You Owe Me

Joseph lost his way, but found it back in a most unusual manner.

By Mongoose750 (mongoose750@yahoo.com)

My name is Joseph, and life is normally pretty good to me. I had a good job, I had just graduated from a nice college, and I had a nice girlfriend; so nice, I thought we could have a future together. I made pretty good money. I was able to buy a nice car, and I had a nice place to stay in. Not bad, huh?

With the extra money I had left over, I even invested in judo lessons. The dojo (that's a Japanese word for the place we work out our judo) I attended was one of the best in the area. The instructor was a woman by the name of LS Chang. She was literally half my height at 5'2", but she was built like a tank. I couldn't see anybody throwing her. The one I had problems believing she could throw anybody was a woman by the name of May. She was a cute little Filipino woman at 5'1", and a hundred and twenty pounds if she had rocks in her pockets I think. Our sensei (that's another Japanese word for teacher) said she was very good. In fact, she called her a "giant killer" because even our tallest students couldn't beat her in sparring. We had a large class, so May and I never sparred, or actually met short of saying hello.

One day in class, we were sparring, and I saw May throwing her partners left and right. I was rather skeptical, and wondered if her partners pretended to be taken off guard and thrown. She may do fine against people her own size, but not against a taller foe on the street. Then I thought to myself, what do I need to worry about? I'm 6'5", about two hundred pounds, and in pretty good shape. Not too many thugs were going to mess with me. People like May would be better off if she carried a gun or a big boyfriend with her at night. And with that, I stopped attending my judo classes.

And life continued as normal for a while. Then suddenly, to quote the old clich#, the bottom fell out. First, I was laid off at my job. I just received a raise, and was on the verge of being promoted, and then they told me they needed to perform "budget cuts." They say that we're only a paycheck or two away from being broke, and they're right. After two weeks, I was reduced to using my savings account to handle my car payments. I eventually had to leave my apartment, and move back with my parents. And my girlfriend? Heh, well it appeared she liked being with me when I was making money. A few days after my job ended, I got the "maybe we should be seeing other people" speech. Two days later, she started seeing some stockbroker. To make things even worse, there wasn't a decent job in sight. I thought I was going to start flipping burgers, but I managed to find some part-time job that paid only a fraction of my original income. I was depressed, I was angry, and I was frustrated; and I was getting desperate.

When the prospect of flipping burgers in addition to my other job was sounding tempting, an old friend of mine came to see me. He was not exactly the most savory person you're likely to meet, but he's a nice guy. Still, I always kept my distance from his schemes. However, this particular scheme sounded tempting.

"It's just a small shop, but he makes a lot of money," Jake, my friend said. "All we need to do is to take as much as we need, that's all."

"I don't know," I replied. "Don't these places have the latest in security?"

"Not this place. My source told me he only locks the door at night, that's all. Look, you need only a couple of hundred to get you by, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well same here. Once we get back on our feet, we'll pay him back by an anonymous gift or something. We're only doing this once, me and you. What do you say?"

I thought about it for a long moment. Finally I said, "All right, I'll do it; but this is it, right?"

"Right. I'll meet you at the shop around nine o'clock tomorrow night." And then he left.

Since the only thing I have broken into was my piggy bank, I was a little unsure about how one went about it. First I dressed in all black: black jeans, a black shirt, black socks, and black shoes. I even topped it off with a black toboggan. It wasn't until much later I realized how dumb I looked. I might as well talk with a Jersey accent like those old gangster movies. I think I parked my car so far down the street, if anything happened, I'd have to be a distance runner to make it back.

Anyway, I arrived across the street from the shop at nine. Jake wasn't there yet, but I was surprised by who I did see there. It was May, standing in front of the shop looking around. This was the first time I saw her without a gi. She was wearing a red tank top, cut a little short so you could see her midriff, and the signs of a six-pack. Along with that, she wore blue jean shorts, and was barefoot. I pondered why she was out there on the street. The first answer that came to my mind I dismissed immediately. Women who do that sort of thing don't practice judo on a regular basis.

As she looked around, she saw me and waved. I was on my way to the shop anyway, so I played it as nonchalantly as I could.

"Why hello, Joseph, how are you?" She said in that quiet voice.

"Hi May, I'm fine," I replied.

"I haven't seen you in judo class in a while."

"I dropped out. It wasn't for me. I already know how to handle myself if it came to that."

"I see."

"So what brings you out here?"

"Oh, there's been a few break-ins on this street over the last several days, so a friend asked me if I could watch over his place for a few nights."

"So you're guarding the place?" I ask.

"That's right."

"Oh."

"So Joseph, what brings you out here?"

Before I could stumble on some sort of answer, Jake arrived.

"Hey Joe, who's this ho-you!" He said, his eyes burning with recognition.

Instead of responding to Jake, May turned to me and demanded, "Joseph, what are you doing with him?"

Jake jumped in, "Joe here is an old friend of mine, and we're going to make a little withdrawal. You have a problem with that?"

