-So? You thought about my proposal-.
-Yes... I accept-. I said reluctantly.
-Oh, God bless you-. Mags hugged me, she looked relieved.
-I know it will be tiring, but for two hundred and seventy-five dollars an hour, I assure you it will be worth it-. I just smiled.
-Did you talk to your dad?-.
-Uh, yeah-. I responded by passing her the form that I had signed myself, the truth was I hadn't spoken to my Dad in several days, which only fueled my theories, since if we did something wrong, he always made fun of it to remind us, this time he was giving me the cold shoulder, he was doing something... But with that kind of work I would be busy to find out what it was, I just wanted to keep my distance, I needed space, and that's what he thought I did when I wasn't home, hanging out with Jackie or Sam; I must admit that you respect my privacy without asking any questions, that worried me.
The first day was hellish, I thought I would just stand to the side watching them while Mags taught them, how bad could it be?. I had ten children between five and seven years old running everywhere, not paying much attention to what Mags was saying. I only had the power to hold them still with my arms while she explained how to do a cartwheel. Their parents had already explained to me where not to touch them if we didn't want a lawsuit, but every time I tried to grab one of them gently, another one started hitting me with dumbbells.
Those little girls just hid and cried when the boys bothered them and I had to comfort them, luckily I had learned from the best; that's when I understood why that was that expensive, and even with a thousand dollars it wasn't worth it at all (I could even understand sensei Lawrence in those hours). Those of the second hour were so much more worse than the first, It seemed like I was their toy, In the third, I had already died. I was tired, but I didn't want my dad to see me exhausted, so I stopped by the Larusso's house first to see if the sleepover proposal was still on; but things got weird there, when I knocked, Robby opened.
-Hi, Ann-.
-Um, hi, Robby, how are you?-. I noticed that he was tensing up, I immediately knew that I shouldn't have asked that.
-I'm fine-. and we both smiled to hide our discomfort.
-So, how is the fake injury going?-.
-Good-. He said, shaking his foot.
-Great!, Um, Is Sam home?-. At that moment, Sam appeared.
-Hi Ann, what's up?-.
-I'll go help your mom-.
-Thanks-. Sam answered and went out to the porch;
-Is everything ok?-.
-Yeah-. I said smiling and trying not to sound tired.
-I came to ask you about our sleepover, and... Well, I don't want to sound impertinent, but...-. I said looking at the door.
-Oh, yeah, Robby is staying with us-. I think I continued with my confused face.
-Until his mother returns from her trip-. I showed a face of feigned understanding.
-Alright...-.
-Hey, how's your dad? He told mine that you two aren't talking much-.
-I don't really know, something is happening and he doesn't want tell me, You don't know if he said anything else?-.
-No... I'm sorry-. I raised my hand.
-It's okay, you know how they are, men...-.
-And you can say it-. she said rolling her eyes, and for the first time that day, I truly smiled. Suddenly Mr. Larusso came out to tell Sam to come in for dinner.
-I'll go in a minute-. She said to try to get him to leave us, but was late, he had come down to the porch and put his arm around his daughter's shoulders.
-Oh, hi, Ann!-.
-Mr. Larusso...-.
-How is your dad, honey?-. He asked with an accusing look.
-Everything's fine-. I responded sharply. Why the hell was he asking me, if he knows so much more about his friend than I do?.
-Good, I have to go back inside-. He said goodbye.
-Sure-. Sam and I were alone again.
-Listen, I'm really sorry I can't do the sleepover thing right now, It's just that we're trying to promote Miyagi-Do, you know-. I understood, in that moment, I didn't mind the idea of removing that name from the Valley.
-Nevermind, and no one else has joined?-.
-No-. she said, grimacing.
-You know, our style is not the...-. I felt sorry, but I couldn't change my mind until things were fixed at home.
-You mean the one that involves wax?-.
-Don't tell me it was instilled in you too?-.
