Chapter 23: Hook, Jab, Cross and Uppercut!
On Monday...
"School rules are quite clear! No drinking of alcohol! Be it wine, beer or booze, they are forbidden!" 2 teachers consisting of a pug and a tabby cat are seen in the classroom having a heated discussion.
"So what Atrick? These days my mind just feel tired out and-"
"Really Gaston. You're drunk. I smell the large quantities of alcohol from your mouth! Worse, your facial expression is showing it you wretched feline!"
"So what are you gonna do Atrick?"
"Well...as your colleague, I have the authority to report anyone who breaks rules to the principal! Teacher or student!"
"Ah whatever Atrick! You're never a help to anyone!"
"Fine then Gaston. The head will hear about this soon enough since you leave me no choice!"
The discussion is over as Mr Atrick stormed off leaving Mr Gaston to drink a bottle of wine.
Outside, Louie was heading to his homeroom and as of now, school's over. "I admit Huey and I went too far causing Dewey and Webby to misunderstand each other and break their friendship. Worse, how will Dewey solve his own problem to get Webby back? But forget about it for now because on one side, Dewey told me about this Damien dude who helped him out and I asked him to invite this drama kid to my clique. Also, I need to see Mr Gaston for some-" He was cut off by a disgusted Mr Atrick storming off as he entered the classroom to see, "Mr Gaston, are you alright?"
"Oh hello Louie. I'm not okay! I'm about to lose my job because of all the stress I've had for years of service in this school!" Mr Gaston replied as he chugged a bottle of wine. After that, "English is not an easy subject to teach. I can manage but I also needed something to relieve my stress!"
"Okay...what did you do?"
"Pain killers, looking at dubious and obscene sites and pics on the internet and many more but none of the options relieved me at all!" Mr Gaston replied. "And in the end, the only thing that can relieve me of my stress is all the liquor I'm drinking now. Wow, I feel so hyped from it!" He then prepared to finish the bottle when Louie grabbed it. "Enough already. You better get rid of this stuff if you want to keep the job!"
"Okay, okay. Listen, I hid a few bottles around the school. One's in one of the food stalls in the cafeteria, one's in the girl's bathroom at the 5th level and the last one is in the principal's office. Once you find them all, look for Ms Tilly at the carpark beside the school on the left. She and I get along well and she often helps me get out of trouble." Mr Gaston explained. "Who's Ms Tilly?" Louie asked. "Some art teacher in this school." Mr Gaston replied. "Art? How could there's this subject in this school?" Louie asked. "Well Louie, before you enter third year, you'll be given secondary subjects to be added in your list. At least 2 of them. A good heads up for you huh?"
"I see...alright sir. I'd better get the job and save your fur from losing your occupation." Louie then left the classroom taking the bottle with him but once gone, Mr Gaston ended up taking out another bottle of wine from his desk drawer and started drinking.
At the hallway...
"The locations Mr Gaston gave me are difficult to access in. I must be sharp enough to acquire them all before Mr Atrick rattles on Principal Aquila." Louie decided to make sure his face is not seen. He wore his hood, sunglasses and a face mask. "Perfect! Let's do this!"
Louie made his move. First, he went to the 5th level. There, he looked around. When no one's looking, he went in but, "EEEEEEEEK A perv!" A third year female beaver student screamed at his presence and ran off. "Crap! She's rat me to the prefects!" Louie looked around and noticed a wine bottle below the sink. Taking it, "Too easy but I better scatter!" He dashed out in time as the studnet returned with 2 female prefects as they entered the bathroom only to find no perv inside.
As for Louie, he's now in the cafeteria buying a can of Pep!. "Which of the stalls may have the bottle?" He wondered. Many are open and busy as Louie decided to take some glances. He went to a Chinese stall first and peeked inside from a distance. "None." He went to an Italian stall and did the same thing. "Drat. I don't see it." He then checked out the Japanese stall and, "There! But how will I sneak in the stall?" He then found a solution.
