Chapter 8

I wake up at 4 in the morning with Eve spooned up against me. It is the last weekend in August and we have been back for two and a half months. I’m excited, because school starts next week and I’m ready to continue my new life. The summer is going good and everything is somewhat back to normal. Cordova is still in jail, however they have arrested some of the people that were plotting to kill the congressman that was laundering money for the mob.

While we were hiding out in China, Candice was hiding out at the Taylor house were Candace and Coach Taylor have become very cozy and are officially a couple.

Karen broke the bad news to Megan and me that her father has orders for Germany. He is in the Air Force and is being reassigned. Karen vowed her love to Megan and I as she left.

I am hanging out with my buddies. Johnny, Fred and George. Johnny is worried about Shawna, because she has been gone all summer and he doesn’t know where she went. Apparently she disappeared after graduation.

Last month, Coach Marcos paid us a visit, begging dad to let me join his dojo for the August tournaments. I’m surprised he came by after sending the goons to kill me. Maybe he doesn’t know that I know.

“I am down four of my fighters,” Coach Marcos pleads. as dad and I look at each other knowingly. “If I don’t get another fighter that can win, I am going to have to forfeit the competition, which will hurt my business.”

“My son fight to protect his family and friends, not for competition,” dad explains. “But I will leave that decision up to him,” dad finishes as I shake my head no. I don’t want anything to do with Coach Marcos or his son, Coach Marcos is the one who put a hit out on me and I do not trust him.

Bao is coming to stay for a while next month. Apparently there are rumors that the Triads are looking for the person that took out two of their best men and are suspicious of Bao’s sudden disappearance, who was working undercover under another name.

Mom is excited, because he is bringing his new wife.

I get out of bed trying not to wake Eve. I stare down at her. I love her so much. She is my life and I will give my life for her. We have been through a lot and I owe her so much. I would not be here if not for her.

I get downstairs and see that dad is waiting for me. He joins me on my morning runs when he can. We get outside and head out the gate and on the trail that leads up the canyon. Dad pulls out a blindfold and wraps it around my eyes.

“Grandfather say you practice,” dad informs me. “You see with your mind and soul. If you are in combat, you do not have time to see with your eyes. Senses are more dangerous to the enemy than seeing them.”

I get into Zen and start my morning run. I can see without my eyes as I run up the narrow trail up the canyon. I can feel the cliff to my left and I feel one with nature. My nose and ears are more attune to nature when I am not using my eyes.

After our run, dad and I head downstairs to work out. I hit the bag for an hour, then I work out on the bench. We finish with dad kicking the sit out of me. I am getting better holding my own against dad. I have figured out the art of disappearing to confuse the enemy.

After our workout, we head upstairs and find Mom, Cindy, and Eve eating breakfast. Eve and Cindy give me a devious grin as I walk by. That tells me that Eve is up to one of her tricks.

“Hurry up Joe. We are going to the Zoo today,” mom announces. “And Megan will be here shortly to go with us.”

I cautiously walk up the stairs and to my door, which is closed. I open it a little and look to make sure there isn’t a bucket waiting to dump something on me. I walk in and check the room. Everything looks normal. I check my drawers, closet, and shoes looking for her obvious tricks. When I see that the coast is clear, I get undressed and put my clothes in the dirty clothes hamper, wrap myself in a towel and head to the bathroom for a shower.

As I turn the shower on, to get warm, I think about the Zoo. I have never been to the Zoo. Living in many foster homes with foster parents that were poor and only taking kids to get the extra money. Eve and I never experienced things that normal kids experienced. Going to the Zoo will give me the chance to watch my sister experience things she didn’t as a child.

I step into the shower and felt something slimy on the bottom of the bathtub as I struggling to stay up. I grab the shower curtain as I fall to the floor in the middle of the bathroom floor. On the way down, I noticed a jar of Vaseline. I make a mental note to be more aware of my surroundings.

“You bitch,” I scream as the door opens and I see my ex-twin sister and family staring down at me laughing.

“You focus, Zen,” dad laughs. I give everyone the one finger salute as everyone howls in laughter.

Except me.

I am holding Megan’s hand as Eve has her arm wrapped around my waist. We are getting stares, but I don’t care. I have my sister beside me and that is all that matters. I confessed to Megan the closeness that my sister and I have, which made her happy. Megan knows what we went through.

“This is exciting,” Eve gushes. “I’ve never been to the Zoo before.”

“Your adoptive parents never take you to the Zoo,” mom asks.

“They don’t take me anywhere,” Eve informs us. “I honestly don’t know why they adopted me.”

Eve told me that they stopped paying attention to her after the Watson’s separated us and adopted Eve. They are an older couple and do not go anywhere, but work and go to church. Eve says that they are nice to her but don’t try to get to know her. Instead they tell her how she should act and trust god.

“No,” Eve answers. “As soon as I’m eighteen I’m gone.”

“Well, if you need us, we are here for you,” mom tells her.

“I know,” Eve smiles. “But I also have my twin brother.”

We go to the polar bear cave. We see the polar bears under water through a glass window. I see Eve looking with a huge smile on her face. I love seeing my sister happy. We walk out and keep walking. We get to the tiger and lion den. I remember the lion teaches us tenacity in Kung Fu.

Megan and Eve run to the edge of the wall. I follow them and look down. There is a moat of water surrounding the cage. I see two Lions and two tigers looking bored. Everyone is focused on the two baby cubs in the rear with one of the tigers nursing it.

I notice a guy sitting a girl on the ledge. She looks around six or seven. He lets her sit on the ledge by herself as he puts his arm around someone that I’m assuming is his wife. I look to my right and see a family that looks oriental. They are talking in Chinese. So I’m assuming they are Chinese. I start to look away, when I see one of the guys that is with them stare at me and smile. He is muscular, 6’ with long black hair. He smiles and looks away as I hear a scream.