-Have you seen my dad's oldmobile? Who do you think waxes it?-. I said, showing her my muscles.
In conclusion, she replied:
-I promise we'll have a sleepover before school starts-.
-It's ok-. I said, and she hugged me.
-Just try talking to your dad-. She whispered to me when we separated, and left. Even though I didn't like it, I had to agree. When I entered Jackie greeted me, Dad was sitting at the table, with a covered plate placed in my place.
-Hi, honey-.
-Hey...-.
-Sit down-. When I uncovered the plate there was a slice of pizza without the crust and with extra cheese, as he knew I liked it.
-Continue with this?-.
-There are still two months left-. He said pointing to the freezer.
-Have you talked to mom?-.
-Not much-.
-I would like to talk to her tonight-.
-She must be busy-.
-Why would she be?-. I noticed he stopped chewing.
-I think she wants to take up the shelter again-.
-Really?-.
-Yes, you know how spontaneous she is-.
-And why can't I talk to her? I have ideas-.
-Sounds good, but she must be looking at the budget-.
-I thought it was a project between you two-.
-I would like to help Daniel-.
-Will you become a sensei?-. I laughed.
-What's wrong with me?-.
-Nothing-. I said raising my hands; Dad could be reasonable, as a teacher, and he had taught me the difference between sensei and teacher. Something didn't add up, so I decided to try to turn it around.
-Why didn't she tell me?-.
-She didn't want to bother you, it's just you were tense about Yasmine-.
-But I didn't tell her about Yasmine-.
-Well...-.
-You talked to her-.
-Is my wife-.
-I know-. I snorted.
-But you know that I don't like it when you talk about me without telling me-.
-Don't get angry-.
-Well, sorry if I think you're not telling me something-. I understood my parents had their things and friends, but was I not trustworthy? Maybe it was paranoia or Cobra Kai or he was punishing me for the illegal things I did, or I was annoyed by his hypocrisy, but this didn't happen before. Dad didn't say anything, It was okay if he didn't trust.
-Thanks for this, but I'm tired-. He just watched me leave.
-Jackie-. I called him, but he didn't move, finally I looked at both of them and answered:
-Fine-.
A few days later, when I was finishing the third class of that day, I went outside to breathe for five minutes before putting things away, when I saw Moon coming out of a health food store with a juice in the hand.
-Hi, Moon-.
-Oh, hey, Ann-. She greeted me as sweetly as ever.
-How are you?-.
-I'm great, I just came to try this new juice, it has some acai, organic kale and hemp oil, also organic-. I tried to hide my... disgusting face.
-That sounds... good-.
-Would you like to try...?-.
-I would love to but... I'm... allergic to hemp-.
-Oh, so bad-. -Yeah, really sorry, but, hey! how is everything going?-.
-Great, I think everything is aligning everywhere, I'm trying new things, and, tell me, what are you doing here?-. she said, moving the straw.
-Well, I got a new summer job-.
-Doing what?-.
-I am an... assistant in a junior gymnastics classes-.
-Excellent-.
-Yeah-.
-How often do you do it?-.
-Um, about three hours a day, five business days a week, which actually feels like nine-. I said stretching, she looked at me with some pity.
-...Oh, but I'm not complaining-.
-This weekend my boyfriend and I are going to the beach...-.
-Boyfriend?-.
-Yeah, Hawk-.
-Oh, yes, Hawk, of course-. I didn't know they used the "couple words", I just heard Eli talk about "his girl".
-And Demetri will come too-. Suddenly she looked at me as if something had occurred to her.
-You can come with us, if you want-. I smiled at that, was the first idea in the Valley that I really liked.
-That sounds amazing, thank you-. And we both smiled at each other.
-Okay, do you want to send me your address? I'll pick everyone up-.
-Sure-. I waved goodbye, when something occurred to me.
-Hey, Moon!-. I yelled at her as she walked away.
-I have an idea-.