The Japanese stall is running smoothly as a chef just went inside to look at his co-workers. He observed their skills as he also bent down slowly and carefully to snatch a wine bottle. After that, he left the stall and headed to the bathroom. A few minutes later, Louie came out. "Disguise successful."
Now it cuts to the green triplet outside the main office. "How was Mr Gaston able to hide it in this area?" He thought. Then, Vice principal Skylar passed by and Louie went to see her. "Excuse me Vice Principal Skylar, is the principal in his office?"
"Of course. he's talking to one of the teaching staff. I only heard a bit and it involves...drinking or something?" She replied as she left the main office. Louie then entered in and looked around. he can also heard loud talking. "That pug doesn't know how to chill I bet." He then sat on a couch beside a potted plant and stopped. He looked at the plant and behind, "He did hide a bottle here!" Taking it, he left the office quickly.
Outside the school, Louie went to the carpark on the left and saw a female ginger cat waiting. Approaching her, "Are you Ms Tilly? Mr Gaston sent me."
"Why of course!" She replied with a French accent. Louie handed the bottles to her as she kept them. "As far as I know, Mr Gaston tends to be a bit alcoholic. No matter, I'm still working on helping him cope in his job. I'll put these empty bottles in the recycling bin and take this as a reward." Louie's eyes sparkled at the sight of a high-tech digital camera manufactured from Waddle. "Awesome!" Accepting it, he thanked Ms Tilly and left in excitement.
Back at the school, Louie can be seen checking out the camera and reading the instruction manual for it's usage and function when, "Whoa! That's the latest and most expensive camera I've ever seen!" He looked behind to see, "Park? I didn't expect your presence."
"Oh hey Louie. Just finished working on some homework and now that I ran to you, you remember the offer I proposed?" Park asked. Louie did some thinking. "Oh yeah...that one..." He thought as he wondered about for a moment.
Soon enough...
"This is our training ground! The Duckburg Boxing Gym!" Park presented to Louie a large, 2 storey rectangular building. "All you rich kids hang out there?" He asked. "Only the dudes because the girls in our clique ain't into action and stuff. Anyway, shall we?" Park led Louie right inside.
"So this is what it looks like..." Louie gazed around the gym. There's a boxing ring in the centre of the gym and 2 preppies are practicing their moves against each other. On it's left in Louie's view, there are 5 punching bags hanging down and 2 of them are solo in working on their moves. On it's right are 2 rooms, one's a private training room and the other is the bathroom and changing room, 2 in one. Beside the door to the bathroom and changing room is a staircase and across it diagonally is another one. Both staircases lead up to the lounge where snacks and drinks are served and several preppies are chilling there.
"No way...it's pretty cool. Impressive!" Louie described. "Well, I wanna get started so that my jaws won't be made out of glass anymore."
"Right! I booked the private training room just for us but also, I'll bring one of my buddies to assist us." Park stated. "But first, suit up."
A few minutes later...
Louie is now in the private training room suited up in a boxing attire. It consist of a forest green singlet and shorts with a yellow green trim on both parts. He also wore socks and emerald green sports shoes.
The room consist of a bench, punching bag and a dummy. As Louie waited, the door opened and Park who's wearing a maroon boxing outfit with a black trim on both parts entered the room joined by another preppy. He's a light brown rabbit wearing mint green V neck T-shirt under a dark grey jacket, jeans, light brown socks and a pair of black and purple sneakers. "Louie, Meet Vickson De Pawsens. He's gonna be your personal trainer for today and also one of the strongest boxers in our club! Plus, also a freshman like us!"
"Hey." The rabbit greeted as Louie shook his hand. "You sound different. You don't wear the rich kids' colours despite you being a clique member." Louie stated. "Yeah. He's the only because he ain't the type to literally care about his welfare and show the world how rich he is." Park explained. "Unlike his twin sister."
"You're born as a non-identical twin? Wow." Louie exclaimed with some facial impression. "Yeah. My twin sister Valerie really enjoys the rich life. Everyday hanging out with her friends at the mall." Vickson explained. "But enough of my family and stuff, it's time to see how good you really are."
