The Bird

5’ 3” and 110 lbs., The Bird is razor thin, with straight black hair that curtains around her head. Her full name is Cassandra Wernick; her friends call her Sandy. A freshman, she shows up at the team’s third practice that fall; Double-J comments that her head twitches frequently, like a bird’s, and when she responds positively to the jibe, a nickname is born. She is quiet, courteous but not friendly, honest but not open.

There’s something about this sport, this team, that compels my attention. I can’t articulate why I feel this way, but there’s something about the fencing team that makes it impossible for me to not be here.

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