"Of course I do, especially if it's here," May replied in that same quiet voice, but her body shifted into a ready stance.

It sounded like these two had a history, and not a good one. The two stared at each other for an intense moment before Jake turned to me.

"I'll be right with you Joe, I need to smack this girl hard for messing around in our business," he said.

Now Jake was the same height as me, 6'5", and a little heavier than I was, so I thought this might get a little ugly. It did, but not the way I thought. Jake took a swing at May with his right hand. May quickly grabbed his arm and threw him. As soon as he landed, Jake cried out, "My arm, my arm!" May straddled him and placed a hand over his mouth, while doing something else with the other. When she rose, Jake was out cold. Why didn't I help? Well I was still stuck at the part where she threw Jake. I never realized she was so fast. As a matter of fact, I never knew she was that buff either. I remember at the dojo, someone once asked May what other exercise she did besides judo. She replied judo was all she did. If I realized it could build you up, maybe I would've stuck with it.

May left Jake, and walked over to me.

"If you walk away right now, we'll forget this ever happened," May said, nodding over at Jake's body. "I know you're better than this."

I saw how good she was, but denial, stupidity, or maybe male pride kicked in.

"You know you got lucky with him," I remarked.

May just looked at me and replied, "Perhaps if you stayed with your lessons, you'd know the power of judo. Judo has made me strong. Judo has made me quick. Judo has given me increased self-confidence and discipline. I have no desire to hurt you, but I cannot allow you to enter this store or any other one on this street. Go home."

I don't know how to explain what happened next. I guess I snapped. I figured since I knew some judo, I could take her; and that was the problem. I knew some judo, but she knew judo. After I attacked, May spent the next five minutes showing me a quarter of the throws she knew; some I didn't think she could do on a man my size. However, they weren't as painful as I thought they would be. I mistook this as my toughness.

As I got up from yet another throw, I said to her, "You'll have to do better than that May; I'm barely winded."

"That's because I haven't executed my throws at full strength; I've been controlling them," May replied.

"You can't control throws!"

"I can."

There's a small patch of ground in front of the shop on the sidewalk that had a small tree growing on it. I remember it well, because that was the last place May threw me. As she took me, heaved me over her head, and flung me to the ground full force, I was thankful she didn't throw me on the sidewalk. If I stuck with my lessons, I would've remembered how to breakfall. Since I didn't, all I could do was watch the world spinning while I tried to regain my breath. May straddled me and looked into my eyes.

"I'm sorry Joseph," she said.

She planted a knuckle against the vein on my neck, and before I knew it, all went black . . .

When I woke up, I noticed the night became even darker. Then I realized I was inside ' the shop! I turned to the front window, and I saw flashing lights outside; only they were ambulance lights, and not the police. I was relieved that I wasn't being arrested or admitted. I slowly turned my head the other way, and I saw May sitting on a counter, legs crossed and swinging her feet. She gave me a small grin.

"I believe poor Jake had his arm dislocated when he fell. I could've set it back for him, but the hospital could do a better job," she said in a sarcastic attempt at playing innocent.

I slowly sat up. I found I suddenly had a pounding headache. The realization hit me that I actually made it inside the shop ' but not the way I intended.

"Why am I here?" I asked.

"You owe me Joseph," May said quietly.

"I owe you? For what?" I replied, later feeling dumb for asking a stupid question.

"I could have called the police to have you both arrested. Both of you could have went to the hospital, while I explained what happened, and you would still be arrested. This way, Jake can come up with whatever story he wants other than the truth, and get away scott free after he's released. Finally, I think you realize now that I could've hurt you far worse than having the wind knocked out of you, and applying a light choke to knock you out. Again, you owe me."

"Okay, I "owe' you. How do I repay you?"

May jumped off the counter, her bare feet landing lightly on the floor.

"First, stay away from Jake, he is nothing but trouble. Second, I put two and two together, and came to the conclusion that for you to do something like this in the first place, you must have lost your job and had gotten desperate."

She tossed a copy of the want ads in my lap.

"If you read today's newspaper, you wouldn't have a reason to come here. I believe that's your field I have circled," she continued, pointing to a section of the paper with her toe. She was right, there were several jobs. I gave up looking after two weeks.

"Finally, after you get yourself reestablished, you are to take up your judo classes again."

"Judo classes? Why?" I said.

"You may think you're formidable because of your size, but you're slow, awkward, and feeble-minded. If I was a mugger, I'd have no trouble with you, and that's if I didn't have my judo skills."

I started to object, but May stopped me.

"And you're prideful too. Judo lessons will take care of that," she said.

"You think judo is the complete solution for everything?" I asked.

"It is for most of your problems. Judo will take away your preconceptions about yourself, and what you can do. As for the rest, it looks like you have some places to apply to in the morning."

She peeked out the window as I slowly got to my feet.

"Okay, the ambulance has left, and the coast is clear; you're free to go," she said, opening the door. "Just remember, you owe me."

