One Tail at a Time

Me and My Best Friend Buddha

The initial days on this mountain have not been too much different to my one day a week lesson with Shifu, only I am now becoming aware of just how much of an effort he put into those lessons, because one day a week away from my bothers, means one day a week that they all missed out on, save the few months I missed here and there for punishments or when I was sick.  And one whole day, means Shifu is on the training ground every morning, in classroom every afternoon and sitting with each of them at the end of the day to go over lessons if they need it.  It seems as I have taken far too much from them, because not only are they all exceptionally happy that I am now among them, but they also have more of Shifus attention for themselves.

Still, my life is full and busy from the moment I left my chamber to explore a little.  Much of the mountain I can still remember from when I was little, but there is so much to see that I was never allowed to visit, that I spend my first week exploring with Fu Yu, who has had far more time learning his way through the back corridors than I have, so he knows where all the important places are.

And that being the kitchen which we are banned from, the armoury which we must have permission to enter, the library which is enormous and of course our main classroom which rather than having study desks like most schools, our seats are cushions on the floor which are spread out in a semi circle about Shifus bigger cushion which is on a low dais and it is to this place that we are making our way to with our new books, brushes, ink and an eager brain ready to learn.

My brothers are actually quite surprised that Fu Yu is allowed to join in on my lessons because they were under the impression that he would only learn what was necessary from Die Feng, but it is that Senior who argued most passionately with Shifu to allow him to attend, seeing as what I learn, he needs to be aware of in order to stay one step ahead of me at all times.  In fact, Fu Yu is not only a very good singer, but he's actually very smart for a Sprite when he puts his mind to it.  And Die Feng also argued that he is the closest I have to competition which I need if I am going to excel.

So he is on his own little cushion that his Shifu had specially made for him and it is placed directly in front of me, which instantly has the mishief rising.  Though I am good to begin with seeing as it wouldn't do to be naughty on the first week,  I sit quietly and wait as the rest sit down and arrange their writing material in a strict orderly fashion before them which I copy.

The book I will write in is placed direcly before me, the brush I will use sits to the right hand side which is the hand I use, and the ink is directly to my left, which must be prepared and ready for use before entering, because no scraping of the ink stone is allowed in class because its a distraction.  Only the back of Fu Yus head and his long brown hair in particular is even more of a distraction and I just can't help myself.  I have to pull it!

"WAAAAAAAH!"

Suddenly all eyes are on Fu Yu who is in the air, spinning madly and getting ready to rip open the nearest belly while I laugh out loud which only makes him angrier and though he has been intensively training to get his emotions in order, he is crying his eyes out.

"Seventeen!"  Shifus voice breaks through Fu Yus mad squealing which also forces him to a blinding halt in mid air to stare at me along with everyone else.

"Yes Shifu?" I ask fluttering my lashes and smiling shyly at him like I do to Papa when I know a scolding is coming.  And I know this, because he is looking super mad at me right now.

"Seeing as you are unable to attend your lessons without disrupting the peace, take yourself to the Knees of Contemplation and seek greater understanding of rule number 16." he says most grumpily which instantly makes Fu Yu smile and me to gape back in disbelief.