Fairytale • Robby Keene

eleven

Early in the morning at Miyagi-Do, the sun shone brightly, casting a warm golden glow over the lush greenery. The sky was a perfect, vibrant blue, and everything seemed to shimmer in its rays, making the world feel full of possibilities.

The peaceful atmosphere was a perfect contrast to the busy thoughts racing in Odette's mind as she sat on the deck in the backyard, watching Robby punch the punching bag.

She wasn't quite in the mood to practice yet; the anticipation of the first day of training made her restless. She was waiting for Sam to arrive so they could officially begin. While she sat there, she couldn't help but drift into a memory from her childhood.

Odette recalled the time when she and her brother had spent hours in their room, stacking pillows to build a giant tower. She would always struggle to climb to the top, feeling triumphant when she reached the summit. From that height, it felt like she could conquer anything, like she was on top of the world. But when the tower inevitably toppled, it felt like skydiving — an exhilarating free fall before landing on the bed with a soft bounce, her laughter echoing in the air. Those moments had been filled with joy, carefree and simple, and they always made her feel like the world was full of endless adventure.

"Look, Miguel, I..." Sam's voice broke through her thoughts as she entered the backyard, her eyes still glued to her phone. She stopped mid-sentence when she noticed Odette and Robby watching her with curious expressions. "I can't talk right now. Can you just tell Aisha to call me back?"

Odette raised an eyebrow. "What was that all about?"

Sam sighed as she ended the call. "I thought it was Aisha. He called from her phone."

"Hey, guys!" Daniel called out with a smile on his face as he appeared from the dojo, looking chipper. "All right. Perfect attendance on day one."

"So, what's our first lesson?" Sam wondered, her voice a mix of curiosity and excitement.

"You'll see. Follow me." Daniel insisted before he turned around and walked toward the front of the dojo.

The three teenagers exchanged confused glances before following him through the building, their footsteps echoing against the wooden floor. As they made their way to the front of the dojo, they were greeted by the sight of the vintage cars lined up in the yard. They stopped, awaiting further instruction.

Daniel picked up a bag of sand, slicing the bottom of it with a swift motion. As he moved around in a circle, the sand began to pour out in a steady stream, creating a circular patch in front of them.

"If we're gonna play in the sand, can't we just go to the beach?" Sam quipped, raising an eyebrow.

"No, not today. It's been a long time since this dojo's had more than one student, and you figure with more people, you have more defense, right?" Daniel asked as he finished the circle. The teens nodded in agreement. "Wrong. One of the cornerstones of Miyagi-Do Karate is always moving in a circle. And with the wheel technique, you'll soon see that two people can be as strong as twenty. Now, are you ready?"