At the Bottom of the Mountain

Conan had slept very well. After all, the first day of school was a big success and since then, everything had gone fine. This morning he ate scrambled eggs and porridge.

Today was Friday. What would it be like to wrestle with Sassara? It was still weird to think she was part of his life now. Before, he could hope and think but nothing was at stake. She wasn't there. 

He exhaled. "There's no point thinking too hard about it." 

"Thinking about what sweetie?" He jumped. His mom came out of her bedroom. She was always effortlessly class, with short, red hair. 

He stopped eating."Oh hi Fiona, I didn't hear you." 

She kissed him on the head.

"Arrived 10 minutes ago. I needed to grab a folder for today's reunion." She opened the fridge. "Oh you took care of groceries! Thank you Conan, that's very sweet of you."

"It's nothing." He started eating again. "How is Dave?"

"Oh he's great. He says hello. How was your first week?"

"Fantastic."

She squinted her eyes. "Ah is that so?" She knew something was fishy. "How come?"

"You will know more if it matters." Her mom was disappointed. But she was already busy with her many work headaches. She called someone. Phone in pocket, earphones on, coffee in hand. 

He cleaned up breakfast, checked his bag, and went out.

"Bye Fiona!" She turned, earphones still on. Waved him a kiss. "Oh also, are you here for diner tonight? So I know if I should wait for you to eat."

"No honey, I'm sorry. I have to work late and then Dave is taking me out to the theatre. I'll leave some money on the counter. Get yourself some nice takeout alright?"

"Alright, sounds great! Say hello to Dave!"

"I will! Let's grab lunch the three of us this weekend. Ok?"

"Yeah!"

He closed the door. 

Lunch with Dave sounded nice. Maybe they could organise something with Orla and Rian later in the month. He did not know if it would actually work though. Both his siblings were flakey. 

Stay focused.

He headed to school with the bus. It was packed. The smells were strong, but the mood was light. There was still that summer glow inhabiting people. 

PE was in the morning. It gave enough time for the group to rest before judo that afternoon.  School went on as usual. Like they had never left. There was so much to do and think about. Lunch was a life-saver. Like every day. 

The group lounged in the sun. They sat on the large stone steps of the amphitheatre. 

Conan checked his phone. "It's official, the house is free until tomorrow afternoon. The dojo isn't far so we go to mine afterwards." 

Everyone clapped.

"Yeah! Hell yeah bro you're the best," said Ali, and checked Marco. 

Conan turned to Sassara. "You have your belt right?"

"Yeah. Do you have my kimono?"

"Of course."

"What colour are you," said Ali.

"Orange."

Ali and Lance looked at each other. They burst into laughter.

She laughed "Oh shut up about it already. I was ten when I received it."

They laughed even harder. "That does not make it better."

The afternoon went by. 

Zyra and Ali were the first ones to arrive at the bus stop. Ali sat on top of the wall, Zyra was enjoying a lollypop. "Where are they? If the bus arrives, I'm telling you now. I'm going home. To nap. PE already drained my energy."

Ali started laughing. He pointed. "Look at these morons!"

Lance, Sassara and Conan were running down the street. School bags and duffel bags flew about. Zyra looked the other way. The bus turned the corner. "Hurry up!"

They made it. Went to the back. The three tardies sat first in the square of four. They panted.  Zyra sat in the last spot. Ali stood next to them.

"Great," Conan said. "A light jogging to start the training."

"You have to calm down alright? We aren't even there yet," said Sassara

"What took you so long guys," Zyra said.

She slid a glance at Lance. "Because someone was playing Tetris on his computer."

"Hey. You wouldn't know this, new girl. But I always play Tetris in French class. She caught me on a bad day."

A few more metro stops, and they arrived at the Park of The Golden Head. One of the richest districts of the city. The sun lowered. Its light snuggled in between the buildings. It shined bright on the friends as they walked. The apartments were beautiful. Detailed facades, pastels, and large balconies. Large houses too, so big one fathomed as to what hid behind the tall gates. 

They arrived at the training hall. Before going into the changing rooms, Conan handed her the kimono he had brought. 

"Thank you."

"Do you remember how to tie your belt?"

She laughed. "Don't worry. I'll manage."

They separated. Conan watched her disappear behind the changing room's door. Followed instantly by a chorus of high screams and giggles. He wondered what Zyra was doing to her.

"Yoohooo"

He jumped. Lance's silly face popped out of the men's changing room. "Are you coming or what?" 

Ali's head appeared as well. He screamed "Conan! How dare you spy on the girls! You're such a pervert."

Conan smacked both their heads like a whack-a-mole game. "Shut up you dumb nuts."  He thought it was fun.

In the girls changing room, the laughs had calmed down. They discussed much more serious matters. Sassara was putting her town clothes in her bag. "He's funny, he's so handsome and..." She exhaled. "He's so sweet, Zyra."

Zyra put on her kimono jacket. She laughed "I get it. He's a little too righteous for my taste, but I get it."

"Ah I apologise. You prefer white knights like his best-" A towel landed on her face. They laughed. "Did he tell you what he thought of me?"

She stopped dressing. "Sassara. He doesn't have to. It's all over his face." They giggled. "But I have to warn you. His ex broke up with him last December."

"Oh. How come?"

"Apparently, he didn't pay enough attention to her. Like they were closer when they were friends than they when they became a couple."

"Oh...Is she at school?"

"She was in the grade above us. Nice girl." 

"I can imagine." Sassara was knotting her belt. One knot. Two, pass it under, and on. Last time she wore it,  she was much less happier. Felt so long ago. But the feelings she held back then still resurfaced. Pressure. Her belt felt too tight. But her kimono smelled like him. Like a blanket on a rainy day. And when she focused on that, her belt fit again. 

Zyra, ready to go, walked up to Sassara and fiddled with her knot. "But listen. This girl is gone. They broke up for a reason. And you can believe me. He cares about you. He wouldn't have jeopardised the tournament for anyone else." She poked her on the shoulder repeatedly. "So you go in there and slam him on the ground," and paused. "And then you make out with him right here and then on the tatami."

"If he heard how you blaspheme his precious tatami."

"Oh he may be righteous, but he's still a guy." 

Sassara laughed hard as Zyra feigned to pull at her kimono. Together, they entered the dojo. 

It smelled wonderful. She realised how much she had missed it. No jewels, hair tied. The writings 'Maximum Efficiency" and 'Mutual Benefit'  stood in front of her on the back wall. The guys were already getting energised on the mat. 

In the middle, a woman. Short cut. Black hair. Black belt. Third Dan. She stood tall, and strong. A mountain planted in the dojo. The woman looked at the girls. 

And Sassara remembered everything she had learned. 

You, are you. Leave everything behind. Just be.

Straight as a stick. Arms to her side. She bowed to the teacher.

"I am Sassara. Thank you for letting me train with you today."

They stepped on the tatami. The woman did not move. "Hello Zyra, be ready for hell. Sassara, Conan told me about you. You can call me Nadine. We'll assess your level after some warm ups."

The five students stood in line. Each one eager.

Nadine's voice echoed in the dojo. "In case summer made you forget, there is one thing you remember when you step on this mat. Softness, subdues hardness. The pine tree may be strong, tall and proud. But when snow piles on, it is the willow who survives. So if you came in here as a damn pine tree, then leave right away. Or you branches will shatter under the mountains of snow I'll shovel on you."