Dreams

Karate Boy

based on a true story  

Just one week from now, Mateo will be competing in the World Championship Karate tournament. He has been working tirelessly to prepare, training nearly every day and following a strict training regimen and diet. He is determined to be crowned the world champion. His mother has been supportive, doing everything she can to help him succeed. Today, she woke him up early in the morning, as per his request.

"Teo, maybe you will stay today at home, look, it's so cold and cloudy outside, you may catch a cold," she started with a soft voice

"Mom, please, I'll be fine. I need to workout."

"At the very least, come home earlier today. I'll put a warm hat in your bag. And don't forget to wear it after your workout."

  Mateo sighed as he entered the bathroom, only half listening to his mother as she packed his backpack with the warmest hat she could find. She watched out the window, hoping the sun would make an appearance. Then she made breakfast for him with oatmeal, eggs, and nuts. As he ate, his mother tried again to convince him to skip the gym class today.

"No, I'm going," he said a little harshly.

"Please, be attentive in class and don't forget anything. And remember to wear your hat outside after your workout so you don't catch a cold before the tournament," his mother repeated the phrases she had said a million times before.

Mateo was silently nodding his head and eating, dreaming about a world cup. After the meal, he took his coat and backpack and left the house in a rush.

"bye mom"- he called out

"Good luck, honey. Don't forget to wear your hat after your workout or you may catch a cold," his mother shouted after him, but he was already running too fast to hear her. She sighed and closed the door with a worried look on her face.

As Mateo finished his workout and quickly packed up his belongings, he stepped out into the street. The weather was dark, foggy, and cloudy, and the streets were empty except for him. The only sound was the wind breaking the silence. It would take him about 20 minutes to walk home. He wasn't afraid, after all, he was a karate boy. But after only a few minutes of walking alone, someone touched his back. He froze in surprise and turned to see who it was, expecting to see a beggar or a robber. Instead, he found a sweet, old lady with warm eyes and a kind smile. Mateo was even more surprised, as she was the last person he expected to see at this unusual time. He couldn't think of anything to say and simply stared at the woman in wonder.

"Sweetie put your hat on. It's cold outside and you could catch a cold," the stranger said with a caring voice. She smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and disappeared into the fog. Mateo stood there with his jaw dropped. He quickly found his hat in his bag, where his mom had placed it. No, he wasn't afraid. He was a karate boy, after all. He continued on his way home, but his thoughts were no longer on the world cup. Instead, he thought about the strange woman and her words, which seemed so familiar but he couldn't quite place where he had heard them before.