A Life Worth Fighting Read Online Free PDF Page A

everyone that he still can fight.”
    Round one goes by with lots of punches being thrown by both of us. I draw blood first and I pat myself on the back.
    Later, it’s round four and I was hoping this would have been over with by now. I reprimand myself for not training more this week and for eating too many cinnamon buns. If I win this fight, I’m swearing off Jo’s famous cinnamon buns until my retirement from boxing. Training for boxing is important, but so is experience, and I haven’t fought for two years. My opponent looks even more tired than I do. I feel the warmth on my cheek and the salty taste of blood in my mouth. Blood. Great. The bell rings and we each go to our corners for our one-minute break. Gus stops the bleeding, Dad gives me water to rinse the blood from my mouth and Tim is on the phone. Who is Tim talking to on the phone? I watch him, half pissed off. Who in God’s name is he talking to? He hangs up and the bell rings again.
    At the end of round five, I have to admit that I am in pretty bad shape. My right eye is swollen shut and I am exhausted. The three minutes in the ring felt like three days. I take my seat and like before Gus tends to my injuries, Dad gives me water to rinse the blood out of my mouth and I think I see Tim holding my iPod. He inserts my earbuds in my ear and “The Eye of the Tiger” blasts through the buds. I suddenly feel like Rocky Balboa. My exhaustion is replaced with a newfound energy and a desire to win. My mouthpiece is re-inserted, the bell rings, and the earbuds are the last things they remove.
    It’s round six and I’m done playing. I hit him and he stumbles. It’s not good enough, so I hit him again and again and again. The song plays in my mind and I have never been so grateful to Tim in my whole life. I hit my opponent once more with all the energy I have and watch as he falls to the ground in what seems to be slow motion. He falls into the ropes and tries to grab onto them before he falls to the mat. He moves, and blinks, but he isn’t able to get up. On the count of 10, I raise my own arm. The crowd stands and holds up signs. Some are with my name and some have my name and picture. I nod into the audience before Gus, Dad, and Tim join me in the ring.
    I hear the announcer say, “This was Bobby ‘The Rock’ Grether’s first fight in two years. He won convincingly against a worthy opponent, and he has proven that he is ready to move up to the next level.”
    Leah
    I watch as Robert is announced the winner and he looks into the camera and says, “Leah, this is for you. I love you, Sweets.”
    I am crying and my lips tremble. He looks terrible. His right eye is completely swollen shut and he has cuts on his face. Mom hugs me to try to console me. As soon as he is escorted out of the ring, I call him; no answer. I keep calling until someone answers. I know he is being checked out by his team and the doctors, but I need to talk to him. He finally answers a little too cheerfully, “Hey, Sweets.”
    “Ace, what in the hell was that?” I don’t try to sugarcoat my anger.
    “That was a fight.”
    “Why were you in there playing? No, never mind. Get better, get home and if you fight like that again, you’ll be cleaning gutters and toilets every day at the shop. Do you hear me, Ace?” I think I hear him chuckling in the phone.
    “All right, Sweets.”
    “Don’t scare me like that again.” I try to control my tone. I want to cry, but I don’t want him to hear me.
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Robert, are you all right?”
    “I am; the doctor’s here now.”
    “Good, I love you. Call me when you get settled in your room for the night.”
    “I will. I love you, too.”
    I hang up and the tears fall. “Are you all right, Leah?” Robert’s mom asks.
    “I am. I’m mad and scared and angry and relieved…”
    My mother interrupts, “I know, Honey. All those emotions are normal. That was some fight.”
    “I don’t know if I’m strong enough for this. I