boxing gloves

palace

I love the rain. Sometimes I feel like it connects with my sadness. It feels like I become one with nature. A part of something bigger.
----

Dad woke me up early that Monday. He said that I didn't have to go to school so of course I didn't complain. That was until I realized the reason I was going to miss a day of school.

My first boxing lesson...

Dad was a true professional back in the day. Or so they say. He had a lot of medals and trophies for boxing, so I guess that he must have been quite the boxer.

He definitely has the violent heart for it.

I've heard stories of Dad's boxing matches. Apparently he was so good that he's only lost 4 times in his entire career! Wow!

But  if he was so good... why did he stop?

Maybe he just got too old. Maybe he got over his obsession with winning matches all the time.

Oh well... whatever it was, I'm sure it's a good reason, right?

***

I clearly remember the gigantic grey walls. The dull, screaming walls. At first my eyes were lost in the ocean of grey but they soon found Dad in the right hand corner walking through a door.

Dad is the kind if person you would rather stay on the good side with, so just before the door swallowed him, I ran with a speed faster than my legs even knew they were able of achieving. I didn't want to keep him waiting for me.

The inside was huge. I've never been in a place as big as that before then. I remember feeling weak. I felt like I was being eaten alive.

Whether it was the huge building or the thought of starting my violence classes, I don't know. But it was scarier than on old wrinkly lady, smiling without teeth.

"Where are they?!" A voice instantly brought me back from the nightmare of being eaten by these walls.

"Uh... uhm... where's what Dad? Uhm I mean uh Coach. Where's who Coach?" I replied as fast as I could, tripping over my own tongue.

"Don't act stupid boy! The gloves! Where are your gloves?!" Dad shouted back at me with his usual scary voice.

I rambled in my bag, looking for them and when I found them, I yanked them out with a flash!

"Okay. You can put them down. You won't be needing them today. You are not worthy of experiencing the power of wearing boxing gloves yet."

I actually felt a great sense of relief. I didn't want to wear them.

Block. Bend. Box.

Block. Bend. Box.

Block. Bend. Box.

At first it took me a moment to get what he was saying, but it started making sense.

Block your body with your forearms.
Bend your knees a bit to stand firm.
Box.