And training begins as Park demonstrated 4 types of punches. "The first one is a hook." Vickson briefed Louie as he nodded at Park and he did a semi-circular punch at the dummy. "The second one is a jab." He nodded again and Park did a straight punch on the dummy. "The third is a cross." Vickson gave the green light and Park executed a powerful straight punch thrown with the rear hand"And the last one is the uppercut."
"Yeah I know, you throw a front punch onto the chin below stunning your opponent." Louie stated. "Heh. Seems like you know a bit I see." Vickson replied as he gave instructions to Park. "I want this newbie to work on the 4 punch types. Make sure he has his boxing gloves on and do each move 50 times."
"Gotcha." Park replied giving him a fist bump. "What the duck? 50!?" Louie was thunderstruck by such training as Vickson left to get some soda. "Better get your fists ready." Park told him as Louie groaned.
An hour later...
"45 uppercuts...46 uppercuts...47 uppercuts...48 upper..." Louie groaned from the fact that he's been standing in a fighting position and tiring his arms and fists. "Cuts..."
"2 more dude." Park told him as he can be seen doing a few boxing moves on the punching bag. "49 uppercuts..." Louie executed the move. "5-50 upper...cuts!" He did the last one which is a hard and good one and in the nick of time as Vickson entered the room with 3 bottles of mineral water. "Drink up and after 30 minutes, it's punching bag time!" He threw one to Louie as he started drinking. Lots of sweat and aching he's having as Park walked to Vickson as he handed him another one. "That dude's got game in art of pugilism." Park told Vickson. "Whatever. He's only a newbie since he just got started today." Vickson replied as they sat down to drink. Louie listened a bit as he glanced at the other preppies doing their training. (The door is glass and likewise, the wall surrounding it is also glass and the only side)
30 minutes later...
"You wanna know what the punching bag is for?" Vickson asked. "Uh...box it?" Louie guessed. "Idiot. You're not taking Q&A seriously." Vickson scolded. "At least I'm able to pass MCQs in some of the subjects." said Louie. "Oh never mind. Park, show him what we use the punching bag for." Vickson ordered. Park nodded and started doing a series of punches in rows of 3 or 4 and randomly. Louie was confused all the way. "What you have seen are combo attacks." Vickson explained. "Examples like a four hit combo of two jabs, and a left hook followed by a charged punch or an uppercut. Or a 3 hit combo of 2 jabs and a charge cross, 3 jabs starting from either your left or right fist, an uppercut followed by a left and right jab and many more. Boxing has many combo attacks."
"Do I have to learn all of them?" Louie asked. "Yes!" Vickson and Park replied in unison. Louie wanted to faint but, "We'll learn those combos once you get your punch techniques in full perfection." Park stated. Louie felt relieved as, "Now it's time to learn some dodging and counterattacking." Vickson declared.
Soon enough, "Okay, what do I do when my opponent tries to hook me up?" Louie asked. Vickson was stunned and Park chuckled. "That was funny." He exclaimed as Vickson spoke up, "Focus Louie. Jokes aside okay? Yeah I admit it's pretty funny. Now, there are only dodges to know. It's easily. The first is a slip. Now try to hit Park." Louie nodded and threw a jab but Park crouched down to his left. "Always have your fists up while dodging. That way, you can regain quickly and counterattack." Park explained as the lesson goes on.
"The second is a whiff." Vickson explained. "Now box Park by using a hook." Louie nodded and threw it and Park dodged and crouched to his left moving to another position at the same time.
"And the last one is simply called cut." Vickson explained. "Hook him again." Louie threw another hook but Park just stood there in his guard stance and raised his left fist up close and beside his ear blocking it. "And there you have it. The 3 dodging techniques. Now practice by doing 50 of each dodging technique." Vickson ordered. Louie groaned again as narrowly avoided a jab from Park.
Another hour later...
"I can't believe I have to push myself so much." Louie groaned as he's already done with the training and his having is water break with Park. Vickson was just using his phone when, "DING!"
