Chapters (56)
- Cover
- Dedication
- 1.1 [close to the bone]
- 1.2 [and introducing...]
- 1.3 [half-split]
- 1.4 [the Semple challenge]
- 1.5 [Brickpower]
- 2.1 [shaker up]
- 2.2 [heavyweight]
- 2.3 [♀]
- 2.4 [hired hand]
- 3.1 [wheels and deals]
- 3.2 [don’t cry over spilled ...]
- 3.3 [three’s a crowd]
- 3.4 [“If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)” or “Night of the Long Knives,” take your pick]
- 4.1 [all the comforts of home]
- 4.2 [white knight]
- 4.3 [pay dirt]
- 4.4 [book learning]
- 5.1 [AQ]
- 5.2 [kihon, kata, kumite]
- 5.3 [pride and prejudice]
- 5.4 [hurt and humiliation]
- 5.5 [“King of the Road”]
- 6.1 [“Father and Son”]
- 6.2 [nothing succeeds like success]
- 6.3 [naked]
- 6.4 [nakeder (I know, there’s no such word)]
- 7.1 [42 km/hr]
- 7.2 [first aid]
- 7.3 [interest is mounting daily]
- 8.1 [kiai]
- 8.2 [kumite (sparring)]
- 8.3 [white knight II]
- 8.4 [Hope is the thing with feathers—that perches in the soul ... Emily Dickinson. American poet, 1830–86. I’m showing off.]
- 9.1 [white knight III]
- 9.2 [“Dead Man Walking”]
- 9.3 [tattletale]
- 9.4 [scat]
- 9.5 [painstaking]
- 10.1 [buzzed]
- 10.2 [amethyst: spiritual calm and healing]
- 10.3 [self-defense]
- 10.4 [self-disclosure]
- 11.1 [self-respect]
- 11.2 [guerrilla warfare]
- 11.3 [Sensei (teacher)]
- 11.4 [“The Razor’s Edge”]
- 12.1 [man to man]
- 12.2 [Tully]
- 12.3 [Hockey Night in Hilchey Bay]
- 12.4 [“If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)”]
- 12.5 [rerun]
- 12.6 [“the end is the beginning ...” Japanese koan composed by Brickson MacAvoy]
- [author’s note]
- [acknowledgements]
I SPEND the rest of Sunday making sure Cassie and Floyd don’t end up in the same room. In her bedroom, we build a tent out of blankets; after I cook supper for the two of us, we have a picnic under the tent. Then I flake out on her bed while she plays with her plastic farm animals. Right now, if someone asked me to jog across the hall, I don’t think I could.
Rolf doesn’t come pounding on our door.
*
MONDAY MORNING, once Floyd’s out of the way, I go for a run in the rain. A gap of four days and already I’ve lost speed and wind. Although it’s tempting to use some of Della’s money for a pair of expensive running shoes, I can get by with the ones I’m wearing. When I bank my pay, I’ll be in the four-figure range.
Not that it’ll matter how much money I have, if Tully has told Rolf about the bruises. They’ll take Cassie away, and who cares what happens after that?
No sign of Rolf all day. No social workers. No cop car in the driveway, red and blue lights flashing. I start to hope that maybe, just maybe, Tully kept her lips clamped.
Early Tuesday I run again, my sneakers still damp from yesterday. Near the bridge I pass Glenn and Igor. I wave at Glenn, to let him know there are no hard feelings because he told Tully I bullied him. Also, that I’m not going to break my word about leaving him alone. He doesn’t wave back.
Igor cocks his head. I swear he’d like to be running with me. Now there’s a thought. Bet I could learn a thing or two about running from Igor.
As if I’m an addict who can’t help himself, I practice blocks, kicks, and elbow-strikes behind the garage after my run. Speed, ferocity, and power—I like those words.
Opal isn’t feeling good, so she sends me to town to pick up a prescription at the drugstore and to deliver some mail to Floyd. Cassie stays home. I put the garbage out before I leave. Docker’s dropped me like I don’t exist.
No, Brick. You’re the one who dropped Docker. Remember?
Why do I keep practicing? So I won’t miss him? Him and the dojo? Or because I’m pissed off at him because he hasn’t bothered to ask why I quit?
Now that the wall’s finished, I’ll have more time to read; I could go to The Laughing Loon for my free book while I’m in town.
I could. I doubt I will.
At the bank I deposit the cash Della gave me, then pick up the prescription at the drugstore. I’ll drive to the dealership; that way I can make a quick escape. The ATV is parked behind Shoppers.