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Jamie had gotten a text from Miguel about an hour ago explaining how the city council decided to cancel the All Valley Tournament coming up. He also told her how there was going to be a meeting held to convince them to let it happen. So, there she was. Walking in with Miguel ready to support him and Johnny.
"You gentlemen..." Jamie and Miguel hear as they walk in, "have made an excellent case today as to why this tournament should not continue."
Miguel's eyes widen, "Wait!"
Everyone turns to the two as they stand at the top of the stairs. They both walk down as the crowd murmurs. Jamie stops a couple rows down and starts to walk down to sit in a seat. Miguel's hand lightly touches her lower back as he continues down to the podium.
Jamie sits as the council watches Miguel walk up, "My name is Miguel Diaz." He says into the microphone, "I was in the school fight. I was the one kicked off the second floor."
"You know, uh..." He pauses, "I thought I was gonna be paralyzed. I relearned how to stand. I relearned how to walk. And I want the tournament to continue."
"We are very happy for your recovery, young man." A woman nods, "But I'm afraid you don't understand..."
Jamie stands up from her seat, "Yes, he does. We're the ones getting hurt. We're the ones fighting." She says as she walks over to the podium by Miguel, "Our voices should matter the most. And we want a place where we can compete, fairly and safely."
"When I first moved here, I was bullied." Miguel says, "I realized there's no escaping it. Some kid will always want to steal your lunch money, give you a wedgie, or a swirlie."
"A swirlie?" The woman frowns on confusion
"When you dunk someone's head in the toilet and flush it." Johnny stands up, "Pretty funny, actually."
"Sensei!" Jamie and Miguel whisper as they turn to him. He sits as they turn back.
"Instead of burying your heads in the sand, pretending that bullying doesn't exist, or that you could get rid of it, what you need to teach kids how to defend themselves."
"Physically and mentally." Jamie cuts in. Miguel's eyes soften as he watches her, "Because sometimes the scars you can't see are the ones that hurt the most."
"Karate is about discipline. It's about inner strength. It's about confidence. Lessons you can use for the rest of your life." He shakes his head, "Look, I don't know where I would be today, or who I would be today, if it wasn't for my sensei."
Jamie smiles softly as Miguel turns to Johnny. The man smiling before Miguel turns back to the podium, "We don't need this tournament to do cool kicks or sell tickets, we need it to show the bullies of the world that we're not afraid. It's called the "All Valley" because it's for everyone, to give everyone the chance to show what they can do, to fight, to become a champion. And we deserve that chance."