"Ah it's time." said Park. "Time for what?" Louie asked. "Before we end the day, we'll have some fun with boxing matches. 2 or 3 at least." Park explained as they along with Vickson left the private training room.
Outside, many of the preppies are already gathered as one of them went onto the ring. "It's Chadwick!" Louie explained. "How did you know him?" Park asked. "On the first day, he wanted to invite me and my brothers to this clique because we're rich and related to our uncle." Louie replied. "Yes I heard of your uncle. Tough, smart and sharp. Many folks mentioned him." said Vickson. And at the ring, "Alright chaps. Let's get started! Who wants to spar with me? I'm pumped up and waiting!" Chadwick declared. From outside, "You can choose to use what you've learnt today to give it a shot if you like." Vickson told Louie as he just smiled at him.
At the ring, "Nobody? Fine, I'll just randomly-"
"Chadwick, I'll be your opponent." All looked to see Louie as all murmured among themselves.
"Louie Duck's here?" A preppy asked. "No way! I heard he turned down an invitation to join our clique!" Another recalled. "Yeah he's rich like us. Related to well-known Scrooge McDuck." Another recalled. "What's he doing here anyway?" Another asked as it goes on.
Back at the ring, "I was wondering when you'll accept our offer." Chadwick spoke first. "Right here. Right now. If I win, you guys make me one of your rich bros. If I lose, better luck next time for me." Louie declared. "Fair enough. Besides, boxing is our way of initiating our rich chaps into our clique. Get ready to lose and have your jaws broken like glass!" Chadwick declared as the fight begins!
(Boxing Match 1)
Louie VS Chadwick
Round 1
On the ring, Louie threw a jab but Chawick slipped to the side and jabbed him back but Louie blocked his attack. He then hooked him successfully and executed 3 jabs in a combo. Chadwick took a beating but managed to uppercut Louie and hook him on the right. Louie then tried to jab him but Chadwick dodged it and executed a cross. Louie filched but regained himself and started dodging his attacks instead of counterattacking. Chadwick, determined to make this fight quick used whatever offensive moves he has but Louie kept dodging until timer's up. Both boxers stopped to take a one minute break. "Dodging is worth it. I'll end this in the next round." Louie thought as Park gave him another bottle of mineral water for him to quench his thrist.
One minute break over as the bell dinged for the next round to start.
Round 2
As planned Louie kept dodging. "Why is this pauper not doing anything but moving around?" Chadwick thought as he tried again to land some hits on him but again, Louie dodged all of them until, "Crap...I'm starting to feel a bit sluggish..." Chadwick thought. This is what Louis has been waiting for. He swiftly executed a mixture of jabs, crosses, hooks and uppercut taking him by surprise! Cheering took place and then, "KO!" Louie jabbed a hard one on Chadwick knocking him out. "Winner!" Some preppy called out and he's the referee for this one. Louie was pleased with his first win as the preppies started to cheer for him.
(End of Boxing Match 1)
Now that it's over, "Alright, who's next to challenge this newbie?" The referee asked. "Yo Oliver! I'll take that peon on!"
"Alright! We got Justin Veldequack here to challenge the newbie!" Oliver declared as a beaver with a bucktooth got on the ring. "Heh! Heh! I'll knock you down like a peg in only 1 round!"
"Really...I was gonna say the same thing..." Louie thought as a 5 minute break is given for him first.
After that, "Match begins!" Oliver declared as both boxers got ready.
(Boxing Match 2)
Louie VS Justin
Round 1
Justin's boxing style appears to be different as when Louie tried to jab him, he dodged it and delivered body blows on his body! "Ah! What kind of boxing style is he using?" Louie thought as he tried to jab him again but another dodge and a 4 hit combo of body blows. "Ha! I outclassed you peon!" Justin mocked as he did a straight punch but Louie seized this chance and slipped to avoid it. He then uppercut him. "Oof! Watch the teeth!" Justin exclaimed as he received a hook on his left and his right followed by a cross. "You'll regret that!" Justin regained himself but he before he could deliver more body blows, Louie executed a powerful uppercut strong enough to send him in the air and down the ring!
