Chapter 4

Sophie Brooks pushed her cart up to the line and checked her watch. She was in her shapeless kitchen uniform and still had her ID lanyard around her neck. There were a couple people in line in front of her. The red head in the punk jacket directly in front of her turned, made eye contact and smiled.

Oh God, I know her. Sophie smiled, nodded and quickly looked down.

Oh my God, that’s Rose.

The redhead turned back and then quickly spun around. “Andr…” Rose froze and got a guilty look on her face. “I’m sorry, you look like somebody that I used to know.”

Sophie blinked, then looked up and smiled, “I really like that song.”

Rose smiled back, “Yeah it was really catchy.”

“Hi Rose, it’s been a long time,” Sophie said.

Rose turned around to see that the customer in front of her was still unloading groceries. “Yeah, remind me of your name again,” Rose said with a sly grin

Sophie smiled, Rose always had a way with people, “I go by Sophie now. You haven’t changed a bit,” she said.

“Clean living, Rose said as she pointed to a 12 pack of PBR in her cart. Sophie, that’s a really beautiful name, you look amazing.”

Rose glanced back to see that it was time for her to unload her cart. After the case of beer, she pulled out a few bags of chips, some coffee, a few frozen meals, ice cream and lots of soda.

“Still a health nut I see,” Sophie chuckled.

Rose grinned. “Yeah… Hey, you got time for coffee? I want to catch up.”

***

Sophie sipped her purple and orange bubble tea. Rose slid into the booth across from her with a latte. “So?”

Sophie looked up from her drink, “So?”

Rose sat her drink down, “I’m really happy for you. That you get to be yourself.”

Sophie nodded, “I’m a work in progress, but thanks.”

Rose bent forward with excitement “OK girl, tell me everything.”

Sophie took a long sly look at her ex and nodded, “Well when we split up it wasn’t long and I got with Janet.”

Rose blurted out a laugh, “Janet?”

Sophie shook her head, “You barely knew her.”

Rose laughed, “I knew everything I needed to know, she was so square. Mrs. Hollier than thou, direct line with Jesus. Wait. You got married!”

Sophie quickly turned away, and wiped her face, “2008, we dated for 3 years, and we have a son, but I don’t see him often.”

Rose’s smile melted, “You’re not together? I’m sorry.”

Sophie turned away for a second. “Divorced, but not because of this. I mean not directly, I didn’t transition when I was married. We were having issues.” Sophie buried the pain and smiled, “That’s enough of my shit, let's hear about your shit. What happened to you?”

“Not much to tell. The band fizzled out and I sold my bass, never really learned to play it right anyway. I dropped out of college, and started working.” Rose picked up her cup and held it out in front of her for a toast. “You’re having coffee with the head of shipping and receiving at Zan Metric Medical.”

Sophie tapped her cup. “That’s awesome, congratulations.”

Rose smiled, “It’s seriously the most boring job in the world, but the pay’s decent. Did you finish college?”

Sophie nodded, “Yeah, business management and I worked my way up to General Manager at Silo.”

Rose blinked and shook her head.

Sophie frowned “It’s a swanky restaurant for rich people downtown.”

Rose gave her a thumbs up, “That’s awesome.”

Sophie shook her head, “Nope, they suck. The owner determined they were too swanky for a transgender manager.”

Rose giggled then covered her mouth.

“That wasn’t supposed to be funny,” Sophie said.

“No, no, sorry. There’s this guy… Swanky, he’s a trip. Sorry no.” Rose wiped the smile off her face, “I’m sorry that’s bullshit, is that why you’re here and not in Louisville?”

Sophie took a sip from her drink, “Yeah, This is embarrassing but I’m living in my Mom’s basement apartment. I got a job at the hospital, I’m assistant manager of the kitchen, which just means I fill in for whoever didn’t show up.”

Rose laughed, “Your Mom hated me so much.”

Sophie smiled inwardly.

Rose grabbed her hand, “You look really good by the way, like I mean, you’re a doll.”

Sophie felt her cheeks blush, “Thanks, you’re looking fit yourself.”

Rose sat up straighter. “I got to stay fit for roller derby. Hey, you still got those rollerblades?”

