Just Try It

Chapter 19- Police Pandemonium

Monday, February 13th 6:20pm

Seymour Dojo and Fitness Center

Once Paul went to join the others, Sondra allowed herself to frown.  She didn't like feeling tricked, and it seemed like everyone else understood something that she was missing.  A quick glance at Moe showed him staring after Paul with a small confused frown.  It lifted her spirits, and made her realize that maybe it wasn't just her. 

She quickly finished entering the information before joining Moe.  There weren't any other new members to add that night, so they were able to watch the advanced class while they ate. 

After a couple of minutes of silence, Moe finally commented, "It isn't a good thing when policemen know your step-father by name."

Sondra nodded, but said, "I can't worry about what Pamela has gotten herself into right now though.  We have too much to focus on."  She worked on twirling up a bite of spaghetti as she changed the subject.  "What did you find out?"

Moe continued to watched Paul cautiously, even as he answered, "It went great.  I get it now, and I think I printed off everything I need for the project, lots of information and pictures."

Sondra smiled and said, "Great.  If we finish today's homework while I work, then we can get it done tonight after we help clean Jamie's place.  That leaves the other nights to focus do other projects or study." 

Moe looked doubtful, but didn't argue and brought his homework up on the counter too.  Sondra was pleased with their progress, and they were just finishing up when they were both distracted by the end of Jamie's lesson. She had helped Jamie prepare over the weekend, and she wanted to see how this next part went.  Sondra nudged Moe and he willingly put their homework to the side.

Jamie had finished going over disarming techniques, and had started introducing a new topic.  She gathered a handful of the colorful water noodles that had taken forever to cut down from their original length to only about two to three feet long.  As the men looked on curiously, Jamie talked about how they were often outnumbered, and when you were fighting a group you needed to think of more things than when you fought an individual. 

She picked Paul to spar with.  Sondra could understand that.  Jamie probably wanted to test him a little to make sure that he was placed correctly and find out what he still needed to work on. 

Paul looked at the water noodle with a derogatory smile, but when Jamie indicated it was time to start he was game.  His sneer changed to a delighted smile as he swung like it was a bat, and the end skimmed Jamie's hair as she ducked away.  When she countered with a solid blow to his arm he chuckled out loud, and his eyes gleamed as he dove into the match. 

Sondra could see that he was doing very well, and he obviously had some good training in the past.   That, along with his height and long reach, should have made him the clear favorite, but it was soon clear that he was outmatched.  Jamie even kept a running commentary on what she was doing the whole time.  After about five minutes, Jamie called the match to a halt. 

She then picked four others, and told them to fight her instead.  They each received a colorful water noodle as a weapon.  She continued to talk as she fought the group.  This time, she emphasized how she was maneuvering one opponent into the path of the another, so she only fought one or two at a time. One guy, that had been blocked by his partners several times, got frustrated, and gave a wild swing.  He ended up whacking Lieutenant Kastigo on the back of the head.  There was a moment of silence followed by a burst of laughter that was quickly suppressed.

Jamie immediately called the demonstration to a halt.  Since Korbin's father looked ready to use his own "weapon" on the guy that had hit him, Sondra thought this was a good move.  Jamie calmed them down by saying, "In a real fight this actually happens if you can block off part of the group long enough."  She grinned and added, "It can be really amusing, because they will sometimes even begin to fight among themselves instead of them attacking you."  She gave a stern look and added, "I know you are all above this." 

Sondra smiled as the police officers all nodded gravely and with great dignity.

After that, Jamie grouped them by fives and handed out more "weapons".  She carefully split up Lieutenant Kastigo and the accidental attacker into different groups.   All of the hardened policemen smiled at their water noodle nightsticks, and Sondra couldn't help thinking that they looked as happy as the young kids in Jamie's first class.  When Jamie blew the whistle it started off perfectly. 

Then, Sondra noticed Korbin's father look over at the guy who had konked him minutes before.  Even though Jamie had placed them at opposite ends of the dojo, the groups had shifted during the fight.  Now, the man was standing only a few feet away from Lieutenant Kastigo.  Sondra watched in fascination as Lieutenant Kastigo edged away from his own group to silently creep up and swing his foam nightstick.  It bopped the other guy on the back of his head.  Without even thinking, the man turned and retaliated.

Pandemonium ensued.  Fifteen grown men, the same ones that were counted on to defend the community, began to wail on each other with colorful foam sticks. 

Moe and Sondra exchanged looks before roaring with laughter.  Sondra spotted Korbin fall off the treadmill.  When Korbin stayed where he landed, Sondra began to go check on him, before realizing that the howls coming from Korbin were laughter instead of pain.  Jamie had her own difficulties.  Tears of laughter were streaming down her face, and she was almost falling over even as she tried to dodge the flying Styrofoam.  Moe and Sondra had to lean on the counter weakly as they gasped for breath. 

The mayhem continued for several minutes.  When the foam water noodles broke under the abuse, the class had to resort to throwing colorful Styrofoam confetti at each other.  It was at that point that Jamie was finally able to stop laughing long enough to call a stop the ruckus. 

Sondra could tell that Jamie was trying to be serious, but a few snickers still escaped as she said, "That went a little different than I had planned."  There were some chuckles, but Jamie continued, "We are at the end of our time for tonight.  Please return all of the weapon... pieces, before you leave.  I will give some thought to a better way to practice this important technique.  It may have to be one group at a time with the rest giving feedback after they are done." 

The policemen laughed and cheerfully helped gather up the bits of colorful Styrofoam that covered the dojo.  After it was picked up, Paul headed for the counter, but Sondra smiled and waved him on.  As he went out the door, she noticed that he had bits of florescent foam sticking to the back of his hair with static electricity, and couldn't help snickering.  The florescent green nicely accented the bright blue spiked tips.

Sondra and Moe were still smiling when Jamie and Korbin joined came over with their supper a few minutes later.  Sondra and Moe had finished their last few problems as soon as they stopped laughing, and Jamie and Korbin grinned right back. 

Hope you are a fan a slap stick.  I just laughed and laughed as I pictured this and tried to write it so everyone else could visualize the sceen.  If you liked this chapter please vote or comment.  I love to hear your feedback.  Thanks for reading.