The Question
I wonder what happened to our parents. I wonder what happened to our homes. I wonder what happened to our brothers and sisters. I wonder how we found each other. Here, in the dojo our main focus: Friendship. Love. Confort. Control. But, from time to time, the guys ask, "What's wrong?" Do they not know their past? It haunts me. I stay at the dojo only to know I'm cared for and protected. I wonder if Jack knows the answers to the questions I've asked. I wonder if he wonders the same things about his past. I love this dojo. I love the people in it. But most of all, I love Rudy. He's like the father we never had. He's our protector and leader. I don't know why our parents never wanted us. How they gave us up. How we were left to die as very young kids. As teenagers now, I've began to realize what Rudy has done for us. But the question is, where is his family?
I never realized before that me and my brothers lived at the same dojo, in the mall. I never realized how all of our other friends at school said to each other, "Goodbye, see you tomorrow!" or "Want to come to my house to get homework done?" I've always thought each circle of friends at our school lived together. I never really considered, "Do we have a home?" Until it struck me. Jack, Jerry, Milton and Eddie. They are not my brothers. They are my friends.
I have always believed we were siblings ever since the day I took my first step, the first time I could talk, the first time I knew karate, the first time I spared with Jack, the first time I won a tournament, the first time I realized my brothers protected me. But, all that changed one day. I don't know how. It's just something that happens. It clicked. They were my friends. 'No, they are still my brothers! We are blood related. No, they are my friends, we don't act or look alike. But we all love each other and protect one another.' my mind would play tricks on me causing me to zone out during lunch. To zone out during spars. To zone out during school. To zone out even when Jack is talking to me. I would always pass out from my brain getting overloaded. Jack and Rudy were always so worried something serious was over me. The other three? Too oblivious to see it. But, I knew they cared. Then, I had to ask it. Really. Who Are We?
After doctor visits and diagnosis of my time to time faints and zoning outs. After many conversations with Jack, but me being to afraid to ask if he wondered the same thing. After me growing so shy and quiet, I finally realized it. The High School Principal knew, many friends knew, Rudy knew, Jerry surprizingly knew, Eddie knew, Milton knew, Jack knew. But, wee needed the explination of why we were held at the dojo. That's when I made my move...