Page 13 of Further To Fall

“All right,Mom.” Austin grimaced, and I smiled. “Thanks again for doing this, it’s really nice of you.”

“No thanks needed.”

I tossed my gym bag onto the passenger seat as I climbed behind the wheel. “I’ll thank you anyway.”

“Whatever you say, Firecracker,” he said and gently shut my door.

I was goingto murder Austin. Everything hurt. Muscles I didn’t even know I had were aching, and I could barely walk. It was more of a waddle. Mentally cursing Austin with all the non-swear curse words I could think of, I shuffled around my desk to face my class.

Michael, the world’s most adorable fourth-grader, raised his hand with the kind of enthusiasm I wished I could muster this morning. I know I wasn’t supposed to have favorites, but Michael was totally my favorite. He had cemented that status day one of class when he stayed behind at lunch to tell me all of his classmates’ life stories, even the new girl’s. “Yes, Michael?”

“Why are you walking funny, Miss McCarthy? You fall down or something?” His brow was furrowed, and his eyes were filled with concern. So totally my favorite. The rest of the class giggled.

“Well, can I let you guys in on a secret?”

There were titters and a few “yeahs.”

I smiled at all the precious faces. “I’m training to be a superhero.”

Michael and the rest of the class laughed at my dorkiness, just what I was going for.

“Okay, maybe not a superhero, but my friend is teaching me self-defense. Kind of like martial arts. Do any of you take karate or anything like that?” Only two kids raised their hands. I shouldn’t have been surprised. Families in this area didn’t typically have money for extracurriculars, and funding for such programs was seriously lacking. It broke my heart. “Well, I’m learning some martial arts moves so that I can defend myself in case any bad guys come my way, but I have to get my muscles stronger first.”

Michael’s hand shot up again, and I nodded at him. “Maybe after you learn, you can teach all of us!” He looked so freaking excited that my heart just about burst.

“Maybe, if I get good enough. But that might take a while,” I said with a little smile. He looked so dejected. Perhaps I could get Austin to come in and do a demonstration or something. “Okay, away from superheroes and onto something even more exciting…book reports!” The entire class groaned.

The rest of the morning crawled by with my muscles protesting every little move. I eventually had to just stay seated in my chair and point when necessary. Michael stopped by my desk on the way to lunch and said, “Miss McCarthy? I think it’s real great that you’re learning how to defend yourself.”

My heart warmed. This was one of the best parts of being a teacher, getting to know awesome little humans like Michael. “Thanks, Michael, I think so, too.”

He hustled out of the classroom, seemingly embarrassed by his comment. I reached for my cell phone and typed out a message to Austin.

Me:I think you broke me. All of my muscles hurt, and one of my students called me out for walking funny. I kind of hate you.

I grimaced as I reached under my desk to pull out my lunch and heard my phone buzz.

Austin:Not the first time I’ve been accused of making a pretty girl walk funny…

My jaw dropped.

Me:Not even sure how to respond to that.

Austin:Sorry, you made it too easy. What’d you tell your class?

Me:That I was training to be a superhero.

Austin:You didn’t.

Me:I did. And they want me to teach them after I learn. I told them maybe.

I unwrapped my turkey sandwich, opened my chips, and slugged down some water.

Austin:You kill me, you are too cute.

I wasn’t sure if any girl wanted to be thought of ascutepast the fifth grade, but we were friends—forever to be just friends, so it didn’t matter. My phone buzzed again.

Austin:Don’t murder me, but we need to get you moving again tonight.

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