Sophie found herself squeezing Rose's hand, then self consciously pulled away. “Roller derby? That’s awesome. Yeah I actually skate the greenway on weekends sometimes. You do roller derby, like from Whip It?”

Rose leaned forward in excitement, “Babe, I was one of the founding members of the Derby City Roller Angels in 2010. We had to shut down for Covid but I’m bringing the team back. You gotta come skate with us.”

Rose pulled out a folded up flyer from her button covered messenger bag and handed it over. “Hey, remember that joke I told you when you first showed me your cool Rollerblades?” Rose asked.

Sophie smiled and said, “You know what the hardest part of rollerblading is?”

“Telling your parents you’re gay,” they both said together and giggled.

“Kind of ironic, it turned out I was gay,” Rose said.

Sophie’s eyes opened wide, “That’s why you dumped me!.” she said.

Rose smiled coyly, “Guess you should have just stuck it out a bit longer?”

Sophie looked over the flyer “Tuesday nights, huh. Yeah, I guess I’ll think about it.”

Rose didn’t respond, she was studying the face across from her. It was so different, softer, rounder, her skin, her eyes, her hair. But still, unmistakably the person she used to like. Rose was working a puzzle in her mind, shifting pieces of memory around and reframing them in a new light. Trying to make sense of her feelings.

“Rose?” Sophie asked.

“Oh shoot, I was just thinking about my ice cream. I better get going. Sophie, meeting you has been a pleasure. Come check out the team Tuesday. You won’t regret it.”

Sophie stood up and they hugged, then Rose bolted for the door.

***

“There’s my girl,” Sophie's Mom said as she entered the kitchen carrying grocery bags.

“Hey Mom.”

Sophie’s Mom shook her head, “You didn’t need to go buy groceries,” she said and rushed over to take a bag from Sophie.

Sophie laughed, “You sure do move quick for 64 years old.” Her mom laughed and they started sorting through the bags.

Sophie stopped for a second, “You’ll never guess who I just had coffee with.”

Her Mom stopped and smiled, “You had coffee with someone?”

“Yeah, do you remember Rose?” Sophie asked.

Her Mom frowned, “That punk red head you used to hang out with?”

Sophie laughed, “We dated for like 2 years, Mom.”

“So what’d you talk about?”

Sophie smiled, “This is crazy but she invited me to join her Roller Derby team.”

Her Mom threw her hands up, “Seriously Sophia, what are you trying to do to me? Have you seen what those girls do to each other?"

Sophie laughed, “No Mom, I guess I haven’t?”

Her Mom raised her hands, “It’s awful, just awful I’ve seen it on TV. They go after each other like animals, hitting and punching,”

Sophie laughed, “Animals you say, tell me more.” Her Mom threw her hands.

“Well it’s not very lady-like, I can tell you that.”

Later that night Sophie watched several videos about roller derby from across history. She giggled that her Mom thought all that fighting in the 80s was real.

She saw that the current version of derby was very different. It was played on a flat track, instead of a banked one. The rules were strictly enforced and there was no fake fighting. Just a lot of women pushing each other around on skates and a lot of very real looking hip and shoulder checks.

She also read an article about how Roller Derby was the most gender inclusive sports in the world, along with tennis, badminton, something called korfball she’d never heard of, and the less than magical version of Quidditch.

***

Nick shouldered his backpack and walked out of the classroom. He was the shortest guy in the class, and the only one with a backwards ball cap. He stalked down the hall like he his next stop was the OK Corral and not the Derby City Community Workout room.

He walked in and did a double take. There was a new flyer on the bulletin board and the words printed in bold on it caught his attention “Do you want to Reach out and HIT new people?”

Nick walked to the poster. It was purple and yellow with lighting bolts, skulls with wings and hearts. “Derby City Angels Roller Derby League is hosting Open Recruitment.”

No experience necessary.
Can’t Skate? No problem.
No gear? No problem.
All genders are welcome.
Nick heard some chuckling and looked over to see a group of “bros” with shredded muscle T-shirts lifting dumbbells. They weren’t laughing at Nick, they didn’t even notice him. Nick felt his chest binder under his Louisville Cardinals T-shirt.

He reached over and tore one of the tabs off the poster.

A few minutes later, sitting on a bench press he sent an email message to someone named Rose.

I saw your flyer. Can you tell me more about hitting people?