Sport
"Have you tried to make friends?" asked Joshua my forever concerned brother
"No," my blank voice projected. The science homework was what demanded my attention.
The school had just called to inform him of the run off. Josh, just back from Lagos rushed home to find me, watching TV, while doing homework. I was struggling for the first time at school. We both knew it was more of a mental thing.
More and more I wished to be back home. Somehow trying to keep the happy facade wasn't helping.
"Why don't you join another dojo or do something after school," my older brother pleaded
He was more worried than necessary. All children go through a rough patch. However, joining another dojo or doing something after school was out of the question. I didn't fit in with the children of Britain. Nothing could change that. Not if the matters were in my hands.
Well Josh must have gotten tired with my unresponsive behaviour because he signed me up for field and track. He threatened to take away my laptop, phone, Ipod, mp3 and television privileges. Nothing said could convince him those things were my rights.
The moment the word rights came out of my mouth. We had a whole talk about rights and responsibilities and no having those things were privileges not rights. I nodded and blanked out we had had this talk ever since he gave me my very first grounding.
Grudgingly I went to the athletics field. Argued with the coach to allow me to do cross-country. The only form of track and field I enjoyed. Well in the end, we reached a compromise. If I didn't prove myself in cross-country then he would put me on everything else.
The starting gun went off releasing a blank into the air. We ran in a park sort of area. My muscles screamed about the abuse. I hadn't run like this since my last day in South Africa. Slowly they loosened remembering the familiar rhythm.
Making it in the time cut was wonderful. It felt like all the sweat was worth it. Truthfully, it was good to do something instead of lying around.
So the days changed to weeks. It was then Josh got a call. The Pleasures murdered. Alex was the only survivor. The social services asked if Josh could go over to America and sort out the mess. Not the social services but the MI6 I knew had asked.
Ever since my little walk out of school business Josh had gotten K unit to babysit. It was very embarrassing. Not having control of my own life that is, not the fact that they were staying over. They needed to know where I was every moment of the day.
They got me to try a dojo. One of Wolf's old friends had one. That was a surprise it had been Wolf's idea to get me involved again. Walking into the front door, I felt like vomiting. In my old dojo, it was nothing big or fancy. Our gi worn only on fighting and basic Judo days, otherwise we trained in tracksuits or sweatpants with cotton tees. Our shoes always jumbled untidily in the corner.
This dojo was huge and clean. A separate room for getting ready and keeping our stuff. They forcefully made we walk through. I bowed at the door. About a dozen black belts like myself were warming up.
Wolf introduced me to the sensei. The sensei obviously more qualified than my previous one. A whole term since I last trained in a dojo. He put me through my paces. Eagle took out a huge folder filled with my qualifications in this field.
I smiled as a photo of me winning my first medal showed. He nodded. He spoke to me in Japanese as most people of his belt did. I was accepted and so my training had begun. I started learning Japanese through him.
That night Josh called. He was coming over with Alex in a week's time. Michael in two weeks time was flying in. Giving up the mountains to train at the Royal School of Music here in London. All that went through my mind is at least our family will be reunited.
A/N: Just thank you toLarkaTheWhiteWolf andAceLegend who reviewed and gave very much-appreciated critic.