A threat he could not refuse
Only three days later Micheal was opening his locker getting books for the classes after lunch, when someone slammed it shut.
"Hey, what did you do that for?" Micheal asked as he turned to see who did it.
He was shocked to see the bullies from before. He stood there frozen, unable to move or speak.
"You remember us don't you Mike? It's your good friends Bruce and Danny." The larger bully said.
Micheal was only able to nod in response. He was terrified because he knew Lotus members could be real brutal when trying to convince stubborn people to join.
"Well we gave ya three days to think it over what did you decide to do?" Bruce asked.
"Um... I c-c-couldn't... I-I didn't h-"
"Mike listen I know you're nervous and that's alright, but there's nothing to be worried about, the Lotus takes care of its own. Anyway you wouldn't want to hurt my feelings or Bruce's by not joining do ya?" Danny asked.
Micheal shook his head vigorously at the threat, but remained silent. However Danny did not like his response, he sighed and then stared at Micheal's eyes intently.
"I guess this decision is a bit overwhelming right now so Bruce and I will give you until eight thirty tonight to decide. Meet us at the basketball court near the school once you make up your mind."
Micheal breathed a sigh of relief as the two walked away. However all throughout the rest of the day all he could think about was getting to the dojo and talking to his Sensei on what he should do. After what seemed to be the longest school day ever, Micheal went home to do his homework and by the time he finished it was time to leave for the dojo. After class ended he once again approached his Sensei about the Black Lotus.
"Sir, I need to tell you something."
"Go ahead."
"The two bullies I told you about said I have until eight thirty tonight to meet them at the basketball court near the high school and make my mind up. You said that you would take care of this problem for me. I don't want to doubt your word, but I've only got an hour and a half to respond."
"It's all right Michael I will talk to them, just try to hurry home and stop worrying."
Micheal bowed in gratitude and raced home leaving John all alone. John changed his clothes, locked up the dojo, and began walking. Fifteen minutes later John was nearing the court and saw no one there, however there were three Asian teens in the adjacent playground. Two of them were sitting on the jungle gym and one was sitting on a swing holding a bat. He walked onto the playground and they saw him coming.
"How are you guys doing?"
"Get lost," the one on the swing said.
"I just think that you guys should stop what you're doing and leave this place. Don't you think you're a bit old to be playing on the jungle gym or swing?"
"I don't know who you think you're talking to, but you better leave before you get hurt. This is Lotus turf so I suggest you get going while you still can."
"I think you guys really should go away while you still can."
"All right that's it, we need to teach this loser a lesson in manners," Bruce said as he hopped off the jungle gym.
"At least I tried not fighting them," John thought to himself.
Danny followed him and the guy with the bat stood.
"Let's get him Danny!" Bruce shouted.
Bruce and Danny came at John hard, Danny delivered a fierce elbow to the chest while Bruce landed a strong blow in his abdomen. John staggered backwards a bit, but countered with a sweep kick to knock Bruce down and then clotheslined Danny. Suddenly the "bat guy" entered the fray, he ran toward John with bat high over his head. John caught the bat with one hand and his attacker's wrist with the other and kicked the side of his head. John dropped the bat and let go of the wrist and continued to kick the guy in the head and ended it with a punch to the face. The teen dropped instantly and John turned to see Bruce holding the bat he had dropped.
He sprang into the air to attack, but the move was so telegraphed that John easily dodged it. However John moved so late that Bruce hit his own ally instead of John, a cracking noise was heard and it was not the bat that had cracked. He saw Bruce on his knees covering his face with his hands and the other guy howling in pain as he held his ribs.
John was about to turn, but was put in a headlock. He struggled to escape and was struggling to breathe, but he wasn't doing either well. John began to elbow his attacker in the midsection and finally managed to break free. John turned around and grabbed Danny by the wrist and began to swing him in a circle until suddenly he released him and Danny flew face first into a lamppost.
