5. Challenge
656 Words
“That she is someone very special and I’d like very much to get to know her.”
His words did not leave Summer’s mind. Although he was answering Cissy, she had the distinct feeling that truthfully, he was speaking with her. To her. As a warning. As… something.
There was something in him that once again reminded her of a panther. He had a feline grace upon him that made her think of a big black cat. So, his words were not just a warning. They were also a question. There was a question somewhere there, he was certain. It reminded her of a cat playing with a woolen ball.
Big cat. He was a big, smiley cat who seemed to understand her love for mint ice cream.
They had chatted away the afternoon, surrounded by two big scoops of their favorite flavors, when Cissy had asked:
“Why do you seem like Li Shang? He is not a real prince…”
“Well, you see, like Li Shang I train a lot. And I’d like to teach other what my Sensei thought me.”
“What’s that?”
“A Sensei? It’s a teacher.”
“Like mommy?”
“Exactly like mommy.”
“Can anyone be a Sensei?”
“As long as he or she is an expert in what they do… Yes.”
“So, can someone be a teacher without being a Sensei?”
“Good question. Well, I think that if the person is not a very good teacher, then he or she cannot be a Sensei…”
“Who do you know that is not a good teacher, sweetie?”
“Well, Mrs Macpherson was not very patient…”
Summer cleared her throat and said:
“Mrs Macpherson is behind us, sweetie. Mrs Oak is a good teacher.”
“But still she is no Sensei.”
“How can you tell?”
“She doesn’t dress like Li Shang.”
Aidan snorted and laughed heartily, and even Summer cracked a smile.
“Nor do I. Does that make me less a Sensei?”
“I don’t know.”
“You know what? Even you can become a Sensei one day.” Said Aidan casually. Cissy’s eyes, big and round like saucers, eyed him carefully before asking:
“How?”
“By training. You can even use a costume like this one.”
“Will you come to my school and teach me?”
“I’ll do even better, sprite. I’ll open a school where I can teach you everything I know. When you honorably defeat me, you’ll be the next Sensei.”
The child’s smile could rival with the sun.
They were leaving the ice cream parlor when she muttered to him:
“Remind me to thank you later.”
“Oh?”
His arched brow made her think twice in what she had said. Blushing furiously, she said:
“Cissy watches Brave twice a day. Maybe now I’ll get a change in the movies.”
“You really need to expand her horizons.”
“Yeah, well…” Summer shrugged, noncommittally. “It makes her happy. I’m just hoping for this phase to pass.”
They were walking down the street, headed for his dojo to be, and some people were staring at his white custom. He had been barefoot when practicing but had put on some kind of sleepers. She realized that she was listening more of her footsteps than his.
“So, will you open a gym here and cumulate it with classes at school?”
“Yes. Classes will be a way to show kids that are other sports. Other than football, basketball, etc… but the dojo will also teach adults, not just teens.”
“Everyone has the right to learn to defend themselves, I suppose.”
“It’s not just about defense. It builds confidence within one self. It gives purpose.”
“One can never get too much confidence, I think.”
“Does that make of you my first disciple?”
Summer laughed.
“Heavens, no. I can barely touch my toes. But Cissy is so quiet and thoughtful, that I believe is seeking excuses to become your first pupil. You do realize she never backs up from a challenge, don’t you?”
They had arrived by his door and again, Cissy was peeking through the dusty window. He turned to her and asked:
“And how about her mommy? Does she back up from a challenge?”
“I don’t know, am I being challenged?”
His smile appeared. Slow, arrogant and predator.
“Yes, Sunshine. I believe you are.”
Her smile widened.
“See you at school.”
- Writer
