taller - not to mention his powerful athletic build -
Andy closed in on Nancy thinking he would make short work of her. " I'll just
grab this bitch and throw her pompous ass to the ground," he thought to
himself," let's end this silly thing as soon as possible." But when he came
within range of her fists, Andy received a rude surprise.

" Punch, punch," Nancy said as she hit him squarely on the jaw with two
lightning fast left jabs and scooted away. She then suddenly darted in again
and," punch, punch," landed two more. Her hand speed was impressive as was her
ability to move in and out; obviously she had some boxing training. " Punch,
punch," she said again as she landed another two jabs. Although her punches
didn't really hurt him, they did sting; and he found her incessantly saying
'punch' whenever she connected annoying.  He was also bothered by his
inability to grab her as she quickly moved in, landed her blows, and then
moved away." Punch, punch, punch," she said as she landed three more left jabs
- one connecting squarely on the nose which actually did hurt. But what was
even more troublesome to him was the small crowd of kids that were now
beginning to gather around them to watch. Things were getting serious.

" O.K. girly, if it's a fight you want, it's a fight you're going to get," he
growled as he came after her with his fists clenched." You'll be sorry you
ever messed with Andrew Duncan."

" Punch, punch, punch," she said after landing yet another series of quick
jabs to Andy's face; oblivious to his threats. Her foot speed was as
impressive as her hands and she seemed to know intuitively when to attack and
when to retreat. Always moving, the amazingly fast girl never gave her larger
opponent a target to strike at. And when he missed with a wild punch of his
own - which was often - she was quick to take advantage of it. " Punch, punch,
punch," Nancy said after ducking under Andy's errant right hook and stinging
him three more times in the face.

Despite the fact that she was nowhere near as strong as Andy, after hitting
him some twenty times with her fists Nancy succeeded in giving him a bloody
nose, a fat lip and a reason to beware. He, on the other hand, had failed to
connect even once. "Punch, punch," she said as she nailed him two more times.
Her relentless attack coupled with her constantly saying 'punch' every time
she hit him, began to unnerve the larger boy. Being out boxed by a much
smaller girl in front of what had now grown into a rather large crowd of kids
- many of whom he had bullied over the years - was making Andy desperate. He
was a champion high school wrestler; he had his reputation to consider. If
this little girl could kick his ass in a fight, how would he ever be able to
show his face in school the following week ? He had to beat her...he just had
to. " Punch, punch, punch," Nancy calmly said as she landed three more quick
blows.

After several minutes, conditioning also began to play a part - and here Nancy
also seemed to have an advantage over her larger opponent. A well conditioned
athlete, she always kept herself in tip top shape. Andy, by comparison,
slouched off in the summer. As their fight continued, this began to show. "
Punch, punch; you appear to be a bit tired there Andy," Nancy teased as she
nailed him with a solid left-right combination to his jaw, " not keeping in
shape in the off season ? "  Another quick series of jabs sent him reeling
backwards. " Are you ready to give up now, big boy ? " she asked, not
even breathing hard.  " If you say you're sorry for making those sexist
statements to me and my friends and promise not to do it again, we can end
this thing now."

" No way bitch ! " he replied angrily and gasping for breath," you haven't
beaten me yet ! "

Nancy sighed. " Very well then tough guy...have it your way." Taking advantage
of Andy's weakened condition, Nancy launched a vicious and sustained attack on
the large boy. " Punch, punch, punch, punch, punch..." Her fists flew so fast
that Andy couldn't stop them; they seemed to be coming from five different
directions at the same time. She drove him back up against a tree and began to
hammer away at him. " Attagirl Nancy," her friends shouted out," show that big
bully what girls can do." The crowd of kids that had gathered to watch the
fight also began to cheer. Most of them had been a victim of Andy's bullying
at one time or another and they were glad to see him getting his wings
clipped. That it was a girl who was administering the beating, well, so much
the better. Nancy paused briefly from pounding Andy, smiled and curtsied
before them before returning to the business at hand.

" Punch, punch, punch," she continued as she drove a series of lefts and
rights into the now almost defenseless boy. He was pinned back
against the tree and the smaller girl was simply using him for a pinching bag.
When he tried to protect his face, she punched him in the stomach. When he put
his hands down to his stomach, she pounded his head. Nancy was giving a boxing
clinic and, as always, you could hear her say 'punch'  whenever her fists
landed." Punch, punch, punch..."

When she connected with a solid right uppercut to his jaw, the 190 pound
boy spun around and fell to the ground. Realizing that he was being completely
out fought by a girl in front of almost everyone in the park Andy panicked
and tried a different tactic; running away. " And just where do you think your
going, Andy ? " Nancy yelled as she took off after him," I'm not quite through
with you yet." He hadn't gone more than fifty  yards before the speedy girl
caught up to him. She dove and wrapped her arms around his legs; bringing the
fleeing boy down with a perfect tackle - too bad a football coach
wasn't watching. Then, grabbing his right foot in both of her hands, she
twisted his leg around, forcing him to roll over on his back.

Quick as wink, Nancy leaped on top of him, straddled his chest with her
legs and putting her knees on his arms; pinning the champion wrestler on the
grass. She now began to slap her helpless opponent hard; back and forth
across the face with her open hand." Let me know when you've had enough...Mr.
Duncan," she teased. He couldn't out-fight her, he couldn't out-run her.
Unable to free himself and continuously subjected to her hard slaps, what was
left of Andy's pride broke down. He was beaten.

