Stepping Up Ch. 2

"Spoken", Thought, (Hebrew translation), [Latin translation]

שבת - Sabbath

It was six o'clock in the morning, in a small subdivision in Middleton, in a modest house with no car in the driveway. It was the Stoppable residence, and Ron Stoppable lay in his bed, the events of the day before running on a loop in his mind. Ron lay with his hands behind his head staring up at the ceiling. What sleep he got was sporadic, and mixed with thoughts about how he would approach his rabbi.

He ran through everything he did yesterday while defeating Gill, the fishman. I built a rope, and used strategy not force to beat him. The strategy was almost instinctive, all the years of running from villains and henchmen and even bullies seemed to have taught him how to outsmart his opponent. He used what he knew, the arts and crafts, or more importantly the resources he had available to defeat his former camp buddy. Through Ron's own efforts he prevented his cheer squad teammates from being mutated, and raised a few notches in their estimation. He grinned, Even Bonnie couldn't deny my value then, I even got a kiss from Tara, one of the hottest ladies in school.

Ron rose, out of bed and went into his closet, he found the album where he kept his favorite memories. There were all of KP's school photos, all according to her, the worst looking pictures she ever took. Ron smiled, even if they are her worst, she's still quite pretty in them. He flips the pages, smiling at the memories, some good, some not, some necessary like his Bar Mitzvah certificate. Ron studies the certificate for a bit and grimaces. Rabbi Katz didn't sign it. "Hmm" Well this gives me an excuse to go and see him after Temple today, or at least make an appointment.

After showering and changing for Temple, Ron went down to the kitchen, leaving Rufus to sleep, his little buddy never goes to Temple, and reheated last night's leftovers for breakfast. He began to eat, thinking about what he would talk about with the rabbi today. Ron finished his breakfast, his parents were away on business, so he would be heading to the synagogue alone this week. Ron liked going to services, and enjoyed honoring his heritage, it gave him stability, and only missions and KP emergencies took priority over Temple. I go into danger all the time, having the Big Guy in my corner is a big help.

Ron locked up the house, and left to meet the one of the few people, he trusts as much as Kim and the other Possibles. Over the years, Ron and the rabbi have developed, close relationship. In his view, Rabbi Katz was like an uncle, that he could talk to about anything. The rabbi knew almost as much about Ronald as Kim and her folks did, if she couldn't give him advice about something, and her parents were not around, or were too busy with their own family business, the rabbi could. Ron's dad was almost never around, he had to get the birds and the bees talk from Mr. Dr. Possible, who was more of a parent than Ron's own father. The same was true for his mother, who only seemed to give Ron attention, when he did something wrong. They provided food and put a roof over his head, which was all they seemed to think was required for parents, and Ron honored and loved them for doing that, but he did not trust them.

It was a fifteen-minute walk from the Stoppable residence to the synagogue. It gave him more time to ponder over ways to improve himself. Another good reason Ron wanted advice from the rabbi, was that Ron needed someone to be straight with him. Ron wanted someone who would be completely honest with him. Ron could have gone to the Possibles or even to Mr. Barkin, and he might still do that later down the line, but they might try to sugar coat it, or be overly critical of him, respectively. For all their talks, Rabbi Katz had never given Ronald, anything but the unvarnished truth.

Ron spotted Rabbi Katz standing outside the Temple, welcoming congregants. Rabbi Elijah Katz, was a medium-sized, lean, muscularly built man in his early 60s. Born in Israel during the 1950s, he saw his share of war and suffering, joining the military during the late 60s, he served in the Israeli military until the late 70s. He immigrated to America in the 80s on a student visa, and obtained dual citizenship in 1989, just before he became a rabbi. He settled in Middleton, a couple of years before Ron was born, and speaks English with only a slight accent. As Ron walks up the steps of the Temple, the rabbi greets him with a warm smile. "Hello, Ronald, here alone today?"

Ron returns the smile with one of his own goofy grins, "Yeah, Mom and Dad, are away on business this week, so it's just me and Rufus, for now."

The rabbi nods his understanding, "Well, it is so good to see such a responsible young man attend, when most teens your age would see an opportunity to shirk their obligations."

