Tangerine - Part 3

I’ve left Paul Fisher hanging since March 11 – let’s see what he’s been up to.

What we last checked in, Paul had become a War Eagle at Tangerine High. He certified his membership when, after getting mud smeared in his eyes, he jumped on the back of the perpetrator and commenced punching him in the head. This event served as Paul’s unplanned, but not unwanted, full initiation into the team.

Part 2 ended with Lake Windsor High and Tangerine High battling to a season-ending tie, giving the league championship to the War Eagles. Paul ended the season in goal, right where he always wanted to be. Part 3 is all about Paul’s transformation, growth and what could even be termed a re-birth. His feeling of community with the War Eagles extends to helping during a hard freeze that threatens the Cruz family citrus groves. Paul works all night to keep the smudge fires burning and the trees coated with protective ice, and becomes more and more a part of the Cruz – War Eagles clan.

The incident that triggers the final step in Paul’s transformation is when he secretly witnesses Luis Cruz being assaulted by Arthur Bauer. When Luis dies as a result six days later, events accelerate as the story comes full circle. As a fitting punishment for their abuse of Mike Costello’s brother and Luis’ assault, Erik Fisher and Arthur Bauer are attacked and beaten by Victor and Tino at a ceremony in honor of Mike. Wow – I think I need a scorecard. Paul helps Tino escape when he jumps on Coach Warner’s back. This particular action did however have a downside. While Paul earned the further respect of the Cruz family and the students of Tangerine High, it also led to his expulsion from the school.

After Paul explains the truth about Erik and Arthur, his transformation continues when he stands up to them outside the walls of Lake Windsor Downs, and the memories come back about his eye injury. It wasn’t a #@%& solar eclipse! It was Erik and another one of his goons who sprayed paint in Paul’s eyes. He wasn’t a dumb kid who stared at the sun – he was the victim of his parents protecting their older child. Finally he knew.

Paul’s final step to believing in himself comes on his last visit to Tangerine High. The other students knew he stood up for what was right, he stood up for Luis, and he stood up for telling the truth. Even though he would be heading to his third school this year, Paul Fisher grew into himself. He did more than come out from his brother’s shadow – Paul learned that Erik wasn’t enough of a person to even cast a shadow.