CHAPTER 9 - "The training begun"
"Oh, my poor baby!" Judy said as she grabbed Jimmy and involved him into a strong hug.
"Mom!" Jimmy cried. "I can't breath... ugh!".
"Sorry.." she said, as she let him go. "Ok, I give you the permission to go with your friend. She told me she will teach you martial arts".
"Jimmy, you will need some stuff from your room like clothes, and a sleeping bag and you can take Goddard if you want to. He can eat the empty Purple Flurp cans" Cindy suggested.
"That's a great idea!" Jimmy said. "Come, Goddard! Come here, boy!" he called.
Goddard rushed downstairs and barked. He stepped beside Jimmy.
"Good boy!" he said as he patted his dog. "Hey, and what about the Karate costume?" he asked Cindy.
"I got some old ones in my bedroom. When you're ready, I'll meet you outside of my house, ok?" Cindy replied. And she walked off.
After Jimmy packed all the things he needed, he said goodbye to his mother and he headed to Cindy's house. She was waiting for him. Both ran upstairs to Cindy's room. When they got there, Cindy looked for a Karate costume and handled it to Jimmy. "I hope this fit on you". And the training begun.
"First of all, you must keep your balance and concentrate. We don't have all day, so try to do your best, understand?" she asked.
Jimmy nodded.
"Now watch and follow me" Cindy said.
Cindy stepped with her arms separate, her eyes closed andshe raised aleg. Jimmy tried to do the same thing but he fellto the floor.
"That's ok, it's your first time. Try it again, until you learn" she suggested.
Jimmy tried again, but he got the same result. Cindy watched him. He tried over and over. The time passed. And Jimmy became exhausted.
"Ok, let's take a break" she suggested.
She explained to him why he failed.
"Well, the problem is you can't keep balance because of your big head" she said. Jimmy gave her a warning look. "Sorry but it's true" she said, as she giggled and smiled. "We'll need to increase your strengh a bit, so you can handle the weight of your head. Then you will be able to keep balance".
"What do you suggest?" Jimmy asked.
"Practice, a lot of practice. We'll need to use this" Cindy said, showing a punching ball with the form of Jimmy's body.
"Hey!" he said, angry. "That's not funny!".
"I was mad at you, ok? That's why I asked for this ball recently" she explained.
"On the other hand, you wouldremember me every day with this. That's very nice of you" he said.
"Do you think so?" she asked.
He blushed. "Yeah... hehe...".
Jimmy and Cindy stared at each other, looking directly to each other's eyes.
"You said... you were mad about me..." Jimmy said. "So, what about now?" he asked.
"I-I think I'm crazy now!" she replied, smiling.
They leaned closer and they were about to kiss but (like always) something (had to) interrumpt them.
"Cynthia Vortex! Stop hanging around with Quasimodo and get some sleep! It's 10 PM!" Mrs. Vortex shouted.
"Quasim... HMPH!". As quickly as she could, Cindy put one of her hands on Jimmy's mouth.
"Don't say anything!" she said.
She removed her hand from Jimmy's mouth. "My mom is really angry with you, she let you in here just because of me. Otherwise, she would'vekick your buttand sent you to your backyard.C'mon, let's go to sleep".
Jimmy sighed and nodded. "Ok" he said.
He opened his sleeping bag and he went all the wayin.
"Good night". 'I was so close to kiss her!'.
Cindy jumped to her bed and went all the way into the sheets.
"Good night". 'I was so close to kiss him!'.
They closed their eyes.
'Why always things got to be like this?'