Ron chuckled at that and replied, "That is what 'normal' teenagers and would do, which goes against my life motto…"

"… Never Be Normal!" They said in unison, and laughed together.

"Say, Rabbi Katz, do you by any chance, have some time today after the service, to meet with me?"

"Sure thing, Ronald, I can squeeze out an hour or two, what do you want to speak about?"

"Well, for starters, you forgot to sign my Bar Mitzvah certificate and I need some advice on ways to improve myself."

Rabbi Katz nodded his head in understanding, "I would be happy to help you, stop by my office afterwards and we will talk."

"Thanks, in advance, I look forward to it," Ron said as he stepped inside one of God's Holy places.

After service…

Rabbi Katz showed Ronald into his office, and onto a couch and set a Dr. Pepper in front of the young man. The elder man took his place next to Ron in an easy chair, giving his young friend his undivided attention. Ron took out the Bar Mitzvah certificate and laying it on the table, they chatted for a few minutes, after the rabbi signed it.

"Ok, Ronald, what was it that you needed my counsel," he asked?

So, Ron launched into the events of the previous evening with Gill, and Camp Wannaweep and the cheer squad. He told about his resolve to better himself, and improve certain areas of his life in order to do better on missions with Kim Possible. He talked about being ashamed of himself at times, and Kim's response when he said as much to her. Rabbi Katz listened when to his young friend's resolve to ask him for advice, on ways to improve himself without changing what Ron liked to call his 'Essential Ronness'. He was a little flattered and concerned when Ron told him the reasons for coming to him, and not his parents. It is a disgrace Ronald's parents, do not appreciate what a treasure their son truly is, and regardless of his apparent image, how mature and insightful Ron has become, for someone of his young age.

Ron came to the end of his story, and sipping his drink, waited for the rabbi to speak. "Thank you, Ronald, for placing your trust with me, it is the most valuable possession you can have, and should not be shared lightly." The rabbi began, "And, I quite agree with Kimberly, there is nothing about you that you should be ashamed of, אולי יש לך כמה קצוות מחוספסים, אבל כשאני מסתכל אתה רואה את האיש הגדול ייתכן שיום אחד להיות. (you may have a few rough edges, but when I look at you see the great man, you may one day, become.)"

Ron scratched his head, and blushed at the compliment, "תודה רבה, הרב (Thank you, very much, Rabbi,)" Ron had subconsciously, slipped into the same language as his rabbi, barely noticing the transition.

It has been a few years since college, have not spoken it much since then but let us determine if I remember enough to test him. "Nihil cogitant de eo: Ronald [Think nothing of it, Ronald]." Rabbi replied warmly in Latin, "Illud mihi occurrit, quod vos quaerere, vel discere quam ut amplio ludo qui in intelligentia, appellare [It occurs to me that you, seek to improve or learn what those in the intelligence game, like to call] skill sets."

"Intelligenti ludum? Arte occidere? [Intelligence game? Skill sets?], Ron asked, again, barely noticing the language transition.

Rabbi Katz was astounded, but nearly twenty years in military intelligence, had taught him to hide it well. "Yes, Ronald, skill sets, as you know from some of our conversations, I was in Israeli military intelligence, before I became a rabbi. Skill sets are a term we used to match agents with missions, to ensure the greatest chances of success. I can already tell from just our conversation today, our talks from the past, and watching you grow up, that you already have some burgeoning skill sets."

To say that Ron Stoppable was surprised by this, would be like saying the sun is a big light in the sky. His eyes became as big as dinner plates, "What skill sets are you talking about, rabbi?"

"Let me respond by asking you a question first. How long have you been studying Latin?"

"Since the start of the school year, it's one of the few classes I'm acing, even Barkin doesn't seem to ride me as hard in that class. Which is funny, I only took the class because I thought it would be all about Latin American culture, and not the dead language."