I remembered when I was a kid in Sunday School hearing about the end of the book of Job when after everything happened to him, he got everything back. Well I didn't get everything back, but it's close enough. After a few months of my new job, I was able to move back out again, I paid off my car (I was close to paying it off when I lost my last job), and my life was back to normal again. No, I did not get my girlfriend back, and after finding out what she's made of, I didn't want her back.

I had not heard from Jake since that night; but I heard that he had both his legs broken one night. Nobody knows anything about it except Jake, and he seemed to be quiet about it. No matter, that meant he wasn't going to tell me his latest scheme for easy money. I was crazy to actually agree to breaking in that shop that night. I almost got broken myself.

That brings up the one thing I haven't done to "pay off" my debt to May. I was deeply indebted to her for not turning me in, or sending me to the hospital with Jake, along with telling me about these job openings. But I haven't returned to my judo lessons. I planned to when I got around to it.

One day at work, I decided to eat my lunch outside. It was a lovely day, and it would've been a shame to waste it by eating indoors. I took a bite out of my sandwich when I saw somebody coming my direction, but I ignored it. I took my second bite and was chewing when I realized that person was in front of me. I looked up; it was May.

"Hi," I managed to spit out without shooting out food in the process.

"Hello Joseph. Enjoying your new job?" She said in her quiet voice.

"Yes, it's much better than my old job. Thanks a lot."

In direct contrast to that night, May wore a lime green blouse over a black tank top, black trousers, regular pantyhose, and black clogs. I knew she was wearing hose because she kept sliding her feet in and out of her shoes like they didn't belong there. Anyway, there was a momentary silence before she spoke again.

"You're welcome. You still owe me, Joseph," she said.

"What do you mean I still owe you? I got a new job, I'm back on my feet, I haven't been anywhere near Jake. What's left?" I demanded.

"Your judo classes," she said.

My mind raced with the number of excuses I could use, but all I could say was, "I'm going to."

"At the dojo, they're having a welcome back special for students who may have . . . discontinued their classes for one reason or another. No extra fee will be charged. It starts this Wednesday."

Then she stood and looked at me calmly, but directly. It was only a few seconds, but it was long enough.

"Okay, I'll be there," I said.

"Good."

I decided to change the subject. "I haven't met with Jake since, you know, but I heard he got his legs broken."

"Yes, that was unfortunate, wasn't it?"

The way her eyes darkened, and the deliberate way she said it suddenly answered the question on how Jake got his legs broken.

"Oh," I said quietly.

"I'll see you Wednesday, Joseph," May said as she walked off. On the way to her car, she pulled her shoes off and went the rest of the way in her stocking feet.

As I sat there finishing my lunch, I realized this little woman with the quiet voice scared me to death. I didn't know what she would do if I didn't go back to judo class, but I didn't want to find out.

When Wednesday rolled around, I put on my gi, my white belt, and headed to the dojo. When I arrived, LS saw me and greeted me in her usual proper English.

"Joseph, it is good to have you back," LS said with a big smile.

"It's good to be back," I replied. It was true, I did miss the dojo a little.

"So what happened? Why were you gone so long?"

I finally shrugged and told her, "It's a long story."

LS laughed. "It always is. I need to greet my other "lost children,' so if you will please excuse me. Again, welcome back."

As I saw her greet some of the other errant students, I was remembering when you first meet LS, she appears to be hard as stone until you join her class. As a teacher, she gently leads you like it was your mother teaching you judo. Small wonder why people are so loyal to her. I've missed her too.

"Hello Joseph."

I was shocked out of my reflection by a soft voice. I slowly turned to greet the author of that voice.

"Hi May," I said. She was dressed in her usual black gi.

"It's good to see you back. This also means your debt is paid."

The realization hit me. "Yes it is, isn't it?" I said, with a growing sense of relief.

"Of course that means you'll need to attend classes on a regular basis. I trust you've been keeping your nose clean?" She asked.

"Oh yeah, not a problem. I never even thought twice about it. I never even thought about Jake, though we couldn't do anything with his two broken legs; but I don't want to . . ." I stopped myself when I realized I was babbling.

"Yes, those legs, the fracture in his left arm, and the concussion he received does make it hard to do anything," she replied, lowering her head at his sad state. Man, what did she do to him?

"Yeah," I said, breaking the brief silence.

"But there's better plans for you," she continued, patting me on the right shoulder. "Hey, class is about to start. Would you like to spar with me later on?"

"NO ' I mean, no thank you. I'll take my chances with the other white belts."

"Okay," she shrugged. "I'll be keeping an eye on you, but feel free to call out if you need any help with your techniques. I'm going to take my place on the mat. Welcome back."

I looked around as I knelt on the mat. It was a large class as always. It did feel good to be back, but there's one thing I will make sure of, and that's to keep as far away from that woman as humanly possible. Debt paid or not, she still gave me the creeps.

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