Chapter 5
Ollie wasn't some sock-choppy kung-fu master like Lady Shiva or
Batman, but he was better than the average slob, and had been in
more than a scrape or two in his life. And so, he had been
instructing Joxer in the 'manly art of self defense'.
"No, no," Ollie admonished him, grabbing his arm. "Lead with
your left, then slide in with your right."
The kid was coming along pretty well. He had a good quick jab,
only lacked sufficient power behind it. But he was progressing
pretty well. And the clumsiness was fading. Ollie attributed
that to the bow lessons, where he had to admit the kid was
excelling. He had the right build for it, Ollie knew. And he'd
suspected that he'd get the grip of it fast. He hadn't been
disappointed. The kid was a natural. All the best archers were,
Ollie reflected. Himself, Roy, even Connor seemed to have had a
knack for it.
"Yep, if this kid ever gets back in the real world he'll be a
force to reckon with," Ollie thought.
The 'real world'. The biggest 'if' of them all. Was all this
just wasted effort? Were they really supposed to spend all of
eternity here?
Ollie didn't know, but one thing he did know was that he wasn't
going to let that thought creep back into his mind. This
training had been beneficial to both of them. Joxer gained
confidence in himself, and skill; and Ollie got a feeling of
satisfaction. That he was useful again. He felt needed again.
"Nothing more pathetic than an unemployed 'super hero'," he
thought. He was doing something good. Accomplishing something.
Allowing him to exorcise his demons, to no longer feel like he
failed at everything. Like he had failed Dinah. And Roy. And
even Connor. This made him feel like he could do something in
his life without screwing it up.
Yeah, they were both cutting a fat hog in the ass on this one.
"Choke up on your lead, and guard your right," Ollie called out
before refocusing his efforts.
Ollie wasn't some sock-choppy kung-fu master like Lady Shiva or
Batman, but he was better than the average slob, and had been in
more than a scrape or two in his life. And so, he had been
instructing Joxer in the 'manly art of self defense'.
"No, no," Ollie admonished him, grabbing his arm. "Lead with
your left, then slide in with your right."
The kid was coming along pretty well. He had a good quick jab,
only lacked sufficient power behind it. But he was progressing
pretty well. And the clumsiness was fading. Ollie attributed
that to the bow lessons, where he had to admit the kid was
excelling. He had the right build for it, Ollie knew. And he'd
suspected that he'd get the grip of it fast. He hadn't been
disappointed. The kid was a natural. All the best archers were,
Ollie reflected. Himself, Roy, even Connor seemed to have had a
knack for it.
"Yep, if this kid ever gets back in the real world he'll be a
force to reckon with," Ollie thought.
The 'real world'. The biggest 'if' of them all. Was all this
just wasted effort? Were they really supposed to spend all of
eternity here?
Ollie didn't know, but one thing he did know was that he wasn't
going to let that thought creep back into his mind. This
training had been beneficial to both of them. Joxer gained
confidence in himself, and skill; and Ollie got a feeling of
satisfaction. That he was useful again. He felt needed again.
"Nothing more pathetic than an unemployed 'super hero'," he
thought. He was doing something good. Accomplishing something.
Allowing him to exorcise his demons, to no longer feel like he
failed at everything. Like he had failed Dinah. And Roy. And
even Connor. This made him feel like he could do something in
his life without screwing it up.
Yeah, they were both cutting a fat hog in the ass on this one.
"Choke up on your lead, and guard your right," Ollie called out
before refocusing his efforts.