by T. Trolley

Teresa, my girlfriend at the time, didn't like Claire for many reasons.
Claire was a good-natured brunette who tried to ignore the fact that Teresa didn't
like her.

But one day, the brunette Teresa got Claire mad and Claire had reached her
limit! She began to talk back and the two began exchanging words. One thing led
to another and Teresa -- a former girl streetgang leader with streetfighting
experience -- challenged Claire to a fight! Claire, being furious with Teresa,
accepted and called her "a runt"! Teresa was about to go after Claire when I
held her back. I suggested that the two meet at the local schoolyard in two
days on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. to settle their score when their tempers
were a bit cooler and things were more appropriate for the fight. Both women
agreed.

There was a large contingent of friends of both Claire and Teresa who saw the
commotion and heard the challenge, so by Friday word had spread about the
upcoming fight. From what I understood, there would be several men present to see
the fight. This meant that the stakes on Saturday would be even greater as a
defeat in front of a crowd would be a tremendous blow to the loser and a
tremendous boost to the winner,

But the fact that there would be an audience to watch her seemed to put even
more pressure on Teresa since everyone knew Teresa was probably the better
fighter and was expected to easily beat Claire. And since Teresa was seen as the
tough woman on the block due to her streetfighting past, many wanted to see
the nicer underdog Claire defeat and embarrass the seemingly tougher, stronger
Teresa. If Claire were to beat Teresa, it would be a lot more humiliating for
her than if she beat Claire.

Teresa knew that many who would be there on Saturday afternoon wanted to see
Claire beat her and thereby humiliate her.

Of course, I was so excited I could barely stand it. I was going to see
Teresa match herself up against another woman in the most ancient of all aspects of
physical combat where one woman would win and the other would experience
horrible, lasting, enduring, humiliating defeat! And that could be Teresa!

The thought of Teresa walking up to meet Claire on Saturday afternoon made me
think of the famous "One Million Years B.C." where Raquel Welch got into a
fight with her new boyfriend's former gal in front of the entire clan -- as well
as her man. On Saturday, I would be Teresa's boyfriend watching her, along
with several other men, to see if she would win the most ancient tests of
strength, courage and woman vs. woman physical hand-to-hand battles or if she would
lose and be branded for the rest of her life with the knowledge that Claire
had beaten her in a fair fight when everybody expected her to win!

Though the thought of Teresa actually losing to a seemingly wimpy, delicate
and vulnerable girl like Claire was somehow intriguing to me -- just as it was
to some of the men who wanted to see my girlfriend get upset and lose the
fight -- I wasn't worried about Teresa losing at all. I knew how tough Teresa was
and how often she had fought before. For all I knew, Claire had never had a
fight in her life. In fact, looking at her tall, thin -- almost scrawny --
frame, I didn't think Teresa would have any problem beating her at all.

Of course, Teresa agreed with that assessment when she first issued the
challenge. Claire seemed to be nice and sweet, but not a fighter by any means.
Claire was 5-7, weighed about 120 lbs and was in her mid-20s. Teresa was 31 and
outweighed Claire by about 25 lbs. but was four inches shorter.

By Friday, I noticed Teresa was quiet and somber. She earlier had been
brimming with confidence, but her silence belied the mounting turmoil and concern
that was brimming up in her.

"What's wrong?" I asked her as I noticed she seemed to be a bit distracted
while we were headed to the movies on Friday night. She said, "Oh, nothing ..."
but I knew something was wrong.

Teresa didn't say anything at the movie and was silent the whole time. For
most of the ride back she didn't say anything.

Then, finally, I heard her say, "I'm nervous about that fight tomorrow."

I thought that was what was bothering her, but somehow hearing it come out of
her mouth was surprising to me. I said, "What do you have to be nervous
about? You're a former streetfighter, you've had lots of fights before, she
probably hasn't ever fought in her life -- you'll probably kill her tomorrow!"

Teresa responded, "I don't know. She's taller than me. I always try to avoid
fighting people who are that much taller than me. And she's younger than me
..." Teresa then snuggled up to me, put her arms around me and put the side of
her face on my ribs. I heard her sigh and then say, "I'm just afraid of what
you'll think of me if she beats me up in front of you and all those other
people."

