Diplomat

Kerry knew everyone, EVERYONE.  Most people liked him, some thought he was full of shit (me being part of both these groups), and few disliked him.

I found a picture of the Calvert Hall Cafeteria and I remembered something that really summed up how Kerry fit into any group.

The tables in the picture above, used to be arranged 90 degrees from this.  Two tables together.  It was Sophomore year, 1984.  I guess we had a typical high school cafeteria setup.  Maybe a little different in that it was open from 10am until 2 pm and you could go anytime you had a free period.

The "tables" consisted of two tables together, about 12-14 chairs.  Enough to cover a good chunk of a team, club or group.  That was the way things ended up.

Football table (center)

Soccer table  (left one table over from FB)

Lacrosse table  (god damn so many teams at a boys school)

Swimmers table (next to football, swimming was big)

And so on with the sports..

General Popular table (these guys floated around working the crowd)

Band table

Art table 

Headbangers 

Preppies

Potheads

Punk Rockers (hey it was the 80s)

many more

My group sat at that last table.  Kerry hung with us, the only "normal" looking kid at the table.  He knew people at all the others.  I think mainly through his brother, Jeff, who was student body president our Freshman year.  He sat with us because we were pretty far from that world.  He fit in with both.

As you can imagine, there is a lot of uncontrolled testosterone in this room most of the time.  My table was diagonally two tables over from the football players, one from the swimmers.  The headbangers were behind us, usually arch enemies to the punk rockers.  In our school we had an alliance so to speak again the rest of them.  Well to an extent.

I started trouble.  I started trouble all the time with people who could kick my ass.  Kerry always said I was a dumb ass and always wondered why I did this.  At that time I did it for respect of my friends at my table, respect of the people I started trouble with.  Looking back now, I think I did it because I couldn't help it.  I've never liked being part of the crowd and I think going against the crowd in such an in your face way was my method at the time.  Kerry thought this was just stupid.  He was a lot smarter on that, but I think he liked the rebelliousness.

Typical day of name calling, rude gestures across tables.  Punks flipping off Football, Headbangers picking on the band geeks, etc.  We were going at it as usual with the football players.  I think we pissed on off a little too much, he came over and punched the closest punk in the jaw, me.  I was pretty stunned.  Kerry got up and went over to the swimmers table.  My friends were laughing, and some were shocked.  Things didn't usually get to physical violence.

I felt the feeling that always precedes me doing something stupid, and I ignored it as usual.  I got up and got in the cafeteria line, purchasing a Hostess Cherry pie.  I unwrapped it, and palmed the pie alone in my hand facing away from me.  I headed over to the Football table.  I passed my friends, Kerry was back at our table, and they went silent.  All of them knew I tried to one-up anyone who got the better of me.  I got to the football table (they were watching me approach), the guy arrogantly sat there looking like "what is your skinny ass gonna do?".  I smashed the cherry pie on his head.

There was a split second of shock at that table that I had the balls to do that.  Then they stood up.  I knew going in this was a suicide mission.  I don't recall but I think I closed my eyes waiting for the hurt.  It didn't happen.  The swimmers had stood up and gotten between me and the rest of the football players.  I don't recall the details, but I remember a senior swimmer talking them down saying that they provoked me and just to be cool and call it even.

I ended up back at my table, the period was almost over and I was actually glad to get to class. I never asked Kerry what he said.  I know now that that preppie kid knew I was going to get myself killed.  I don't know if he owned them a favor, if they were just doing it for a friend's (Jeff's) brother.  Whatever the case, Kerry knew I was about to get my stupid ass in serious trouble and he thought fast and saved me.  

I used to be such a hothead in high school.  Kerry was cool and saved me from myself many times over those years at Calvert Hall.  I can only hope I did something as good even half as much for him.