"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ah I give up, winner!" Oliver declared as everyone cheered for Louie some more. "Well Justin, I ate your words instead." He told him as Oliver looked at the time. "We still have time for one more match! Anyone had the balls to challenge the newbie?" Oliver asked. "Why do you keep calling me a newbie?" Louie asked him. "Because you're new that's why!" Oliver replied.
(End of Boxing Match 2)
While Louie and Oliver are talking, "You and me! I, Paul Holdem will take you on!" A third year lion student declared as he got on the ring. "Wow, a big opponent to take on." Louie thought as another 5 minute break was given.
Once done, "Get ready small fry. I don't take prisoners!" Paul warned Louie as the final match begins!
(Boxing Match 3 aka Final Match 3)
Louie VS Paul
Round 1
"Take this!" Paul jabbed Louie hard. "And this!" He hooked Louie hard. "And some of these!" He did a 4 hit combo of a jab, 2 hooks and a jab to end it! "That guy hits hard!" Louie thought as he dodged a jab. "His move are quick!" He also thought. "Not to mention he uses his footwork to step back and dodge anything I throw at him!" Louie could not even counterattack as Paul mercilessly made it too difficult for him. "What if I use the same strategy as what I did to Chadwick? No that won't work, he's big and it means his stamina is a lot. Grrr..." Louie ended up wasting the first round without dealing some hits on Paul.
Round 2
"I am so gonna win this!" Paul boasted as he crossed Louie. "OW!" He felt the hit. "I hope mom doesn't see a bruised face because I'm about to get a beating if I don't do something." He then whiffed to his right and used an uppercut! "KSH!"
"Ugh! That doesn't hurt much!" Paul exclaimed. "Wait...I think I have exploited his weakness!" Louie then decided to do it. So when Paul tired to hook him, Louie blocked it and used the uppercut. When Paul tried to jab him, a slip followed by an uppercut. And when Paul used a combo attack, Louie dodged every single move and uppercut him followed by 3 hooks! "Why is this guy now hitting me?!" A confused Paul thought as the bell rang signalling round 2 to be done followed by a 1 minute break.
Round 3 aka Final Round...
"I gotta admit I'm starting to enjoy this sport. Time to harden my attacks!" Louie thought as he commenced attack starting with a hook. Paul prepared to counter it when, "What the fuck? He changed his attack?" Instead of a hook, he jabbed his face! "KSH!"
"Ah! What's the meaning of this?!" Paul got back at him with a body blow and a hard cross. "Payback time!" Louie thought as he got up and started pivoting around. "2 can play that game!" Paul too pivoted around as everyone cheered on and on. "HYAH!" Louie and Paul then started counterattacking and dodging with Paul still being tougher to defeat. "Not for long. I just need one hard move but not now." Louie thought. "And time's ticking."
"I better finish this fast and hard!" Paul then threw a jab. "Yes! This is what I've been waiting for!" Louie dodged it and delivered a heavy uppercut followed by 4 heavy hooks and a powerful jab! It was so hard Paul was pushed onto the ropes and collapsed.
(End of Boxing Match 3 aka Final Match 3)
Everyone went crazy over Louie winning 3 matches in a row to the point that, "Who votes for Louie Duck to be one of us!" Some preppy asked. The whole clique cheered for Louie as they got into the ring and carried him around cheering for him. "At long last, I'm finally one of them! I'm one with the rich kids! I'm officially a member of the Preppies!" Louie thought with pride as the cheering and carrying continues on. Even Park and Vickson are most impressed that he learnt fast and well in the art of boxing.
Oh goodie! When my Sergeant Major unexpectedly started giving me boxing lessons, this came into my list of ideas and I have turned it into this chapter!
Now if you excuse me, I gotta go practice my moves now and at the same time plan the next chapter while doing that in my sleep. Woo-hoo!