My Friend Carl

Chapter 28 Gift from the Grave

A/N I made some minor changes. Basically the content is the same.

Chapter 29

Kick It - Bobby

George said, "When you kick or hit an opponent in the ring, you do not want to kill him. In war facing an enemy it is a different story. What you achieved here today takes the best student months to learn. The rest never get it. They are good fighters, but not champions. What we do is not a secret. It takes determination and commitment to make it work."

Bobby asked, "Who taught you?"

"A retired general named Jerry Lee Lockhart aka 'Jeopardy' was World Champion for nineteen years. The man was fifty when he taught me. At his age he could rip me apart. Bobby, you have the capability. The athletic build you formed is the consequence of your hard work in ranching. Attitude is most important. It can be gained by success. Bobby you are a winner."

Bobby noticed the clock behind George. Noon past two hours ago. He slammed the bottom of his hand on his forehead and said, "You idiot." He blew it. Betzy and he were seeking to repair their relationship. She had been waiting for him at the restaurant for two hours. The sweat came bubbling from every pore in his body.

Bobby looked at George and said, "I'll be dead meat when I get home. My ex will remove my manhood. She has been waiting for me to take her to lunch."

He changed clothes, jumped in the truck and flew home. She was not to be found. A little voice was saying you dimwit. She left, because you kept her waiting, so you can play footsie fighting. A second later she plopped in and said, "Sorry I did not make it. Momma and Lois were stranded at the grocery. Lois' car would not start. I left you a note on the kitchen table."

"Sorry, I missed it."

She looked at the table. Then her eyes fell to the floor and said, "It must have blown to the floor. Sorry, you have not had lunch. I will make you a ham sandwich."

"It is okay. I have some news. Let me show you."

I raised my left knee above my waist and kicked the note out of her hand.

"Nice dear." However, she gazed at the note on the floor and back at Bobby She snickered. "What the heck?"

"I am standing on my right leg and not falling. I'm not holding on to anything, and I just kicked the note out of your hand without touching you."

"So! I understand you are athletic."

"Every time I would attempt to lift my leg since I got injured in the war resulted in a tumble."

He Walks Like a - Betzy

Betzy and Bobby held hands as they approached the front door. Momma shouted, "Hallelujah, it's about time you two made up."

Bobby said, "Momma, Betzy and I want a quiet wedding with no big production."

Momma said, "Great, Mrs Mendez and I discussed making lemonade and cherry pie this afternoon."

"That's OK Momma. No big production."

"I understand."

They married in a private ceremony. Carl and Dianna were the witnesses. Walt beamed. Three dozen cars surrounded Bobby's house - their house. Momma splashed on a smile, and everyone said, "Surprise."

Bobby glared at Momma and said, "You promised – just lemonade and cherry pie."

"We have those, also. I just called one member of the quilting club, Paul and Amber, Lois and Anna. Evidently, they called others. All brought dishes of delicious delights. We have enough to feed the city of Beverly." She delivered a wide smirk. The gaiety lasted till midnight.

Bobby strutted with a jiggle. He is all man and enjoyed their encounters behind closed doors. They locked the door since Walt could burst in unannounced.

Bobby's fear of not walking straight was conquered. His whacks and foot thrusts expended with rapid fire and life-threatening precision.

He had insisted Betzy go to the gym with him. She practiced hits and kicks with him.

Alice Meadows, George's wife, came up behind Betzy and said, "Your punch and boot does not appear like a girl."

"Growing up as the only female in a family with five guys did not give me a chance to show my lady-like side."

"I need a woman to be my assistant to help train wives, mothers and timid princesses to defend themselves. They face bully boyfriends and ex-husbands who think it is okay to slap, hit or kick them every time the guy takes a drink."

Bobby said, "She beat up all the bullies and tough guys in school. Her wrath is unlimited. I've observed her take down a lineman three times her size and had him crying worse than a toddler."

"He's exaggerating."

"No, I'm not. There is not one man in town who will walk on the same side of the street with her except her brothers and me."

"Not true. My daddy and uncles will walk with me."

Alice emitted a low belly laugh and her whole body shook.

Marie

The first class differed from what Alice and Betzy expected. The guest speaker was young.

"Hi I am Marie."

The twenty-five attendees responded, "Hi Marie."

"My ex-husband says he loves me. Then he'll hit me, curse me, calls me stupid or hits me again. After he has done major damage to my face, he will rape me.

The police no longer respond to my calls, because they know I will not press charges. The gals in this class are different. My ex believes he can get away with his cruelty. He increases abuse each time.

I told him next time; I'll fight back. He laughed at me and slapped me across the face and broke my nose.

Because of your inspiration, I filed charges this time. He shrieked he'd kill me. When he was released on bail, the desk sergeant called me. He was afraid the ex would follow through on his intimidation.

I called Alice. She and Margaret from the class came to my apartment. The b*#&^$%d showed up drunk, cursing. He was waving a gun. Margaret stood up from the couch and looked at him. It startled him. She said nothing. He pointed the weapon at her.

She immediately kicks the pistol out of his hand. Then she booted him in his manhood. While he was scrunched over three more kicks landed to his head which caused him to fall to the floor. The police rushed in and arrested him on attempted murder charges.

He struggled to tell them Margaret beat him up. I want to ask her to stand up."

A petite ninety pound four feet six-inch woman resembling a pre-teen stood. Alice whispered, "She is twenty-four."

"The police laughed at him. "Tell it to the judge," they said.

Alice spoke to the group softly, "Hi, I'm Alice. Fifteen years ago, I was Marie. I was the wife of a soldier who was abusive and almost killed me. A Thai woman half my husband's size stood up for me. He is in a Thai prison today." They clapped for Marie and Alice.

Alice said, "We want to thank Marie for sharing her story. She survived." Every woman in the class stood and clapped for Marie again. Betzy could not control herself. Tears saturated the tissue used to dry her eyes.

Alice introduced Betzy as her new assistant and wanted her to share a few words. Through her blubbering she squished out, "Hi I'm Betzy, I'm glad to be here."

"Hi Betzy. We welcome you."

Uttering another word was beyond Betzy's control. Several women came up and hugged her. One said, "That's alright honey. I cried the first time I was here and several times since."