CHAPTER 7

When we got home from the concert, Steve decided that it was time I learned how to fight. I thought it was great, because I never wanted to be in a situation like that again. In fact, I overheard him and Mum talking about it after I'd gone to bed that night, and from the tone of their voices, they had different opinions about the whole thing.

"Look, Diann, I grew up on Long Island," Steve was saying. "It's not an easy place to live, and I had to learn how to defend myself. I mean, don't you want Jason to be safe?"

"Of course I do, but this isn't the way to do it," Mum said. "He could get hurt, or hurt someone else."

"He already got hurt!" Steve protested. "You should've seen what was happening in that bathroom tonight! Those two boys roughed up Jason and Luke, and they would've done a lot worse if I hadn't stopped them!"

For a moment, there was silence. I wasn't sure what was going to happen next, or if they were going to start tearing each other's heads off.

"Okay," Mum said calmly. "I still have some reservations, and I'm worried about Jason's safety, but I appreciate you looking out for him."

"Diann, honey, I promise to watch out for him. He's going to be all right," Steve said.

As I went back to sleep, I thought, I knew he'd say that. Little did I know what I was getting myself into.

The following Saturday, my self-defense training began. The first thing we did was go for a morning jog. It was freezing windy, and the sun was barely up, but considering what we'd just been through, and the fact that Steve was willing to help me, it was well worth the lousy weather we were having.

"Now Jason, the most important thing to remember here is endurance," Steve was saying as we jogged up the road. "And one of the best ways to keep it up is by jogging at least once a day."

"But what if it's raining, or the roads are icy?" I asked.

"If the roads are bad, then you're right, you shouldn't jog, except around the block, provided it's safe," Steve answered. "Now, depending on whether or not there's thunder and lightning, or how heavy the rain is, you can decide."

"Right," I said. I was just glad I wouldn't have to jog in five feet of snow!

The next thing we did was go to the apartment complex's fitness center for weight-lifting. While we were stretching, Steve explained that it was the most important thing, because you could pull a muscle if you didn't, and that's reall painful.

After we left the fitness center, we drove to the Y, where Steve was going to teach me self-defense. Fortunately, aerobics classes didn't start until 1:30, so we had the room to ourselves.

"The first thing I'm going to teach you is blocking and punching," he said. "Now, watch me very carefully here."

He put his left foot out in front of him, bent his knee a little, and raised his fists into a fighting stance. He looked like he was getting ready to clean house. Then, at lightning speed, he raised his left arm, and with his right, let loose with a punch. "H'YAH!" he shouted.

I won't lie to you, I jumped two feet. I think I even saw the Italian flag tattoo on his right arm flash a little. That's how fired up he was.

Then Steve turned to me and said, "Okay, you try it."

I positioned my feet the same way he did, then raised both fists and did the same motion he did, only my yell wasn't qute as loud as his.

"Not bad," Steve said. "Just remember to keep your eyes on your opponent, and never tuck your thumb into your fist, because you will break it."

"I'll remember," I promised. "By the way, where'd you learn to do this?"

"I was about your age when I started learning," he answered. "My Uncle Ken—my mom's brother—had been a black belt in karate. He'd also been a self-defense instructor during the Vietnam War, and he taught me everything he knew."

"Cool," I commented. "Is he still around?"

"I'm afraid not. He passed away soon after I met you and your mom."

"I'll bet he was a great guy, huh?"

"The best. One of the things he told me was that I was a fast learner. And from what I just saw, I think you might be, too."

"Thanks," I grinned. I knew it would definitely come to good use.

Over the next few months, Steve and I continued to practice. Some of the other things he taught me were ways to duck and avoid being hit. I learned quite a lot from him. Also, I hope he doesn't mind me saying this, but I'm surprised he didn't teach me "wax on, wax off"!

That following summer, the five of us (Mum, Steve, Bebe, Luke, and I) went to the community pool. I was really looking forward to it, because ever since I'd started my self-defense training, I was getting some muscle, and the pool was a great place to show it off.

"Mum, Luke and I are going to get something to drink," I said. "Is that all right?"

"Sure, love," Mum said as she finished putting sunblock on Bebe and wiped the excess on her leg as Steve handed us a couple of dollars from his wallet.

