September 6th, 2012
Again, no significant growth on her protrusions. I'm starting to think that I'm worrying over nothing. Jo certainly doesn't seem to be concerned. But she requested something weird today. She asked if we had any table salt lying around. We always do because the Ramen we can get our hands on never has enough flavour, so I gave it to her, and she poured some into her hand, licking it off. Is this a common action for humans? I've never seen April doing it, but I don't question people's habits.
Today's Tuesday, the day that we devote entirely for training. (Honestly, though, us boys believe that Tuesdays will be the death of us...) So we went into the dojo, us and April, and Jo followed along behind. She sat off to the side as we sparred, her eyes all big and filled with awe. We have that effect on people.
Don't ask why, but Raph felt like showing off (he does a lot) and he totally creamed Leo right in front of Jo, all style and flair. Man, though, she was grinning like an idiot. He really impressed her even though Leo was steamed afterwards. Sensei scolded Raph pretty badly, but I don't think it got through to his head. Not much does.
So Jo asked if she could fight against April because she's the least experienced of all of us. Sensei didn't think it was a great idea, but he didn't outright refuse. Well, us boys couldn't miss this so we sat off to the side. I have to admit, I was waiting to see April put the smack-down on Jo, but boy was I wrong. That girl does not go down easily.
She's got her own style of fighting. She and April squared off and when Sensei gave the command, April lunged first (that's my girl). She was going to punch Jo in the stomach, that much was obvious. Suddenly, Jo spun around and turned her back to April! No one turns their back on their opponent! Everyone knows that! April couldn't stop and she hit her hand hard on the coral exposed on Jo's back. That would be like punching rock! It's a wonder April didn't break her hand. She split her skin, though. It was painful to them both because some of the coral snapped off and Jo was wincing, but while April was otherwise engaged, she took out her legs with one quick sweep. Jo's a fast learner. We only just used that move in front of her today.
Splinter was having mixed feelings about Jo's actions. Purposely injuring an ally, even during training, is frowned upon by our whole family, but we were too caught up in the awesomeness of Jo's moves to disapprove. Splinter wasn't though. He scolded her after he finished with Raph.
On the bright side, guess who got to wrap April's hand!
She is one tough girl. She didn't even cry, although her eyes did tear up. And she said that it would make an awesome battle scar. I'm not arguing.
Jo came over as I was cleaning April's wound. She apologized for turning her back. She thought it would be a good strategy against a more skilled opponent. She was copying what she'd seen my brothers and I do, I realized. I was just about to say that it was a horrible strategy and she should grovel before my April's feet when April laughed and said not to worry about it. Then she and Jo smiled at each other like they had a secret and I couldn't help but feel like I was missing something. Once I was done, they went off together, chatting like old friends even though they've barely known each other for two days.
I will never understand girls. Ever.