The Last to Break

Marked for More

Sensei asked their names.

He instructed them to run ten rounds around the training room. When done, he made them do a few stretches and then said:

"Follow me. Do what I do. Count with me. I want to hear you."

Sensei started to perform steps and counted:

"Ichi, Ni, San, Shi, Go, Roku."

When he said Roku, Sensei punched three times and followed up with a kick.

He did it one more time. He took his spot at the edge of the carpet and said, "Now your turn."

Jay immediately started performing the steps, counting, punched three times at Roku and followed up with a kick.

Tam looked a bit confused but copied Jay.

"Again."

Jay immediately moved and Tam followed, a bit faster this time.

"Again."

Jay and Tam did it in sync this time.

Sensei walked towards them.

"Now, follow me."

For the next three hours, Sensei taught them different moves and different martial arts.

Sensei kept his eyes on Jay. It was as though Tam wasn't even there.

They took a break. Sensei stepped into his office, while Jay and Tam sat on the mat. Jay took out his half of the chocolate and ate it.

Tam looked at Jay as if expecting him to share it.

When Jay took the last bite, Tam said, “Where is mine?”

“You ate yours last night, remember?”

Tam looked disgusted that Jay didn't share, but there was nothing he could do.

Not long after, Sensei stepped out of the office.

He frowned when he saw the two boys sitting in the middle of the mat.

“Why are you sitting in the middle of the mat? This is a training mat. Have respect. If you're not training, you don't belong on the mat. Never walk on the mat with shoes.”

Sensei laid out a few rules. Then he looked at them and asked, “Where did you sit when you had lunch?”

The boys looked at him with big eyes.

“Where were you sitting when you ate your lunch?” Sensei asked again.

Jay got up and said, “We don't get lunch, Sensei.”

“What do you mean, you don't get lunch?”

“We get a piece of bread every morning and water from the taps in the toilets. That is our food for the day.”

Sensei's mouth opened to ask something, then closed.

He said to Jay, “Do I understand correctly? You get a piece of bread in the morning and nothing for the rest of the day?”

“Yes, Sensei.”

Sensei did not say anything. He called the boys over and continued training.

After four more hours of training, Sensei halted.

By evening, the boys were tired and hungry. All the exercise was making them even hungrier.

Sensei called them to attention.

He brought his fist into the palm of his other hand and bowed his head respectfully towards Jay and Tam.

He bid them goodnight.

Jay and Tam copied the gesture and said, “Goodbye, Sensei!”

The big man waited outside the door and walked them to their room.

When they entered the room, the big man put a candy bar in Jay's pocket.

Jay looked up at the big man. “Thank you, big man,” he said with a smile.

The big man smiled back. That was the most beautiful thing Jay had seen in a long time.

Tam turned around and asked what was going on.

Jay just shook his head and gestured for Tam to move.

Jay walked towards his bed and lay down. He was hungry, and he knew Tam must be hungry too.

He was not going to share the candy bar now. It might keep them awake, and they needed sleep. No one knew what tomorrow would bring.

He tried to figure out why the bedroom door had been left open that night. He understood that he had been too weak the previous days, but he was feeling much better. His body was still aching, but he could handle it.

Jay said goodnight to Tam and lay on the bed. His mind was now absorbing everything he had been taught: reading and writing, maths, algebra, geometry, and the martial-arts movements they had learned that day.

He asked himself, Why? What are they up to?

Even though their stomachs were grumbling, they fell asleep.

They jumped up when they heard footsteps. The big man entered the room, handing them each a piece of stale bread—noticeably bigger than any they had received before. They quickly ate the bread.

The big man said, “Follow me.”

They went to the same building and room. Sensei was waiting for them.

He stood at the edge of the mat.

Jay stopped at the opposite edge. Tam first stepped onto the mat, then stepped back.

Sensei bowed and said, “Oss.”

Jay answered, “Oss, Sensei.”

Tam copied him. “Oss, Sensei.”

Again, Sensei stared at Jay without saying a word.

Sensei gave them a few warm-up exercises. When they were done, he told them to stand in the middle of the mat, facing each other. Sensei stood to the side, a step away.

“Today is different. You are going to apply what you were taught yesterday.”

Both Jay and Tam looked at Sensei.

Sensei looked at Jay and said, “You know what to do, right?”

Jay nodded.

“Hajime,” Sensei said.

Jay started the sequence from yesterday.

“Ichi, Ni, San, Shi, Go, Roku.”

When he said “Roku,” he landed two punches on Tam's chest and one to the face, followed by a kick to the stomach.

Tam staggered backwards, staring at Jay with disbelief in his eyes.

Sensei said, “Tam, if you concentrate, you will know what to do. Now, Tsuzukete.”

Jay started again.

“Ichi, Ni, San, Shi, Go, Roku.”

The same thing happened. He punched Tam three times and kicked him in the stomach.

Tam staggered backwards again.

Jay knew that Tam still had to learn the hard way. Even Jay and Kyle had to fight against each other at times. Tam was no exception. The quicker he learned, the better.

Sensei again said, “Tsuzukete.”

Jay stepped forward.

“Ichi, Ni, San...”

Tam did the same this time.

“Ichi, Ni, San, Shi, Go, Roku.”

He tried to punch Jay, but Jay wasn't standing in front of him anymore. Before Tam knew what had happened, Jay came from the side.

“Shi, Go, Roku.”

He punched Tam twice in the chest, once in the face, and ended with a kick to the stomach.

Sensei let them have contact practice for the next two hours. When Tam started to lose control because Jay was never standing where Tam thought he was, Sensei said, “Finish this, Jay.”

Jay looked at Sensei with pleading eyes, but Sensei simply said, “Finish it. NOW.”

Jay looked at Tam.

Then, “Ichi, Ni, San, Shi, Go, Roku.”

He punched Tam twice in the chest; the third hit Tam full in the face. Tam was knocked out.

“Yame.”

Sensei walked forward and lifted Jay's left hand.

“Winner,” he announced.

Jay looked at Sensei and asked, “Why?”

Sensei dropped his gaze. He couldn't look this little boy in the eyes, but said, “Later tonight, you will thank me.”

The big man stepped forward and picked Tam up.

“Follow me,” he said to Jay.

Sensei asked the big man to wait a minute. He walked to his office and came out, giving Jay something.

“Eat properly; you will need it tonight.”

When the big man put Tam on the bed, he said to Jay, “Follow me, little one.”

Jay put the food Sensei had given him under his pillow and followed.

They entered The Warden's office.

The Warden was in a good mood, smiling from ear to ear.

“Jay, my little boy. You are going to make me a very proud and happy man tonight.”

He handed Jay a packet.

“If you win tonight, you will get your own room with one warm plate of food a day. You can even have a bath once a week.”

Jay took the packet and left with the big man to go to his room.