"Can I have a drink, too, Jason?" Bebe asked, trying to sound pitiful. I should've known she'd do that, because whenever Mum or Steve let me do something, she felt like she had to as well.

"Bebe, you know you already have something to drink," Mum told her, "and you're supposed to finish what you have."

"Okay, Diann," Bebe sighed. She knew perfectly well that when Mum starts talking like that, she means business.

"Now remember to come straight back, yes?" Mum said to Luke and me.

"We will," I said, and the two of us headed to the snack bar. On the way, I noticed a few girls watching me and whispering to each other. I guessed they'd noticed how muscular I was getting, and it was pretty hard to hide how flattered I was.

On the way back, I expected the girls to follow us, but guess who we saw instead? You guessed it—those two boys from the concert. That was bad enough, but worst of all, the kid who was about to clobber me that night was the brother of one of the girls who was watching me.

"Well, if it isn't the little yutz again," he snickered. "So, first you turn my friend into a soprano, and now, you're posing for my sister, huh?"

"What are you talking about?" I demanded. "I was just getting something to drink."

The kid knocked my drink to the ground. "So drink it," he snapped.

"Hey, come on, Derek, cut it out!" his sister cried. That only made the kid even madder.

"You shut your trap, Autumn!" he snapped. "I'm sick of you following me around and telling me what to do, you hear me?!"

All my adrenaline kicked into high gear. I picked up my cup and threw what was left of my drink at him. Obviously, it wasn't a smart move, but that's no way to talk to a girl, especially if she's your sister.

As soon as this creep felt the drink hit him, he slowly turned to face me, and he was shaking and red as a beet. I also saw a vein in the middle of his forehead, and from my eight-year-old perspective, it looked about a foot and a half long. "This time, you're really dead," he growled, clenching his fists. I knew what was coming, and I was ready this time.

The kid swung at me, but remembering what Steve taught me, I blocked the blow and decked him right in the face. It all happened so fast. I didn't expect to hurt him at all, but after I hit him, he stumbled backward, with blood pouring from his nose. His eyes were rolling around in their sockets, and his mouth was hanging open. Then he fell over and crash-landed on his back.

I looked at my fist in amazement. I seriously couldn't believe what had just happened. Neither could anyone else. We stood there for a moment, just gawking at this kid lying there like a sack of dirty laundry. When we saw one of the cashiers pass by, we all scattered.

Luke and I returned to Mum and Steve, like we'd been told, and were hoping they hadn't seen what had happened. If they did, I'd be in big trouble. Luckily, Mum was in the pool with Bebe, and Steve was reading his copy of Catcher In The Rye, so I was safe for the moment.

At least I thought I was.

A little while later, a lifeguard came over to us. "Is there a problem?" Steve asked when he saw him.

"I'm afraid so," the lifeguard answered. "It's come to my attention that this boy has gotten into a fight."

"What happened?" Steve asked, concerned.

"Well, sir, I've heard from several eyewitnesses that he wasn't the one who started it. But if it's all right with you, I'd like to hear his side of the story."

Great. Just what I needed. I'm just glad there were some people on my side.

"Sure," I said. "See, my friend and I were getting something to drink, and on our way back, these two boys tried to start trouble with us. The sister of one of them tried to help us out, but he yelled at her, so I threw my drink at him. He was about to clobber me, so I hit him first. Now, I didn't expect to give him a bloody nose. He just fell right over."

The lifeguard nodded. "I see," he said. "Well, I'd like to let you know that you're not in trouble this time. But in the future, I think it'd be wise of you to keep your temper under control, and come to one of us if you have a problem like this again, okay?"

I nodded. I was so relieved to hear that. I also hoped that Mum wouldn't blame Steve for teaching me how to fight.

Oh, that reminds me. Recently, while I was baby-sitting for the Kuhns', eight-year-old Jake told me about coming to the aid of six-year-old Laurel, who was being picked on during recess, and how the kid who was doing the bullying started in on Jake—namely calling him "Fatso", because Jake's just a little overweight. That soon led to Jake and this other kid getting into a fight, and both of them having to stay after school for three days. I told Jake that he'd done the right thing by standing up to this kid, but he also should've told a teacher, and let them handle it.

I just wish that's what I would've done.