Broken Inside

4 - The Master's Helper

The next morning, Alex stepped into the kitchen to find Master Yoshi was already up. He was at the table reading the local newspaper with a cup of green tea.

"Good morning," she greeted him.

He looked up and replied, "Good morning. Cereal is in that cabinet. Milk in the fridge."

Alex set her bag down by the wall and went to take the cereal and the milk. When she returned to the table, she saw Master Yoshi eyeing her bag. So she said, "I folded all the blankets and left them by the wall. I didn't take anything."

He looked at her and said, "I know you didn't." Then he returned to reading his papers.

Alex picked up a bowl and spoon, then she sat down. She poured herself some cereal and milk, and started eating.

Master Yoshi folded his papers and set them on the table. He gave Alex a piercing look. "Where will you go?"

Alex paused mid-chew and looked at the old man. Then she swallowed and replied, "I haven't decided."

Master Yoshi sighed and said, "I don't have much to offer here, but if you help me around the place, cleaning and things, in return I can provide food and shelter."

Alex frowned at him. "Why would you help me?"

"You seem like a good kid whose life took a bad turn. All you need is a hand to help you up."

Alex looked down into her cereal bowl. She clenched her jaws hard, to stop herself from tearing up.

Master Yoshi exhaled and pushed his chair back before standing up. "You can stay or you can go. The choice is yours." Then he left the room.

*****

Master Yoshi paced along the length of the room, with his hands held together behind him. He kept a watchful eye on his students, making sure their stance were correct, their punch were powerful. Today, he was teaching a class for teenagers.

After the class, as the students were piling out, Alex came in with a mop and bucket of water. The floors needed to be cleaned from all the sweats and dirty feet. 

A group of boys saw her and they started whispering to each other. Master Yoshi was outside, talking to some parents. Seeing that the line was clear, one of them tossed an empty plastic bottle towards her, hoping that it hit her on the head. But another boy, a younger Chinese boy, saw them and managed to catch the bottle in mid air. The group of boys laughed and left through the glass doors.

The Chinese boy shook his head and turned to Alex. "They are idiots. They only did that because Master Yoshi was outside. If he was inside, they wouldn't even dare breathe. Bunch of cowards."

Alex chuckled, leaning against the mop. "Thank you. That was a good catch."

"I play baseball. I'm the catcher," the boy said proudly. Then he extended his hand and said, "I'm Michael."

"Alex," Alex introduced herself as she shook his hand.

"So are you Master Yoshi's niece or something?" Michael asked.

Alex shook her head. "I guess I'm his charity case," she said jokingly.

Michael laughed. Then an older Chinese woman rapped on the glass door and motioned for Michael to come outside. "That's my mom," Michael informed her. "I have to go now. Bye!"

Alex waved at him and then started to mop the floor. She has to finish quickly so that the floor can dry before the start of the next class.

*****