Junior Year Box Set

I was introduced to something different in the way of cars. In Japan, they have kei cars, or light cars. In the spot we were doing, I drove up in a little Suzuki Wagon R. It had the body shape of a minivan, but the back door reached almost to the rear bumper. It looked like a tiny clown car. When my six-four frame came out of it, that’s exactly what it reminded you of.

I wasn’t sure if the tiny car would be legal in America, but I could see getting one to run around on campus when I was in college.

Haru and I had a good time doing the commercial. I ended up in the ivory-colored coat and pants with the graphics. They did her up in a sheer blouse and goofy shorts. They were tight at the waist, then ballooned out, but then were tight on her thighs. It looked like she was wearing a diaper. I had a feeling that in America, teenage girls wouldn’t be caught dead in them.

Haru invited me to dinner, but Kent told me we had to catch a flight to Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport. Coach Hope had been stationed in Iwakuni. Cassidy wanted to show us around, so I’d made a point to have Saul schedule a job for that city.

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Chapter 20 – Master of The Universe Wednesday July 6

Cassidy woke me up.

“Get up, get up, get up!” she said as she poked me in the ribs.

Not my favorite way to wake up.

“Young lady,” I warned.

“I scheduled us a lesson at my old dojo. I want you to meet my sensei, Chuck.”

She had my full attention. I wanted to meet this Chuck; maybe he could help me learn to defeat her. In my sleep-addled mind, it never occurred to me to ask about Chuck. I’d always assumed she’d learned from some ancient master. The name ‘Chuck’ didn’t align with my mental image.

It was early, so Paul just grabbed a taxi, and we drove to the dojo. It was within walking distance of the Marine air base. When we walked in, a woman who appeared to be in her late forties or early fifties greeted us.

“Miiko,” Cassidy said and bowed to the woman.

“I know you, don’t I?” she asked and looked hard at Cassidy.

“Cassidy Hope, Tony Hope’s daughter.”

“Chuck failed to mention that our favorite student would be visiting. I will have to have a talk with him,” she said as she came from behind the counter to give Cassidy a hug.

“This is Paul; he’s just learning and is David’s security and my boss. I would like you to meet David, my kenshūsei.”

“You decided to advance your training. Good,” Miiko said and then looked me over. “He’s a big one. Is he any good?”

“He thinks he is.”

“I go easy on Cassidy because she’s a girl,” I said.

“Ha, you haven’t broken his spirit yet,” Miiko observed.

“Daddy said I couldn’t hurt him … too much. He’s normally much more respectful and well-behaved. I have a long way to go to get him fully trained,” Cassidy said as if it were a forgone conclusion.

“Go change, and I’ll let Chuck know you’re here. He will want to evaluate your apprentice.”

When we walked to the back, Cassidy grabbed me before I stepped into the locker room.

“I’m sorry I didn’t warn you beforehand, but Chuck may want to test you. If he does, I want you to be careful and protect yourself. Also, don’t hold back. Chuck is skilled enough that I doubt you could do any damage.”

That made me smile.

“I should have kept my mouth shut, shouldn’t I?” Cassidy asked.

“I can’t wait to see this,” Paul added.

Cassidy knew better than to challenge me. It would be on her head when they had to haul Chuck out of here on a stretcher.

◊◊◊

Holy bejesus! Chuck was a retired Marine who’d married a local girl. Turns out, Miiko was a former Olympic silver-medal winner in judo. Chuck had met her when he was stationed at the air base, and they had fallen in love. He was a hand-to-hand combat specialist who had walked into the dojo to brush up on his training. Miiko’s dad owned the place, and now she and Chuck ran it.

Chuck was my size, but as quick as Cassidy. I was perhaps a tad overconfident when we began to spar. Paul sat in stunned silence as Chuck tossed me all over the mat. If Chuck got his big paws on you, it was over. They let me take a break when it looked like I might be having a heart attack.

Cassidy leaned down to see me gasp for breath with a disappointed look on her face.

“You can take him. Do you know what you’re doing wrong?” she asked.

I could only shake my head ‘no.’ Cassidy looked at the ceiling in disgust and then stared me in the eyes.

“You’re treating this like a game,” she said. “I’d hoped that you would avenge my honor. Did you know he abused me as a child?”

I looked over at him and was suddenly mad all over.

“Do you think you can set things right?” she asked.

I willed myself to get my breathing under control and stretched to get the kinks out. Then I concentrated and dropped into the zone where I became utterly focused. My rage was bubbling in the background.

“Are you ready to get your butt whooped again, little boy?” Chuck taunted.

I just nodded.