#bergen_county

"See how you didn't think about it?"

"Yeah, guess so. Ok." He goes back en guard.

"No, that's really good..."

She frowns.. then... nothing. A blank expression. "Ok, ready..." A one-two ocmbination.

He nods, and uses the blocks she taught him.

And so she works - nothing but technique, all business.

He's already there, blocking, even trying a few attacks, feigns, so on. She tags him, sure, but not -every- time, and that's not nothing.

She does encourage him, and he even gets a hit on her bicep once. "Nice! Good!"

He's winded by the end, but there's a little grin on his face.

"Really good work. I think you remembered lots."

He nods. "I did. It came back to me while we were sparring."

"Nice."

"Listen... I don't.. I don't want you to get sick from too much, but if you run out, I can probably help you. If you wanted. Whenever."

He scuffs the dirt with a sneaker. "Ok. Thanks."

"So.. anyways.."

"I guess you have dinner."

"Oh. Uh, yeah. School night. Sucks but...."

"Yeah..."

"Um. Pizza rolls for the road?"

She rubs the back of her neck, eyes down.

"Yeah. Sure. Thanks."

"Ok..."

Back to the house.

Adam follows.

"How'd it go?" Tove says

"He got a hit in."

"He's doing real good."

"Excellent. "

It's praise, but...

"Sam's a good teacher."

"You won't hear me doubt it" Tove says "Now, did you want me to heat those rolls or anything?"

Sam has gone quiet again, hiding inside her hoodie.

"Don't go to any extra trouble, Mrs. King. These are good like they are."

"Glad you like then"

Adam munches down on a few of them.

She scuffs her toe on the linoleum.

Jaymes grunts. then says "How's school ,you two?"

"Fine, Mr. King. Uh. How's work?"

Shrug.

He shrugs, "work"

Adam nods. "Yeah."

"Well, uh, I'd better go. Sam, thanks for calling me. Good to talk to you, good workout. Mr. and Mrs. King, thanks again."

"Glad to have you," Tove says.

Jaymes grunts.

"Ok. See you at school an' stuff, Sam...."

"Spanish, yeah."

"Yeah, cool. Ok. Bye." Adam heads out the door to his car, and home.

Sam watches him go.

Tove looks at their daughter, then says "Honey, if something is bothering you... you know either one of us will be happy to listen if you want to talk about it."

Jaymes nods "true"