Warrior Princess: a Mundane Life

JJ

J J woke to the usual sound of his alarm, 5:30am... he groaned into his pillow. It was too early to be awake, but he knew he had to be up for his swim training. Tuesdays were especially busy for J J. Early morning swim training before school, school, martial arts class and then defence training with uncle Luke. For a boy of 10 he did far more extra curricular than his classmates, it had always been like that. His mum and uncle Luke had always pushed him to do more and be better. If there was a Sport or activity he could do he did it. Swimming, running, cycling, climbing, kayaking, and every martial under the sun. His mum was a personal trainer and yoga instructor and his uncle Luke taught at the local martial centre. 6 days a week was go go go for them. Sunday’s however was more relaxed, mostly sent around the house, chilling with his mum and Uncle Luke and sometimes his mums friend Gigi. Sunday was also the day JJ caught up on his school work. He never seemed to have to try too hard at school everything came naturally to him. He excelled at everything he ever tried, including ballet much to his dismay. 

He lay in bed for a few more seconds anticipating that his mum would come barging in telling him to hurry up. And low and behold 30 seconds in came him mum. 

“JJ Windmead you have an alarm for a reason, get ourself out your bed. Training waits for no one” .

A classic phrase used by both his mother and uncle “training waits for no one”. JJ often wondered to himself where on earth do these two get these sayings?!

Finally getting himself out of bed he quickly dressed, stuffed his swimming stuff and school clothes in his bag, grabbed his school bag and made his way to the kitchen. It was only him and his mum in the flat, uncle Luke lived across the road and his mums best friend Gigi lived on the next floor down. As for his dad, all he knew was that he was somewhere far away. Uncle Luke was his twin brother, non-identical, but apparently JJ was a mini version of his dad, well according to his mum and Uncle Luke.  All apart from his blonde hair, that he got from his mum, she was considered very beautiful. Many men, including her clients, often asked her out on dates but she always declined. JJ couldn’t think of a time when his mum had ever had a boyfriend, now he was older he realised this was because of his dad, Jacob. He knew his mum never got over his dad. Uncle Luke rarely spoke about him, but when he did he had a sad look in his eye, JJ stopped asking after a while. 

JJ finished up his breakfast and headed out with his mum to the pool. He loved swimming, even the intense early morning training was great fun. He was by far the best in his age, about probably the age group above. But after swimming came school, he was not fond of school. Even though the lesson were easy he didn’t always get on with the other students. 

JJ was often teased at school because he didn’t have a dad, one of the boys at school Gregg used to pick on him. Teasing him that his mum and run away with his uncle. That was until JJ floored him, excelling in martial arts had its perks. No one messed with JJ after that... still he had only 1 friend Isabel, her mum did the books for his mum and they had known each other for as long as they could remember. JJ wasn’t very good at making friends he always felt a bit different from everyone else and he could never pinpoint why. 

The day flew by; swim, school, martial arts and finally one on one defence training with Uncle Luke. This was the best part of the day for JJ, today they were using swords, wooden swords but still very fun. Uncle Luke was a great teacher, he was calm and collected, carefully giving JJ tips on his footing and body stance. JJ was getting better day by day and Luke could see it, he wished JJ’s father could have seen him. 

“Watch your footing there JJ, make sure you have a strong stance and use your body weight against your opponent” Luke said as his nephew made an advance at him. 

“I feel like a Sky warrior, even the great Prince Jacob!” JJ exclaimed. 

Luke froze for half a second before he continued his counter attack. “You know like in the story mum tells me about the Sky and Wind warriors and their fight against the northern machines.” JJ explains with a huge grin on his face. This was his favourite story that his mother often told him as he was going to sleep. 

“Oh yes I know the one” Luke said, looking away. “Go again... we have 5 more minutes before your mum will be dragging you home to eat!” 

And with that they continued on with the defence class