We entered an office, where this girl was reading something on a board; I must admit that I was a little nervous, I didn't know what I should do or if they were going to "analyze" me once again, Maybe I wasn't fit enough for this place, because from what I saw out there... But this Mags calmed me down as soon as she smiled at me.

-Hey, Mags, this girl is interested in gymnastics classes, she says her name is Ann-.

-Excellent, I think I can take over from now on-. She said, shaking my hand-.

-Tell me, why are you interested in joining us?-.

-Well, I would like to try something new...-. She just raised her hand.

-Alright, I have to tell you two things, the first is this is not just "something" that we do to kill time, they are activities that give us discipline, they require attitude, perseverance and sacrifice.

-Sacrifice?-.

-The good thing is that with your complexion, you might be able to achieve something like that in a couple of weeks-. Mags points out the window at the girl who gave me the dirty look when I walked in, doing three somersaults in the air.

-She is Piper, the best-. I just rolled my eyes.

-Do you have any experience with gymnastics?-.

-Well, not really, but I have studied some yoga and dance in the last years, and also ribbon dancing-. I said, moving my hand as if I were using a magic wand.

-That sounds good-. She said, writing something down on a sheet of paper.

-And I wanted to ask you, you're not from around here, right?-.

-Is it noticeable on me?-.

-It's okay-. She said laughing.

-Most of us here aren't from here, I've been teaching gymnastics in San Francisco lately-.

-My dad and I arrived a couple of months ago from Boston-.

-Oh, what does he do?-.

-He is a wrestling teacher-. Mags started looking at me suspiciously.

-And that's the reason you want to come here?-. -Yes, um...-.

Mags was looking at me like "should I call social services?".

-But my dad is the best-. and I looked at her with my "he didn't force me to do anything I didn't want to do" face (except for the karate, but that was another story).

-Great... I will need your ID, and for your father to... sign this form-. That's when I realized I shouldn't have said the wrestling teacher thing, I should have just said he was an honorable soldier.

-And will be nine hundred dollars-.

-Nine hundred?-. I opened my eyes eagerly.

-That's right, this place is quite expensive, but...-. I just stood there staring into space.

-Ann, are you okay?-. She asked me while snapping her fingers in front of me.

-Yeah, fine-.

-Look, I know it's a lot, but I have a gift for recognizing conviction when I see it, and you do, and I think it would be great if you could join us-.

I could never pay, with my savings, I could barely reach one hundred and fifty dollars; I just put my backpack on my shoulder and thanked her for her time. As I walked towards the door, I could hear that Piper girl mumbling to her friends:

-What? did she really give up so quickly?-. She said while laughing. I decided not to follow her in her little game. Just before leaving, I heard someone calling me:

-Ann, Wait!-. Was Mags.

-Did i forget something?-.

-No, I just wanted to talk to you about something that could help you pay, if that's what you want-.

-Yes?-.

-Next week, children's classes begin, which cost half of regular classes-.

-You mean you want me to give lessons to childrens?-.

-No, sweetheart, you're not qualified to do that, but you could take care of them while I teach them, It would be three hours, a week and I would take half as payment-.

I'm discouraged again, the kids and I don't get along very well, and I definitely wasn't that desperate.

-Thanks for the offer, but the kids and I are natural enemies-.

-It's okay, I don't want to pressure you, the decision is completely yours, you can come back whenever you want -. She said, waving goodbye. I couldn't be a babysitter, the kids wouldn't want me and if I got stressed enough, I might strangle one of them, not to mention Piper and her friends, although I promised Mags I would think about it.

On my way back, I wanted to stop by Mr. Miyagi's house (it was even prettier than it was in Louisa's photos) and I saw Robby and Sam coming out, they looked like they were doing well, and I wondered what it would be like to train with them, but continuing to think about my house only made me miss it. When I got home, Dad was looking at his phone and Jackie was lying on the floor.

-Any notifications, Commander?-.

-Hi, honey, not much for now-.

-Dad... There is something I would like to tell you-.

-It's about Daniel's offer?-.

-Yes...-.

-Good-. He came over to kiss me on the head.

-I was going to say that I thought about it, but I thought about other alternatives-. Dad just snorted and started a speech.

-Ann, You know how much I want to protect...-.

-Calm down, Dad, it's not about karate-.

-Then?-.

-Well, there are some gymnastics classes in the center and I would like to join-. He didn't look convinced.

-I don't know...-.

-What?-.

-That sound cool, but it worries me-.

-Why?-.

-You say it's not about karate, but from what I see, "Cobra Kai" is making it about karate-.

-You don't have to, you taught me to take care of myself, or don't you believe in me?-.

-it's not that, these groups are dangerous-.

-And why would they come for me?-.

-I know them, they will soon go out to fight against the first one they meet, I do not want to risk it-.

-So why can't we go home?-.

-I didn't say you couldn't, but it's not good time-.

-But Mom is there, they will take care of me-.

-I definitely won't let you go alone-. -But you could get me out of my house without asking-.

-Ann!...-. Jackie barked.

-...It's not good time-. And there the discussion ended, but I needed to respond.

-That is bullsh*t-. I whispered.

-What did you say?-.

-Nothing, Come, Jackie-. And before he could say anything else, I left, I think I heard him say sorry, but it didn't matter... I had the impression that something was happening and it bothered me that dad didn't tell me the truth. I had made my decision, I would join the gym classes, and that was not that I hated karate, I just did not want to do it angry, I knew it would not end well.

But, no matter how angry I was, I couldn't steal nine hundred dollars from him(he would notice), I don't think I have any other option, I'll have to be a babysitter.