The Greedy Heart

Chapter 2 - Training with Claude

After putting everything away and cleaning the dishes from last night and this morning, I look at my watch and it’s only 7:30am. I don’t have to be at the new job until 10:00am, so I still have plenty of time to get some training in, come back, shower, and get ready to wait for an uber to pick me up. I nod to myself, silently attesting that it was a good plan and head to my room to get ready for the gym.

Taking not even 10 minutes, I was out the door dressed in some gym shorts, sports bra, and a light jacket, with my gym bag swinging against my side. I jog down the street to the local boxing club. Entering in, I scan my membership badge and then I head to a locker available to anyone, stuff my jacket and gym bag inside. Then I slam the locker shut and slap my little combination lock and spin the dial to lock it.

I turn and make my way to Claude’s office, hoping that he was already in for the day. I knock lightly on the outside of his door, and let out a breath when I hear, “Come in!”

I enter the small office, to see Claude sitting on the other side of the desk piled high with paperwork. “Morning, stranger.” I greeted him as he looks up from whatever he was doing.

“Well, hey there shorty!” He says to me smiling, standing up and coming around the desk to give me a hug. His 6’3” tall frame and huge muscles, encircling me, making me feel so small at 5’5”. He was like a huge teddy bear to me, all muscles on the outside, but on the inside, he was a was a big softie and such a kindhearted person.

I had found the gym when we moved in months ago and joined the gym to keep myself in shape. Claude sought me out after watching me train against a body bag one day and asked me if I wanted to train with him. I was hesitant at first but seeing him train with other younger people at the gym, it made me open to the idea. I gave him the okay and learned that he used to be an MMA fighter and that he owned the place.

After training with him the first day, it was clearly evident that I had previous experience even in my petite frame. He took me under his wing and would train me rigorously on the mat and in the ring. We never set a schedule, because he knew that I would pick up random jobs whenever I could. So, I would just pop in when I could get a workout in and if he was free, he was always willing to spend time training with me for whatever it be for only 30 minutes or an hour.

“Hey there C! You free to train for a bit?” I ask him.

Other than my gym membership, I asked him how much it was to train me, and he always shrugged me off, saying something in the nature of ‘Girls, need to protect themselves or other…’ I would always just shrug it off and clean up the place whenever I could or wash their towels for them or something to make it up to him.

He gives me a slight push towards the ring and tosses me a pair of gloves, “Alright shorty, let's see what you got so early in the morning,” he says jumping up into the ring as I put the gloves on, a cushion helmet and put my mouth guard in.

I had already set my alarm to go off at 8:45 am on my watch, so that I could get ready in time for work and set up an Uber to pick me up to drive me to the work location. We started out slow, doing some warmup moves and slowly progress with some hard jabs and round about kicks. After we were done, I was super sweaty, sore, and thirsty. I stepped out the ring to grab a bottle of water from the nearby cooler, that was cooled with ice and held complimentary water for the members. I take a gulp and slip my helmet off and wipe my sweat off with a clean towel.

“Shorty, you got some skills there and your kicks are MMA worthy. Where’d you learn to fight my girl?” he asks, clapping a hand on my shoulder. I give a small grimace as I’m sore there from my sparring. Finishing off my water bottle, I toss it into the recycling bin and say, “Just from my previous trainer, I used to train daily.” He shakes his head at me knowing that I really wasn’t saying much and leaves it alone.

“Dang girl, the way you fight, you could make some serious dough competing in the underground lightweights. Wanna think about it? I can easily get you in. Everyone comes out a winner, consolation prize is like $50.00 and if you win overall first prize the most is like $1,500.00 to $2,000.00. Not bad, really. Plus, I know you got it compared to the ones I’ve seen.” He tells me adamantly, probably thinking what money he would gain from it too, I’m sure, I think to myself.

“No, thanks C! I got a boy to take care of and bills to pay. I can’t afford to get seriously hurt.” I tell him unlocking my locker and gathering my things, knowing my alarm was about to go off.

He shrugs and says, “Alrighty then, it's just a thought. But if ever you change your mind, you just let me know. You can always come with me one night to check it out and then after that you can think about it,” he suggested.

I finally sigh with my bag at my thigh and say, “Fine, one night. I will go check it out with you for one night and MAYBE I’ll think about it.”

His eyes perk up and he gives me a big smile, “Sweet! Okay, what night are you free?” he asks.

“I find out my new schedule tonight at the club for next week, so I’ll let you know when I see you next, cool?” I tell him as I make my way out the door.

I didn’t really wait for a response, but as the door closes behind me, he yells out and I hear him shout out, “Alrighty, shorty! Just don’t forget!”

I shake my head and begin jogging back home to get ready for work. My watch had already gone off a while ago, so I know I must hurry to get ready. I look down and its 8:55am, not bad.

I grab my phone from my bag and set up an Uber to pick me up in front of the house at 9:20am, giving me just enough time to shower, get a sandwich together for myself for work and Frankie for when he arrives home from school later. With my black hair still wet from my shower, the app on my phone goes off at 9:15am telling me that the driver was 5 minutes away. Putting Frankie’s sandwich in the microwave, I grab my lunch, my small purse, and my phone and I head out the door, locking the door behind me. I walk out to the front of my friend’s house and wait for the driver to arrive.

Seeing headlights head my way, I confirm the license plate with my app, and I enter the four door, white Camry. I slip my seatbelt on and greet the driver, “Good morning.”

“Morning,” he replies and after I settle in heads towards the provided location given on the app. Thankfully, he was not a chatty person, so I could lean my head back and relax a bit before getting to work. I close my eyes and remember what Claude had suggested earlier.

I could always use the extra money, I wanted to eventually buy a car and getting a cash car would help us immensely. I knew I was a strong fighter and my father trained me well; however, I didn’t really want to draw any attention to myself whatsoever. I don’t know, we’ll see. I’ll just leave it to fate then. Tonight, I’ll check out next week's schedule and if I happen to have an evening off that coincides with Claude’s underground fighting thing, then I’ll go. Mrs. Ruth was always willing to babysit Frankie. So, if it was something too late, I wouldn’t have to worry about Frankie being home alone too long as he would just sleep in her home.

Hearing the Uber app say that I had arrived, I tipped the driver and head out the door, with a small "Thanks." Shutting the door behind me, I head towards the double doors for my gig at some warehouse that paid $15.00 per hour to unload boxes or something.