I was really getting excited as I felt Teresa's arms around me. For some
reason, knowing that the same woman was going to be involved in a hand-to-hand
fight with another woman made it all the more scintillating.

I said, "I don't know what you're concerned about. Like I said, you've fought
all kinds of streetfights before and she looks like a wimp. You should beat
her easily. And just think about how proud I'll be of you when you beat her in
front of all those people and prove to them and me how much better you are
than Claire!"

Teresa looked up at me and whispered, "But what if she beats me up in front
of all those people -- and you? I don't think I could take the embarrassment
and humiliation of it! And remember, I'm not a teenager anymore. And how do you
know that she's never fought anyone before? She looks thin and wiry to me --
she might be pretty tough!"

"Princess, I have all the confidence in the world in you," I said. "You have
a warrioress spirit in you. If you were living in ancient Rome, you'd be a
gladiatoress. You're of a special breed. I know that and I think you know that,
too. And we both know that Claire isn't from that breed. It would be one thing
if you were fighting someone that had a fighting spirit. But you're fighting
Claire tomorrow! Remember, it's just Claire! She ain't Mike Tyson!"

Teresa paused for a few seconds and then said, "Just Claire. Just Claire."

We both went to bed that night. Teresa was very quiet. I kissed her and said,
"Try to get some sleep, Princess. Tomorrow is a big day and you'll need it."

Teresa snuggled up to me, put her head on my chest, and sighed, "Just Claire.
Just Claire ..." Teresa soon fell asleep.

Saturday morning came around and Teresa was very nervous. She put on the
clothes she would fight Claire in -- a Detroit Tigers jersey I gave her and very
short white shorts. She said nothing for most of the morning and looked
distracted. At times she would sit in a chair, look at the clock, then bow her head
as though she were deep in thought.

I said nothing. I just looked at her and thought, "In just a few hours, my
girl is going to fight another woman just like some women did in the Coliseum in
Ancient Rome!" The mere thought enthralled and excited me.

The closer 1 p.m. came, the more excited I became. My heart was pounding and
I was tingling in anticipation of my Teresa stepping up to face Claire in this
may-the-better-woman-win fight! By the time it was time for me to take Teresa
to the schoolyard, I was doing everything I could to maintain a cool exterior
on the outside. But inside, I was like a volcano about to explode and could
barely contain myself.

Teresa got in the car and I drove her to the schoolyard in silence. It was a
short drive. We got out of the car and there were about five men at the school
waiting. Teresa got out of the car and two or three of them applauded her.
Somebody exclaimed, "Wow, do you look good!" Another said, "Well, at least one
of them showed up!" Someone else said, "Yeah! Teresa, you might win by default!
I wonder if Claire is even going to show up!"

Teresa suddenly looked around, thinking she might be able get out of the
fight and win without even lifting a finger! Meanwhile, someone else said, "I sure
hope she shows up! I've been looking forward to this for two days! I haven't
gotten a wink of sleep!"

But just then, a car drove up. Teresa looked at the car and her eyes bugged
out a bit as Claire and her boyfriend got out of the car. Now all those who
came to watch the fight applauded in glee as someone said, "Looks like we're
gonna have a catfight!"

Teresa put her left arm around me and squeezed. She looked up at me and
smiled weakly. She knew she'd be putting everything on the line now. And she was
obviously nervous and anxious about it!

Claire walked up to us with her boyfriend. She was wearing a white harness
top and short blue denim cutoffs. Claire stopped a few feet from Teresa and the
two looked at each other, not saying a word. Somebody said, "Whoa! This is
what I've been waiting to see! Let them go at it!"

Two other men added themselves to those who came to watch the fight. I looked
at Claire's boyfriend and said, "Well, we might as well let these two settle
it!" He nodded and looked at Claire -- who continued to look at Teresa!

I said, "The fight continues until one woman gives. Is that agreeable to you,
Claire?" Claire looked down and nodded! Teresa also nodded. I then said, as I
could feel the excitement well up inside of me, "Well, let's rock!"

We all formed a circle around the two women and I said, "Ladies -- fight!"
The men then started to yell and shout encouragement to both women! The scene
surprised both women momentarily as Teresa looked at me and then looked at
Claire! I could tell that Teresa was really nervous now! But suddenly, Teresa
reached up and pulled my head down slightly. She kissed me on my cheek and
whispered to me as the men continued to yell, "Whatever happens, remember -- I love
you!" She then turned to face Claire -- with fists clenched and a steadfast
glare!

