Weapons and Wisdom

The day after Napoleon quarreled with Uncle Rico he went to the dojo and told Rex what happened.

"So, you knocked the crap out of your uncle Napoleon?"

"I only hit him once, but it was a killer strike."

"Did you start the fight?"

"No! He made my girlfriend sad so I threw a steak at his van. Then he chased me and started choking me."

"Then you hit him?"

"Yes!"

"Okay. Remember to never misuse Rex Kwon Do."

"How do you misuse it," asked Pedro.

"You misuse it when you do what I show you to abuse others. Unless someone tries to hurt you first you should never have to exert what you learn here."

"Yes sensei," they replied.

"Today I'll show you a maneuver that you can use when you're in a half nelson. Let's go to the mat." They spread out the mats and got on them. "Okay, Pedro you get me in a half nelson." Pedro wrapped an arm around Rex's neck. "Watch this." First Rex hit Pedro in the shin. Then he held the arm around his neck and lifted Pedro over his body. Pedro fell on the mat and Rex made a knifehand and then hit Pedro's ribs. "Did you get that?" Napoleon nodded. "Do it on me."

Rex wrapped an arm around Napoleon's neck and he threw Rex on the mat. "Was that good," Napoleon asked.

"That was good, but you forgot to hit me in the shin. Now, when I fall to the ground I want you to kick me Pedro. Let's try this again." Rex got Napoleon in a half nelson and Napoleon hit his shin. Then he lifted Rex and threw him to the floor. Finally Napoleon hit Rex's ribs and Pedro kicked his side. "That was perfect. See how good it is to use the buddy system?" Napoleon and Pedro nodded. "Any questions before we start using the weapons?"

"Yes," replied Napoleon. "Can you prevent someone from pushing you?"

"Well, I can show you how to take a push."

"What," said Pedro.

"Here I'll show you. Push me Napoleon." Napoleon used both hands and pushed his shoulders, but Rex didn't move. That's because Rex put the palms of his hands under Napoleon's elbow and lifted them up. "Why can't you push me? Push harder!" Napoleon used all his strength to push Rex, but the attempt was futile. "You can't do it. Try it Pedro." Pedro tried to no avail. Napoleon saw how Rex used his hands to stop Pedro. "Ok Pedro, push Napoleon." Pedro tried to push Napoleon, but he had done it. He stopped Pedro from knocking him down.

"This is awesome," said Napoleon.

"Remember, don't do this unless someone is assaulting you." Napoleon nodded. "Now loosen your wrists so you can handle a staff." Napoleon and Pedro cracked their knuckles and shook their wrist while Rex got a few staffs. The wooden poles were almost as tall as Napoleon. He handed them the staffs and went in front of them.

Rex started to spin it with his wrists, not moving his arms at all, and spun the staff clockwise. "This is basic spinning." Napoleon and Pedro followed Rex's actions, but not perfectly. "Don't move your body, stand still." They continued spinning and Rex showed them how to do it over their heads and around to body. "Keep the motion." Napoleon started to get tired and dropped the staff. "Do ten pushups while holding the staff Napoleon." Napoleon did, but in order to do it he had to have his hands in a fist and put weight on his knuckles, and he managed to do it.

"You can use a staff to attack and block," Rex said and demonstrated. He charged at Pedro but he moved back. "Hold out the staff in front of you." Pedro did and blocked Rex's staff. "Attack me Pedro." Pedro held the staff like a sword and swung at Rex, but he blocked. "You and Napoleon have a go at attacking one another."

Napoleon and Pedro started staff sparing. Napoleon would whack at Pedro then he'd block, and vice versa. They really loved doing it and really tried to get the other person. Finally Napoleon knocked the staff out of Pedro's hand and the fighting stopped.

"That was good," commented Rex. "That's all I'll show you today." They bowed and then left.

-----

When they arrived at Napoleon's house Uncle Rico's van was parked in front of it. Then Napoleon got an idea. He went inside and got a grapefruit. Then he threw it at the van and Uncle Rico came out to get Napoleon, but he didn't run. When Uncle Rico had Napoleon in a half nelson he hit Uncle Rico in the shin and threw him to the ground. Pedro came to kick him and Napoleon finished the attack.

"What the heck was that for Napoleon," asked Uncle Rico.

"We're just practicing." Uncle Rico struggled to get up.

"Don't do that to me ever again!"

"Okay." He watched his uncle limp to the van.

"I don't think that was right," said Pedro.

"What do you mean?"

"I know it was just practice, but I don't think he deserved that beating." Napoleon thought about all the times that Uncle Rico made him look like an idiot, and then he sighed.

"Okay, we won't do that anymore."

"My cousins let me practice on them all the time."

"Really? Well, then let's go to your house, but first I want to go to the thrift store."

"Why?"

"I'm going to see if I can get a job."

When they got to the thrift store Pedro went inside to look at things and Napoleon talked to the manager.

"Can I have a job," asked Napoleon.

"Do you have a resume?"

'What,' thought Napoleon. 'A flippin' resume!' Napoleon sighed. "Yes," he lied, "I have a resume, but I forgot it at home."

"Well, bring it in sometime and I'll see what I can do." Napoleon met up with Pedro and they found some nunchucks and small staffs that are about a foot long.

"How much money do you have Pedro?"

"A couple of twenties."

"Sweet, let's get them!" While in line to buy the items Deb walked in.

"Hey guys," she said. "What are you doing here?"

"We're going to get these weapons," replied Pedro.

"And I'm going to get a job."

"Oh. Do want to see a movie on Saturday?"

"I don't know. I may have to work that day." Deb made a sad face and then ran out of the store. "What did I say?"

"Why don't you go to the movies with her," said Pedro.

"I don't know." They bought the weapons and went to Pedro's house to practice.

-----

Summer was half over when Napoleon and Pedro became blue belts. They learned how to use nunchucks and little staffs without hurting themselves. Napoleon got a job at the thrift store and Deb was still angry at him. Napoleon didn't know what to do, so one day he asked Rex for advice.

"Rex, I have a problem. My girlfriend Deb is mad at me and I don't know why."

"Well," he replied, "have you done anything to upset her?"

"She asked me to see a movie with her one time, but I told her no."

"Why?"

"Because I have a job at the thrift store now. I can't just ditch work to be with her."

"Have you two gone on a date since then?"

"No, I've been too busy."

"Here's what you need to do. You need to use money you've earned to buy her something, and take her wherever she wants to go. Spend an entire day with her."

"That sounds good."

"You see, girls are sensitive, and they need us guys to show that we love them. You need to make more time for her or else she might break up with you. Believe me, I've been with tons of women before I met Starla. I learned from my mistakes and I didn't let her get away like the others ones because I truly love her. She's my soul mate, my one and only. If you really love this girl then prove it to her." Napoleon nodded.

The next day he called in sick for work and didn't go to the dojo. He went to Deb's house and knocked on the door. When she opened it she saw him and began to cry.

"Why are you here," she asked. "I thought you were too occupied to be with me."

"I got you some film for your camera." Napoleon gave her the gift and she took it. "I'm sorry I've been such an idiot. Can you forgive me?" Deb was silent and looked at the ground. "I dropped everything to be with you today. We can go wherever you want Deb. 'Pop'n Pins', 'Big J's', you name it." Then she looked up.

"Can we go to the playground and play tetherball?"

"Yes! So, do you forgive me?"

"Yes." They smiled and left her house hand in hand……