Frankie

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

After Ella drops me at my house she says she’ll text me later, to see if we can find anything fun to do with our last weekend of senior year. Ella is still trying to get as much out of the whole senior experience that she can. She knows my parents would have a fit if I did anything fun or even spent more than an hour away from the house without them. I shake my head mom and dad take this protective parent thing to an entirely new level. I quickly change into running clothes and my joggers and head to the path at the back of our yard. I stretch and begin a slow jog, till I warm up then break out into a full out sprint. I have a lot of stress from Keyon Blackhawk taking my thunder to run off. I find myself in front of Ralph’s cabin much faster than usual.

“Hello, young one”, Ralph greets me. “You look like you’ve rushed all the way here to see me”, he smiles at me. “Well, you could say I did”, is my answer. “Do you have some time to train me?”, I ask. Ralph gives me some instructions and we enter the mock fighting ring he has made and begin to spar. I am doing much better and with the extra frustration of the day I am keeping up with Ralph for once and one might even say I’m holding my own. Ralph makes a move sweeping my feet from me, but part of my way down I react fast enough to tangle him up, taking him down with me and getting to my feet with a roll so I don’t put my back to him at any point. Ralph jumps to his feet and I lung at him doing a slide tackle, pulling up short so as to be able to turn and be on top of him in position to take a throat punch. I pull my punch looking at a surprised Ralph, who eventually laughs, “I have taught you well little one, good job. Next time do go so easy on me, I know you have more strength channel it use it”, he says giving me his hand to pull him up. We spar for another 30 minutes with me doing my best and even surprising myself that I don’t feel myself getting tired. After Ralph give me a few more pointers and a couple moves to practice. He tells me he’ll see me tomorrow and I head towards home again.

I reach our backyard just about dinner time and my dad runs out to greet me. “Where have you been? Your mother and I have been worried crazy about you. We text and called your phone only to find it in your room.” I’m shocked that I forgot my phone that is a huge no-no for me. Mom and Dad insist I take it everywhere, even within the house. “Dad I’m so sorry”, I start. “I was upset and just wanted to run I guess I forget it when I changed.” Dad sighs and gives me that disappointed look. “Well, you need to be careful. What made you so upset? Wait, tell both your mother and I and dinner, go in and get cleaned up first.” Giving my dad a small sad smile for my mistake I head inside and straight to my room to shower.