STRIKE FIRST - A COBRA KAI STORY

C H A P T E R T H R E E

Johnny headed inside the apartment to find a check that his step-father had given him. He was planning to rent a studio. Meanwhile, Rae was outside talking to Miguel.

"So are you gonna do the karate lessons too?"

"No, it's not really my thing. Dad's been pressing me for ages to learn, I'm just glad he can start pressuring someone else to strike first."

"Oh, that's a shame. I bet you'd do really good."

"Aww thanks. I'll cheer you on, don't worry. Who knows, I could be the first ever karate cheerleader."

"And the first place prize for karate cheerleading goes to... Rae Lawrence!" Miguel chuckled, imitating an announcers voice.

"RAE. GET IN HERE PRONTO." Johnny called from inside the apartment.

"Shit, I gotta go."

"See you soon!" Miguel raised his fist suggestively.

"See you." Rae fist bumped him and ran off to her dad.

_______________________________

The commencing days were some of Rae's worst. She would much rather join the army than help her dad work on the dojo.

Every day she rushed home with aches everywhere. She didn't even have the energy to chat to Miguel. She just had to faceplant her bed and try to get enough rest for the next day.

"Wake up. Lesson today." Johnny intruded on Rae's peaceful slumber.

"Do I have to go?"

"You either come with or you can go get a job."

"Okay I'm getting ready."

As Rae knocked on Miguel's front door, she felt exhilarated. She hoped that her dad didn't go too hard on him, but she knew that Miguel would be amazing either way.

"Morning." Miguel greeted.

"Hey we have practice."

"Oh shit yeah. Give me a minute."

Miguel headed back inside to put some comfortable and flexible clothes on.

"What's going on?" Johnny asked Rae. The two minutes he had been waiting seemed like eternity.

"The real question is, what are you wearing?" Rae laughed. She expected her father to wear the usual t-shirt and jeans, not whatever that jumpsuit thing was.

"It's a gi. You'd have one of your own if you bothered to do the karate."

"I never said I wanted one."

"Good because you're not getting one." Johnny told her as Miguel said bye to Carmen.

"Soo.. what'd I miss?" Miguel asked.

"Nothing." They both said.

The trio walked off to the strip mall where Johnny had rented the dojo. When they arrived, Rae took a chair from Johnny's office and placed it in a corner to watch what was happening and cheer on Miguel.

Johnny and Miguel just stood in the centre, staring at each other for a few minutes. Johnny was trying to intimidate him.

"So am I gonna get the karate pajamas too?" Miguel asked, finally ending the silence.

"QUIET!" Johnny yelled, startling Rae.

"OK." Miguel awkwardly said.

"The student only speaks when spoken too. Is that understood?"

"Yes." The room was silent. "Yes, 'sir'?"

"Always address me as 'sensei'. Is that understood?"

"Oh. Yes, sensei."