Hunter

Training

Hunter

As Drew got older, I started training him how to fight. I started with the basics when he was young so he could understand them. I added different techniques as he grew older. The worst thing you can do is have terrible form when learning hand-to-hand combat. Your opponent will hand your ass to you without blinking.

Besides fighting combat style, we ran five miles every morning at five am. Drew needed to build his endurance and stamina to avoid getting winded. It also gave us a chance to talk as father and son.

"How's school?" I asked.

"School blows monkey balls," Drew said during our run.

"I won't ask how you know that."

"It's a figure of speech, Dad. Loosen up."

"Loosening up will get you killed."

"And being serious all the time will get you no friends. How does Mom put up with you?"

"Your mother gives as good as she gets."

"Gross. I don't want to know what you and mom do behind closed doors."

"Wait until you meet that special girl. You'll find out a way to get behind her closed door. Better yet, don't. I don't want to deal with her father's bullshit."

"You make me sound like it's a free-for-all with me."

"Andrew, I've caught you sneaking out so many times I had to install an alarm on your windows and door. Don't hand me that bullshit that it's not a free for all with you. You knock up a girl; I'll let her father deal with you."

"No worries there. The girls don't last since they aren't Beth."

"When was the last time you saw Beth? When you were five?"

"It's only because we moved after an asshole tried to break into our house."

"You needed a better neighborhood."

"You moved us out in the boonies with woods surrounding us."

"Like I said, a better neighborhood."

Right before Drew turned six, an asshole of the Frazier came knocking on my door, not realizing I was home. The asshole thought he would have some fun with my wife before killing her and Drew. He found out quickly how wrong he was when I made him disappear.

I told Gail the truth but told Drew a burglar had tried to break in. It was better than telling my five-year-old the truth about the Frazier family. It didn't matter. That stupid family repeatedly went after Drew and realized they were unmatched for him. Apparently, brains don't run in that family.

We finished our run and returned home to eat breakfast. Gail was still sleeping since she had a few hours before getting ready for work. I let her sleep and made breakfast for Drew and me. I also made him help me.

******
Gail

I woke up to the smell of breakfast and got up. After relieving my bladder, I found Hunter and Drew in the kitchen making breakfast. "Breakfast smells good."

"I thought you were sleeping?" Hunter asked.

"I was. Now I'm not." I shrugged before pouring a cup of coffee.

"Smartass."

"How was your run?"

"How it always is, long and boring," Drew said.

Hunter pointed his spatula at Drew. "Don't get smart with your mother."

Drew sighed. "Sorry, Mom."

"I understood what you meant, unlike your father, who doesn't have a sense of humor." I giggled while sipping my coffee.