MOMENT OF TRUTH¹ eli moskowitz

counterbalance

For the past few weeks, Amara and Miguel have been working hard. They've been staying in shape and working with Johnny. They've been doing push ups on their knuckles everyday. For Johnny has made them. He used baseball machines to work on their counter punches. Had them go on two mile runs every chance they got to make them faster. Johnny even sparred with the two. Once December rolled around, the two were doing good.

Johnny placed Amara in a headlock from behind. “What does a Cobra do?” He asked her.

Amara elbowed Johnny’s side and went under his arm. She put him in an arm bar and forced him onto the ground. “Slither!” She yelled.

“Nice work, Winchester.”

Johnny had the two sparring in the dojo. “Champ goes against me.” He said.

Amara charged at Miguel, causing him to take a step back. Amara began to front kick him then side kick him. Miguel reacted and blocked her leg. He then began to attack Amara. He threw a punch and Amara quickly ducked. He threw another one and Amara blocked. As she blocked, she swapped places with Miguel and did a roundhouse, followed by a back thrust kick. Johnny knew Amara was going to win the fight until Miguel grabbed Amara’s leg in the middle of her kick, slamming her on the mat and punching her in the stomach.

“Good, Diaz!” Johnny yelled as Amara got off on the ground. “Good try, Amara.” He said as he got into his fighting position. “All right. Let's see you go against me.” Johnny said.

Miguel got into his fighting position. Johnny jumped up and tried to kick Miguel, and Miguel backed up. Johnny threw a couple of kicks, putting Miguel on defense. He was blocking all of them. Johnny threw a punch at Miguel's head. Miguel quickly ducked under and was prepared for Johnny to throw another one. He quickly put his hands up to his head, blocking Johnny’s arm from coming towards him. Johnny moved his leg around, as Miguel quickly moved his foot to avoid getting kicked, as Johnny brought his foot up to Miguel’s stomach. Miguel blocked his foot. Johnny spun out and went to elbow Miguel but Miguel reacted and blocked, pushing him away. Johnny spun out, but before he could move to attack Miguel crouched down into a spinning drop kick, knocking Johnny off his feet and onto the mat. Miguel smirked and looked over at Amara who was smiling.

“Ah!” Johnny said as the remote beeped. A baseball game out of the machine hitting Miguel in the side of the head, near his ear.

“Sensei!” Amara yelled.

Miguel groaned and fell on the ground. “What? What the hell? That… that wasn't fair.”

Johnny got up from off the mat as Amara walked over to Miguel. “You want a fair fight?” Johnny asked. “Dream on. You can't always think your enemies are gonna play by the rules.”

“Yeah, but… my ear.” Miguel held his ear in pain as Amara helped him up onto his feet.

“What if that baseball was your enemy’s friend coming at you from behind?” Johnny asked. “You have to be prepared for everything.”

“Well, I doubt they would pitch a baseball 60 miles an hour at our heads!” Amara yelled

“Let me look.” Johnny said as Amara moved out of the way. Miguel uncovered his ear. It was red all the way around and starting to turn purple. And plus it was already starting to swell.

“Holy shit!” Amara said.

“What?” Miguel asked. “Is it bad?”

“No, it's fine. It's fine.” Johnny said to Miguel as he glared at Amara. “Don't be a baby.”

“Don't be a baby?” Miguel asked. “You just shot me in the ear with a baseball.”

“And you keep whining like a little bitch, I might do it again to your other ear.” Johnny threatened as the bell shop jangled. A lot of women came to the dojo.