Only three days later Micheal was opening his locker getting books for the classes after lunch, when someone slammed it shut.
"Hey, what did you do that for?" Micheal asked as he turned to see who did it.
He was shocked to see the bullies from before. He stood there frozen, unable to move or speak.
"You remember us don't you Mike? It's your good friends Bruce and Danny." The larger bully said.
Micheal was only able to nod in response. He was terrified because he knew Lotus members could be real brutal when trying to convince stubborn people to join.
"Well we gave ya three days to think it over what did you decide to do?" Bruce asked.
"Um... I c-c-couldn't... I-I didn't h-"
"Mike listen I know you're nervous and that's alright, but there's nothing to be worried about, the Lotus takes care of its own. Anyway you wouldn't want to hurt my feelings or Bruce's by not joining do ya?" Danny asked.
Micheal shook his head vigorously at the threat, but remained silent. However Danny did not like his response, he sighed and then stared at Micheal's eyes intently.
"I guess this decision is a bit overwhelming right now so Bruce and I will give you until eight thirty tonight to decide. Meet us at the basketball court near the school once you make up your mind."
Micheal breathed a sigh of relief as the two walked away. However all throughout the rest of the day all he could think about was getting to the dojo and talking to his Sensei on what he should do. After what seemed to be the longest school day ever, Micheal went home to do his homework and by the time he finished it was time to leave for the dojo. After class ended he once again approached his Sensei about the Black Lotus.
"Sir, I need to tell you something."
"Go ahead."
"The two bullies I told you about said I have until eight thirty tonight to meet them at the basketball court near the high school and make my mind up. You said that you would take care of this problem for me. I don't want to doubt your word, but I've only got an hour and a half to respond."
"It's all right Michael I will talk to them, just try to hurry home and stop worrying."
Micheal bowed in gratitude and raced home leaving John all alone. John changed his clothes, locked up the dojo, and began walking. Fifteen minutes later John was nearing the court and saw no one there, however there were three Asian teens in the adjacent playground. Two of them were sitting on the jungle gym and one was sitting on a swing holding a bat. He walked onto the playground and they saw him coming.
"How are you guys doing?"
"Get lost," the one on the swing said.
"I just think that you guys should stop what you're doing and leave this place. Don't you think you're a bit old to be playing on the jungle gym or swing?"
"I don't know who you think you're talking to, but you better leave before you get hurt. This is Lotus turf so I suggest you get going while you still can."
"I think you guys really should go away while you still can."
"All right that's it, we need to teach this loser a lesson in manners," Bruce said as he hopped off the jungle gym.
"At least I tried not fighting them," John thought to himself.
Danny followed him and the guy with the bat stood.
"Let's get him Danny!" Bruce shouted.
Bruce and Danny came at John hard, Danny delivered a fierce elbow to the chest while Bruce landed a strong blow in his abdomen. John staggered backwards a bit, but countered with a sweep kick to knock Bruce down and then clotheslined Danny. Suddenly the "bat guy" entered the fray, he ran toward John with bat high over his head. John caught the bat with one hand and his attacker's wrist with the other and kicked the side of his head. John dropped the bat and let go of the wrist and continued to kick the guy in the head and ended it with a punch to the face. The teen dropped instantly and John turned to see Bruce holding the bat he had dropped.
He sprang into the air to attack, but the move was so telegraphed that John easily dodged it. However John moved so late that Bruce hit his own ally instead of John, a cracking noise was heard and it was not the bat that had cracked. He saw Bruce on his knees covering his face with his hands and the other guy howling in pain as he held his ribs.
John was about to turn, but was put in a headlock. He struggled to escape and was struggling to breathe, but he wasn't doing either well. John began to elbow his attacker in the midsection and finally managed to break free. John turned around and grabbed Danny by the wrist and began to swing him in a circle until suddenly he released him and Danny flew face first into a lamppost.