The elder man laughed a little at the mix-up, "Ronald, when we were speaking just now, I transitioned between three languages: English, Latin and Hebrew. Not only were you able to follow along with the conversation, you were able to transition seamlessly, between all three. You have studied Hebrew most of your life, so I understand your facility with that, but to do it using a language you have only studied for six and a half months, is not only impressive, it is genius level understanding." Ron was taking in every word Rabbi Katz was speaking, "Yet, that is just one of the skill sets I have noticed, you have an almost instinctual grasp of strategy, and tactics probably developed from the harassment of bullies, and strengthened by the missions you have been on with Kimberly. You have an eidetic memory, especially where it concerns, Kim Possible." Stoppable was nonplussed to say the least, he never knew these things were so important, he thought it was just one more, weird thing about him.

"Okay, so can I do anything to improve on those assets, and what other skill sets should I start learning that would balance them?" Ron Stoppable asked his rabbi and friend.

Katz thought for a few moments before asking, "What other languages does your school offer, Ronald?"

"Spanish, French and German, rabbi," he answered.

"It is probably too late in the year to try adding those, but next year when you are in the tenth grade, I suggest adding all three of those to your language repertoire." Katz said that absently as he was thinking about something while he answered Ron's question. "For the memory, learning observation skills, and analytical thinking are perfect partners to eidetic memories."

Ron noticing the rabbi's distracted mind decided to ask, "What is it, Rabbi Katz is anything wrong?"

The rabbi looked up embarrassed because of his distraction, "No Ronald, I apologize for my distraction, but I was just thinking about some other ways to help you."

"Did you think of anything, rabbi, please tell me?"

"I was thinking about new skill sets, and it got me thinking that maybe I could train you in Israeli military contact fighting."

"What," Ron asked confused?

"My homeland, Israel is under constant threat of annihilation, by most of its neighbors, as you know if you watch the news."

Ron nodded, "I've even been there a time or two on a few small missions, with KP. My Hebrew was a real asset while we were there."

"Good, to cut a long story short, the IDF developed a method of hand-to-hand fighting that is effective, brutal and easy to learn. I think learning to fight is essential if you are going to continue to aid Kimberly on your missions. As well as, get you in good physical condition because it is true what they say, a healthy mind resides in a healthy body."

Ron was listening to his friend's words and he had to admit it made sense, "That sounds like a bon-diggity idea, rabbi. When do we start?"

Rabbi Elijah Katz, sat forward and looked at his student and added, "Ronald, I take back what I said about not changing who you are, there is one aspect of your personality I would change if I could."

Ron gulped and indicated for the rabbi to go on, I came for his honesty, he's about to give me what I asked for. "Yes, rabbi?"

"Your slothful nature," Rabbi Katz said gently, "you must understand, that improvements do not happen overnight, it could take weeks or months to see any real results. If you truly wish to improve yourself, if you train with me it is going to take discipline, tenacity and hard-work. I will be harsh with you, do you think you have what takes to go the distance, Ronald Michael Stoppable?"

Ron looked down, deep into his soul, his essential Ronness and asked himself that same question. At first, he did not think he had it in him, but then he remembered what, or who he was going to be doing it for, and the consequences if he failed to do his very best. That was when his resolve stiffened, and he looked up at his rabbi's face, and eye-to-eye with him said, "I know why I am doing this, Rabbi Katz, so yes, to answer your question know I have what it takes."

Elijah Katz gazed into the young man's eyes and saw a grim determination, and he smiled, "Most excellent, Ronald, using the Jewish calendar tomorrow is Yom Rishon, so that is when we will begin." Rabbi Katz wrote down an address, "You will be at that address, tomorrow at sun rise, and every day after school, except on Yom Shishi and Yom Shabbat, you will also start buckling down on your school work, if you do not begin maintaining a 'B' average then I will make your life a living hell. Missions will be considered a part of your training, they will give you experience. Kimberly of course may come if she wishes, once you get up in levels I may allow you to spar with her. Who knows you may both benefit from such training." The rabbi rose, and helped his new protégé to his feet, "I would suggest letting Kimberly know about your training, as team leader she needs to know these things."

Ron jumped to his feet and headed for the door, "כפי שאתה פקודה, הרב (As you command, rabbi.)"

The rabbi watched his young friend leave and head down the hallway, to meet his reason for going through Hell, how romantic, Elijah mused.