by Keya Jay
***
“Keep your elbows tucked to your sides and fist in front of your face,” Aaron told the wisp as he guided her into the position. “REMEMBER CLASS, THIS IS YOUR GO TO STANCE!” he yelled over the noise of the warehouse. Aaron walked around the room looking at all of the students as they practiced what he had just told them.
“Hey Aaron,” Richard called from his place near the other side of the room.
“What is it Rich?” Aaron asked as he met him halfway.
“Are you sure they’ll be ready?” he asked concerned.
“With me as their teacher they’ll be ready,” Aaron assured him.
“OK CLASS!” Aaron yelled. “PAIR UP! NOW THAT YOU’VE PRACTICED THE OFFENCE WE’RE GOING TO PRACTICE THE DEFENCE!” he instructed.
Aaron walked around looking at all of the pairs, seeing who decided to partner with whom.
“Aliyah and Maria split up, trade with Rachel and Amanda,” he whispered to the girls. They’re best friends and so when they’re together it’s nothing but play time for them. They act like a bunch of middle schoolers.
“Come on Mr. Fields we’ll behave we promise,” Maria wined.
“This is serious girls,” he reminded them. “Now switch.”
The girls huffed as they stalked off and told the other girls that they had to switch.
It’s important to mix it up a little. If friends are constantly paired with friends then nothing will get done.
“WE NEED Y’ALL TO FOCUSE; YOU HAVE TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY!”
Aaron heard a couple of groans and disagreements but it was just music to his ears, they’d thank him later.
The whisperers practiced their swings and kicks, he had a couple of badly injured students being tended to because of too hard of a kick or punch but like he said it’d be all worth it in the end.
“ALRIGHT CLASS! PACK IT UP,” Aaron said motioning toward the mats they were practicing on. The girls weren’t the easiest to coach like the boys were which is why he had separated the two so that they’d be evenly matched.
“Hey Mr. Fields,” One of the girls called out to him. “When will we be able to compete?” she asked.
“It’s not up to me it’s up to yall,” he told her simply. “Y’all have to show me you’re ready, I will not send you all out there otherwise. This is a very important tournament and yall need to treat it as such and quite frankly you all aren’t ready to do that yet.”
“What about the boys? Are they ready?” she asked a bit disappointedly.
“The boys aren’t your completion,” he reminded her. “But yes they are working harder than you girls are. I have signed them up for their match tomorrow night. I figured I’d take you girls on a field trip to see how it’s done,” he said as he walked away and helped the other girls put away the mats.