Frank moved slowly.
Very slowly.
Jake stayed beside him.
No irritation.
No jokes.
At the doorway, Frank’s walker caught on the threshold.
Jake reached down.
Then stopped.
He asked:
“Want help?”
Frank looked at him.
“Yes.”
Jake lifted the front wheels gently.
I smiled.
He had learned to ask.
Months later, Riverdale held another martial arts festival.
I considered staying home.
Margaret insisted I go.
“Why?”
“I want kettle corn.”
“That’s your reason?”
“Yes.”
We arrived together.
I had my cane.
Jake was performing in the afternoon demonstration.
When he saw me, he walked over.
He looked at Margaret.
“You must be Mrs. Carter.”
She stared.
“You’re the idiot?”
Jake froze.
I nearly choked.
Margaret smiled.
“Relax. Henry told me you’re improving.”
Jake laughed nervously.
“Trying.”
She pointed toward my cane.
“You touch that thing and I’ll fight you myself.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
He believed her.
Smart boy.
Later, Jake won his demonstration match.
Cleanly.
No showboating.
His opponent slipped after a kick.
Jake could have rushed him.
Instead he stepped back and waited.
The referee reset them.
Daniel noticed.
So did I.
Afterward, Jake came to sit beside me.
“You saw?”
“Yes.”
“I could’ve scored.”
“I know.”
“I backed off.”
“I saw.”
He waited for praise.
I gave him none.
Finally:
“That’s it?”
“What?”
“You don’t have some old-man wisdom?”
I thought about it.
“No.”
He smiled.
“Good.”
Then I said:
“That’s usually how you know you’re learning.”
He groaned.
“There it is.”
I laughed.
Years later, people around Riverdale still told the story of the martial arts festival.
They told it badly.
That is what people do with good stories.
In their version, Jake was a bully who challenged a helpless old maintenance man.
Then the old man straightened his back.
Took a mysterious ancient stance.
And everybody suddenly discovered he was Henry Carter, former national champion and teacher of half the respected instructors in the county.
Some versions had me knocking Jake unconscious.
Never happened.
One version had me fighting six men.
Absolutely did not happen.
My hip hurts just hearing that one.
People liked the twist.
The arrogant young fighter had picked the wrong old man.