" Please Nancy, please stop this. I give up. Stop hitting me, please ! " He
was bleeding from the nose and mouth, had at least one black eye and probably
a dozen welts and bruises all over his body. Never in his life had Andy
received a beating such as this.

" Are you going to apologize to me and my friends for your rude behavior now ?
" she asked him one more time," and promise not to do it anymore ? " Nancy
held her open hand up, prepared to strike him again if she didn't get the
answer she wanted to hear.

" Yes, yes, I will." He was on the verge of tears now. " I'll do anything you
say...anything, but please stop hitting me."

" Very well then," Nancy said, still sitting on his chest. " Girls, come over
here; Andy has something to say to us." One by one, Nancy made the beaten boy
apologize to each her friends; it was humiliating to say the least. Here was
the mighty Andrew Duncan - champion light-heavyweight high school wrestler -
lying on his back with the sixteen year-old girl who had just battered him
sitting on his chest. She was  forcing him to humble himself before a group of
giggling teen-age girls while a crowd looked on.

When the apologies were over Nancy rose to her feet. Looking down at Andy she
smiled and said, " well I hope you learned your lesson today, tough guy. Treat
us girls with respect from now on or else." She smacked her right fist hard
into her left palm and continued," because the next time I won't be so easy on
you." With the spectators all standing around and laughing, Andy - once the
dreaded bully of the neighborhood - got up and broke into a run. He didn't
stop until he reached his home, nearly a mile away. He went straight into his
bedroom, fell on his bed and began to cry.

" Gosh you were great Nancy !," her friend Cathy said as she handed the
victorious girl back her sweat shirt. " Where on earth did you ever learn to
fight like that ? "

" When you grow up in a household with four tough older brothers, you learn
how to fight for what you want...or else you don't get it."

" Gee, do your brothers always give you a hard time ? "

Nancy laughed as she smacked her fist into her palm again. " Not anymore
Cathy, not anymore."

" And why do you say 'punch' all the time when you hit somebody ? "

"Oh that. Well, when I was a little girl I used to read Wonder Woman comic
books - the truth is, I still do. I noticed that whenever she punches somebody
out, it says " WHAM " or " POW ". She was my heroine so when I began to fight
my brothers - as well as neighborhood bullies - I imagined myself being Wonder
Woman smacking them around and said those things when I'd hit them. Now I just
say 'punch' - it drives the guys I fight crazy." She paused for a minute,
reflecting on events of the past." So girls, shall we finish our basketball
game ? I believe our side was taking the ball out." Her friends all giggled as
they returned to the basketball court.

Andy didn't leave his bedroom for the rest of that day. He just lay on his
bed, trying to come to terms with what happened to him. Fortunately his
parents were on vacation and wouldn't be back for another week, he could be
alone. He didn't know what he'd do once school began. No doubt by then
everybody will have heard about the incident in the park. He just didn't know
what he was going to do.

The next day he stayed in bed until almost noon. When he got up, all Andy
wanted to do was sit on the couch and watch T.V...and try to forget about the
events of the proceeding day. Around one o'clock there was a knock on the
front door. "Just what I don't need today," he thought to himself..."
visitors; maybe if I don't answer they'll just go away." A minute later the
doorbell rang. Andy sighed. He slowly rose from the couch and walked over to
the door. But, when Andy opened it, his swollen jaw dropped as he looked at
the last thing in the world he wanted to see.

" Why hello there Andy, remember me ? It's your little friend punch, punch;
tee, hee, hee." Before he had a chance to slam the door in her face, Nancy
pushed her way past him and entered his home. " I just dropped by to see how
you were doing after our little *encounter* yesterday at the park. Imagine my
surprise when one of my girlfriends told me that we live only two blocks
apart."

Andy stared down at the small girl who had, only the day before, battered him
so comprehensively in the park. He didn't know what to say. " Wha - what are
you doing here ? " he finally muttered.

"Just what I said Andy, I wanted to see how you were doing. That was a pretty
good beating I gave you yesterday; not that you didn't deserve it mind you. I
just wanted to make sure you were all right."

Andy would have liked nothing better than to physically throw her out of his
house. But the aches and pains he felt all over his body reminded him that
there was little likelihood of his being able to do that. Nancy flashed him a
pretty smile and said," well, I see that you're still alive." As she looked
around the room something caught her eye. It was a large display case filled
with trophies from various sports; golf, tennis, bowling and - of course -
wrestling...all won by Andy. " Hmmm, I see you're quite the athlete,
aren't you Mr. Duncan ? " 

" What do you want ? " Andy asked; his frustration evident in his tone of
voice. Andy was still in something of a state of shock that the girl who had
beaten him up and publicly humiliated him the day before was standing right in
front of him...in his own living room no less.

Nancy gazed at the trophy case for a few moments before answering." Andy, I'd
like to offer you a wager. You pick any three sports that you think you're
good at and I'll bet I can beat you in every one of them. If you win even one,
then I'll transfer to a different school and you won't have to see me again."

" And if you win all three, then what ? "

Again Nancy flashed him her pretty smile." Then, my big cupcake, you have to
become my boyfriend; for as long as I want."

Andy took a long, hard look at her. " O.K." he thought to himself," so she's a
good boxer - probably trained in martial arts. But she's still just a girl.
I'm sure I can find something I can beat her at. After all, I'm a guy aren't I
?  And a damn good athlete at that. Do I really want to see the girl who
humiliated me every day in school ? If she's true to her word then - after I
beat her - she'll be gone...out of my life; hopefully forever."

" I accept you're challenge," he said at length.

" Good," Nancy grinned," so, what's our first event ? "

End of part 1