Claire responded by extending her arms slightly and bending her knees! The
sight of the two women getting into their fighting stances caused everybody's
blood to heat up even more as the shouts increased in both volume and intensity!

I was going to see Teresa fight!

Teresa made the first move and turned her face away as she moved in, throwing
a right at Claire's ribs! The punch met its mark and Claire groaned in pain,
getting a look of alarm on her face! She put out her arms in an effort to use
her superior reach to keep Teresa away and also hopefully control her, but
Teresa hit her hard in the chest again!

Claire groaned as the punch hit her sternum with an audible thud! Claire
began to backpedal! Already, Teresa had her on the run!

Teresa chased after her, but Teresa was too excited over her early success
and her feet got tangled up with Claire's! Both women went down, and to my
surprise -- Claire ended up on top of Teresa as Teresa lay on her stomach, propping
herself up with her arms!

To my shock and horror, Claire wasted no time! She grabbed Teresa's legs,
tucked the left one under the right one, and pulled back! Claire had Teresa in a
leg bend!

Teresa let out an audible, "Ahh!" which got the audience's attention! Teresa
fell to her stomach and winced in combination pain and annoyance as Claire
pulled back! Teresa, still wincing in pain and obviously ticked off at being
hurt, looked behind her in hopes of being able to get her right arm around
Claire's head or neck and pull her off! But Claire was sitting on the small of
Teresa's back and her head was directly above Teresa's as she pulled back on
Teresa's legs! Teresa was hoping for an angle, but she couldn't reach Claire!

Teresa was now both hurting and angry! I couldn't believe it! Claire was
beating Teresa! The audience circled around Teresa and excitedly yelled, "Teresa,
give? You wanna give up? Teresa, give?"

Teresa was in some pain, but she was also ticked off and both showed in her
face as she heard the men ask her if she wanted to surrender!

Though it seemed as though Teresa, though in pain and at least temporarily
under Claire's control, was more angry than anything and far from willing to
surrender, the scene was just unbelieveable to me -- and so exciting! I couldn't
believe Teresa was actually at a disadvantage against Claire -- a situation
that might could eventually lead to her submission! I thought, "Surely Teresa
wouldn't give up -- would she? After all, she was at a disadvantage now. And if
she couldn't get away, who knows ..."

Just then, Teresa propped herself up with her arms, winced in pain as Claire
pulled back, and used her arms to try to move around to create the angle she
needed to get her arm around Claire and pull her off! As she moved around, she
powered her legs downward and actually freed her them from the leg bend!

Teresa, still propped up on her arms and still angry, tried to turn over onto
her back and push Claire off of her as she sat up! But before she could do
that, Claire turned around and tried to keep her from moving and grabbed her
around the chin with both hands in a chinlock-camel clutch move, pulling back
hard!

Now this really hurt Teresa's back and neck for a moment since Teresa's body
was at an odd angle as she tried to turn over! Thus, Teresa really felt the
wrenching in her back and neck! Teresa's eyes closed as she felt the pain and
let out an audible groan! "Ohhhh ..." she moaned as her eyes were closed!

The men quickly asked Teresa to submit once again as Teresa's pain was
obvious! But now a look of anger set in on Teresa's face as her eyes fluttered
opened! Angry at being hurt, she quickly pulled Claire's hands from around her
chin, reached back with her right arm and got her arm around Claire's neck and
pulled her off! Immediately, Claire got to her knees, but Teresa still had her
arm around Claire's neck from behind and cinched it in with the other arm!
Teresa had reversed Claire into a choke hold in a sudden move!

Somebody said, "Whoa! She turned it around!" The men huddled around the scene
as one said, "Choke hold! Claire -- give up?" Claire was trying to pull
Teresa's arm from around her neck on her knees as her eyes bugged out! Teresa was
really clinching it in! Again, somebody shouted, "Claire, give? Claire, give?"

Claire looked frightened and had a look of alarm on her face!

Claire kept tugging and struggling as she was continually asked to give up!
Claire ended up flat on her stomach, still caught in the choke hold as she
fought to get away!

