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From: " +Grant. " <+Grant@grant.grant>
Newsgroups: alt.fan.prettyboy
Subject: +*+*+*+ The Adventures of Stevie #32 "Ninja for the Defense" +*+*+*+
Date: 23 Aug 2010 16:21:02 -0500
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The Adventures of Stevie #32
These stories were told to me by friends and other people. Some of them
are true. Some of them are only partly true. Some of them should have
been true. LOL
My first post about Stevie ("Call me Stephen!") was when he was 12 and
in summer camp and was told by another camper. This was from a time
before computers would fit on a desk and when people communicated with
friends in other countries by actual letters sent through the postal
service. When children did this those friends were called "penpals".
Carlos is Stevie's penpal in Argentina and knows English. This is a
fictional contrivance to enable Stevie to tell us his stories because
he isn't here in person. I think.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Stevie's school is for gifted children who don't fit in regular schools.
The stories may not be posted in chronological order.
Stevie is 11 in this story. It takes place 3 weeks after story #31.
The Adventures of Stevie #32 "Ninja for the Defense"
Dear Carlos,
Ninja visited with us at home! He ate here too. Father made it a
planned thing. The other kids were at relatives. Mother thought he was
just a friend of father. Ninja was VERY polite to mother, and she loved
it. After eating, they talked about world travel, and strange foods. It
was interesting. I didn't say anything. I just watched and listened.
Mother didn't notice how strange that was about me. When mother asked
him what he does, I thought that was going to be VERY interesting what
was going to happen.
Ninja said "I'm retired now, but I still teach some classes." Mother
said "Oh, and what do you teach?" He said "A fighting art called
Ninjutsu." Mother almost dropped her glass she was trying to drink
from, and tried not to let him see she swallowed the wrong way. I
thought it was funny. I know that's not nice, but I don't mind being
not perfect about mother. Then father made it worse for her, and I
liked that even more. He said "If Ninja hadn't taught me how to survive
my assignments in the war, I wouldn't be here to introduce my very good
friend to you. I owe him my life many times over." He meant assignments
he did for the OSS. They took him from the army because he could speak
French and German.
Mother was getting a little red, and I think it wasn't because of the
wrong swallow, so I decided to take the heat off father and ask Ninja
some questions. I said "Sir, what is the most important thing your
students learn?" He said "How not to fight." That surprised mother, and
me too. I said "You teach them how to fight so they know how not to
fight? I don't understand." He said "Yes, most people react that way,
but it's really very simple. I can explain it in a general way, to make
it easy for you. The more you know about something, the more choices
you know about and can use, and the more able you are to make those
choices work. So, the more you know about fighting, the easier it is to
avoid it. There is another part to this. Bullies pick on people who are
afraid. Somebody who knows how to defend himself is not afraid. This
confidence shows. Only the bullies who are too dumb to find their butts
in the dark, will attack somebody like that. Now, Stephen, do you
understand how it works?" I got excited and said "Yes! I never thought
of that. Thank you very much." I meant it , too.
"Ah, but there is much more of benefit to a student of these arts,
that goes significantly beyond self defense," he said. I said "Please
tell me. I'm dying to know!" I could tell mother was interested in
spite of herself. Ninja smiled and told me "Please don't die right now,
Stephen. I'll tell you. When you are physically self-confident, other
people notice. They pay more attention to you. They believe what you
say more than they do other people. They treat you as a leader. This
can help you achieve great things throughout your entire life, with
everything you do, and the self discipline you learn as a necessary
part of the arts, helps you achieve greater self control, which you
have sorely needed, Stephen." Mother really paid attention to THAT.
I said "Until now I thought the only extra thing which was important
was falling." Mother said "Falling? What about falling?" I explained
"One of the really important things you learn is how to fall without
getting hurt. Everybody falls sometimes. People break bones and hurt
their heads so bad they could die. When you know how to fall, you don't
have to let any of that happen most of the times, or you can make it
not as bad. It's a real life saver. I'm glad I learning it." Ninja said
"Yes, it's very helpful." I think mother thought so too, but would
never say so.
When Ninja was about to leave, I asked him how Tommy was. He said "My
best student is looking forward to teaching his favorite student more,
that's YOU, Stephen, when he's next invited. We will be both seeing you
at your school, soon, for our regular open sessions, but your private
lessons with Tommy have made a significant improvement in your
abilities. You should continue them." I said "I think so too. He's a
great teacher! Extra nice too." I made a little motion to hug him but
was afraid to really do it. He signaled "acceptance", so I did hug him.
It was nice. I think he thought so too.
Tommy is coming over day after tomorrow. It doesn't hurt that mother
actually likes him, but I like him much more!
Your friend,
Stephen
--
Grant
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