The Wolf Who Slithered With Cobras

Chapter 5

Today was the first day of training and to be honest it was really weird because of me, Miguel and Mr. Lawrence were all just standing there staring at each other. "so am I going to get the karate pajamas to or-" "QUIET". "The student only speaks when spoken to is that understood," Mr. Lawrence said. "Yes," me and Miguel both said. Mr. Lawrence tilted his head as if he was waiting for us to say something. "Yes sir," I said taking a guess. "You both were only addressed me as Sensei is that understood" "yes sensei," we both said "and these are pajamas this is a gi and you'll get one when you both earned it," he said. "All right are you both ready to begin your training," he asked. "Yes sensei," we both said simultaneously. Then in a swift move, Sensei hit me and Miguel in the stomach and flipped us on our backs. We both hit a grandma with a hard thud so hard I could feel the pain in my back. radiating. "Lesson one strike first never wait for the enemy to attack," he said. Me and Miguel Both got rot right up. "You could have given us like a warning," Miguel said threw the pain. "QUIET" sensei yelled. Miguel took out his inhaler and started taking sump pumps while I was just shaking my head in embarrassment. "We do not train to be merciful here, Mercy is for the weak here on the street of competition, a man confronts you he is the enemy. An enemy deserves no mercy what is the problem, Mr. Diaz," Sensei said. "There's no problem sensei, you punch me and I have asthma so," Miguel said weakly. Sensei then grab the inhaler out from Miguel's hand and threw it against the wall breaking it. "

Oh man, mom is going to kill us" "QUIET' "but Sensei that was 80 bucks," I said. "No mercy, and you don't have asthma anymore we do not allow weakness in this dojo. So you can leave your asthma and all your peanut allergies and all that other made-up bullshit outside" he said. "Yes, but those are real medical problems. I was-". Miguel stopped talking knowing he was not going to win this conversation. "Yes, Sensei understood," we both said simultaneously. "Cobra Kai isn't just about karate, it's about a way of life. Take that first lesson striking first is the initial step towards victory. Okay like when you're at a party, and you see a hot babe". as soon as he set these words me and Miguel's head bolts snapped up in interest. "You don't wait for some other guy to talk to her first do you," "Hell no that feeling is the worst," I said and Sensei only nodded in agreement. "I mean I've never been to a party so..." "Big surprise all right look striking first is about being aggressive all right. Now when you two got into that fight with those dick of a kid big Diaz you strike first but you were slow," he said. "if you're not aggressive then you're being a pussy, and you don't want to be a pussy, you want to have balls," he said.

"Aren't you doing a lot of genderizing?" Miguel said. "What"Sensei Lawrence asked in confusion. "It means that if you say a wrong word you could accidentally hurt somebody's feelings," I said. "Yeah basically my guidance counselor says that certain words perpetuate the sexist worldview that can trigger-" "QUIET" Sensei Lawrence shouted again. I could hear the lump in Miguel's throat as he swallowed hard. "From now on you, both won't listen to your guidance counselor, you're both going to listen to me is that understood," he said. "Yes sensei," we both said. "Good now stop yapping like a bunch of little girls and give me 50 push-ups on your knuckles," he said intensely. Miguel both got down on knuckles I started doing push-ups. I got 25 while Miguel couldn't do one. "All right little Diaz just do some crunches don't you guys have gym class or something big Diaz spot little Diaz make sure he's not cheating," he said. "yes sensei," I said. while I was helping him do the country's I heard somebody walk through the door I looked up to see an overweight male with look like a business suit on. "Howdy there Mr. Uh, Lawrence," the man said taking a guess. "It's Sensei" me and Miguel Both said. "Miguel, Carlos, shut up," he said to the both of us while walking up to the man.

"What brings you in looking to lose that gut and learn how to kick some ass, "Sensei Lawrence asked. "No, I'm from the City health department, I saw the list of requirements needed to open up an exercise studio," he said taking out a piece of paper from his bag. "This isn't an exercise studio this is a karate dojo, "I said. "Carlos, shut up and yes the kid is right," he said. "Yes, same deal. Wow, this place needs a lot of work you're not open for business are you" he asked. He then turned to me and Miguel with a weird look on his face. "You two aren't customers here are you," he asked us. "Oh no they're just illegals I picked them up this morning there helping me set up," Sensei said. "La Perra" (Bitch) I said making Miguel snicker. "I don't need to know all that my job is just to make sure this place is up to code, you don't want to scabies outbreak like that hot yoga place over on Tujunga," the man said. Sensei Lawrence then opened up the papers and started flipping through them examining them. "Wait so I have to do all this crap before I even open," Sensei said. "No you need to do all that to get the certificate, that's required to get the insurance you need to open," he said.

I could tell since I Lawrence was already starting to get pissed by this conversation and I was hoping it wouldn't turn out into a fight. "but you knew that when you signed your lease right" the man I asked. "Yeah, obviously I knew that, "Sensei said but I could tell he was lying. Demands started making his way up to the door but not before saying what he had to. "I'll drop in next week for another inspection". When he was by our dojo sign he stopped to admire the work and said. "Cool rattlesnake" "it's a cobra," I said "oh right duh I'm such an idiot, Cobra kay," he said before walking out of the door. "It's Cobra Kai asshole," I said angrily.