But Teresa was angry at having been hurt earlier and suddenly she went for
"an eye for an eye" vengeance as she released the choke hold and twirled around
while seated on Claire's back and put Claire in a leg bend of her own!

Claire's eyes bugged out as she lay on her stomach! Now the men were asking
her to give up and Claire was squealing in pain as Teresa vigorously and
intensely pulled back on those long, lean legs of Claire -- trying to create as much
pressure and pain on those legs as possible and maybe even evoke a
submission!

The requests kept coming from those watching! "Claire, give? Claire, wanna
give up?"

Claire was able to free her legs from the hold after experiencing more pain
than in that move than she had doled out to Teresa! But Teresa still had hold
of her left ankle! As Claire, still on her stomach, tried to pull it away,
Teresa grabbed her by the left foot with both hands and twisted the foot outward
in a vicious ankle twist!

Claire froze in pain and she screamed, "Ohh! Ohhh!" as Teresa twisted her
ankle! Claire was asked to submit again! Claire was able to shake her ankle free,
but now Teresa was dominating her!

Claire instinctively reached back with her right arm in an attempt to push
Teresa off her back, but now Teresa was acting like the confident, assured
streetfighter I had always known! She grabbed that right arm with both of her hands
and pulled back and twisted at the same time! Teresa had her in an arm bar!

The tall, lanky brunette, closed her eyes and groaned, "Uhhhh!!" as Teresa
pulled back on her arm and twisted it at the shoulder. Claire knew she was in
trouble and Teresa was really going to work now!

Then suddenly Teresa reached down with both hands, grabbed Claire around the
chin with both hands, and pulled her up as far as she could with the same
chinlock/camel clutch move that Claire put her in momentarily earlier -- only
Teresa was executing it much better and much more effectively!

Claire squeaked in pain and terror as Teresa pulled her up! Claire's eyes
bulged out in fear and pain, then slowly closed as her body began to tremble as
she felt the pain and pressure in her back and neck!

Someone yelled, "All right! Camel clutch! She's got her now!" Another said,
"Claire, payback's a bitch, isn't it!? You wanna give up now? Claire, give up?"
Claire kept trembling and tears began to form around her eyes as Teresa
continued to pull up on her chin!

Claire was scared and frightened now! You could tell it in her eyes! She was
ready to give up, but she certainly didn't want to for her dignity's sake! But
Teresa had her hopelessly trapped and helpless now and there was nothing to
stop her from stretching Claire's back and neck to the breaking point!

Claire rolled onto her back to get away from the painful camel clutch! She
was all but finished after experiencing that painful, torturous, gruesome and
downright scary camel clutch! But as Claire did that, she rolled right into
Teresa's trap! Quickly, Teresa grabbed Claire's long, lanky arms by the wrists and
forced them to the ground! She leaned over Claire and stared her right in the
eyes as she sat on her stomach and lower chest, putting pressure on Claire's
ability to breathe by using her weight to force air out of Claire and not
allowing her to breathe!

Teresa had Claire in a schoolgirl pin -- the very move she used to finish off
so many opponents during her streetfighting days! Claire lay there, limp and
with eyes closed! She wasn't offering any more resistance! The camel clutch
had finished her!

The men in attendance sensed the end coming! They excitedly gathered around
Claire, asking hopefully, "Claire, give up? Give up?"

Claire looked up at Teresa with tears in her eyes and said, "OK, I give up!"

It was all over in just over a minute! Teresa wins! The men exploded with
cheers as a panting but relieved Teresa slowly got off of her defeated rival!
Some men patted Teresa on the back, congratulating her on proving her superiority
in front of them! Claire lay there like she was getting a tan at the beach
until her boyfriend helped her up. Claire wiped tears of both embarrassment and
pain out of her eyes while hiding her face!

Teresa looked at me with a frown and rubbed both her neck and back, saying,
"She hurt me!" I looked down on my sweet little woman, put my arm around her
shoulder and said, "Maybe, but you got her back!"

Teresa, still frowning, said, "Yeah -- payback's a bitch, isn't it?" I
responded, "Don't ask me -- ask Claire!"

Teresa smiled, then said, "Why should I ask her anything? After all, she's
just Claire. Just ... Claire ..."