I look and see the girl that was sitting on the ledge fall into the tiger’s den and into the water. I see a Lion drag her out of the water and to the back of the den and put her beside the two cubs.

I don’t hesitate as I jump over the wall and into the water. I swim to the edge. The lion walks to me and sits in front of me. I am in Zen as I hear grandfather say.

“Be one with nature.”

I bow to the large lion and walk around him. I walk to the tigers as they back away from me. I pick up the crying girl, put her on my back, and tell her to hold on.

I run to the wall, jump across the water, and walk up the wall as dad taught me. I didn’t make it up far enough as dad grabs the girl from my back. I have my fingers on the edge of the ledge and fall back into the moat. I look up at dad as he shakes his head ‘no’, which means don’t show your skills in front of all of the people.

I hear a lot of commotion going on above. Then I see two cages open and two Zoo keepers come and roust the animals into the cage. One tiger walks to the edge of the moat and stares at me, refusing to go into the cage. I stare at her and see that she doesn’t want to hurt me. She wants to make sure I’m okay, like a mother.

I look and see a Zoo keeper raise a rifle and point it at her. It is too late for me to catch the bullet so I run and jump in front of the bullet.

I wake up and see mom and dad staring at me shaking their heads.

“We can’t even go to the Zoo without you being a hero,” mom chastises. “But at least we were able to get out of there before anyone found out that you are our son. They put you in an ambulance and brought you here.”

I look around and see Cindy, Eve, and Megan smiling at me. Before I can say anything, someone walks in the room that looks like a doctor. He checks the monitor that is hooked to my arm, shines a light in my eyes, and asks me a few questions.

“The hero doesn’t show any allergic reactions to the tranquilizer,” the Doctor informs everyone. “He is free to go out and meet his new friend and talk to the press.”

“No!” I protest as mom and dad agrees.

“Can we take him out the back,” mom asks as the doctor tells her where the private pick up is and dad leaves to get the car.

On the way home, Cindy complains that she didn’t get to see all the animals as mom and dad shake their head.

We get home and I head upstairs to sleep as dad orders pizza for everyone. I head upstairs to bed still feeling the effects of the tranquillizer. There is something bothering me, but I can’t remember what it is. I crawl into bed and fall asleep.

It’s the first day of school and we have to take the bus since Cindy or I do not have a license yet. Which means I have to listen to Amy and Cindy complain, however I get to ride the bus with Fred. The rest of the summer went without incident.

The search for the Zoo hero is finally old news. Luckily, not a lot of people had cameras, and they only took pictures of the girl. By the time news crews got there, I was in the ambulance and off to the hospital. No one linked me to mom and dad since I am not Chinese. I remember listening to the news the next morning.

“The search for the mysterious boy that saved five year old Kimberly Oswald. The granddaughter of Congressman Steven Oswald, who is being investigated for racketeering and money laundering is still underway,” the news reporter announced. “Congressman Oswald would like to offer a reward to the boy that saved his granddaughter.”

“No more public heroics,” I remember mom chastising me as dad shakes his head and tries to look innocent.

We get off the bus as I see Megan wave at me. I wave back taking in her beauty. She is wearing tight jeans and a blouse. She grew her hair out, which is down to her shoulders and pulled back in a high pony tail. She changed her black horned rimmed glasses to round glasses which makes her look like Velma on Scooby Doo. She also filled out over the summer. Her A-cups are now a full B-cup. Her hips have flared, giving her a very shapely and sexy ass. I start to walk towards her when I see a frown on her face as Courtney jumps in my arms and rams her tongue in my mouth.

“I missed you,” Courtney gushes as Cindy, and Amy looks at her confused. Megan walks up as Courtney pulls Megan into a hug. That confused me as I remember Megan telling me that Courtney and her were childhood friends until Courtney became popular and left Megan behind. “Oh, Megan, we have so much to talk about. I’ve grown up and want to be your friend again.”

“Oh, and this is my cousin Greg,” Courtney introduces. I look and see a tall blonde kid. He looks my age. He is 6’2” and muscular. “He made the football team as the varsity quarterback. Carl hurt his leg over the summer.” I see all the girls looking at him with lust in their eyes, including Megan.

I grab Megan’s hand. She pulls it away as she is lusting at Greg. We get into the school and I find my locker. Cindy pinches my butt as she walks to her locker, which is next to mine. I smile knowing that the lockers are assigned in alphabetical order. I look for Megan, who has already left for her Class.

I put my stuff in my locker and join Fred, George and Johnny to walk to our first class.

“Now that’s an ass,” Johnny points out as we head down the hallway. She is bent over in her locker and we are not the only guys checking out her ass. She stands up and closes her locker as all four of us are shocked. “Shawna?”

It is Shawna. Not the Shawna from last year, 5’5” 160 pounds. She is now 5’5” and maybe 110 pounds with full C-cups

“Hi BOYS,” Shawna smirks with high sarcasm to the word ‘boys’. She turns and walks away with no interest in talking to us.

It’s lunchtime and I get in line for the lunchtime slop. I see Greg sitting at our table next to Megan. Greg is in my seat talking to Megan as she is giggling and having a great time.

I see Courtney waving at me from the jock table. I walk out of the lunch room, not feeling hungry anymore. I find the nearest stairwell and crawl under it as I hear footsteps round the corner. Apparently I was being followed. I see the familiar long conservative dress.

“There you are,” Emily observes bending down and looking at me. “Can I join you?” I wipe the floor beside me, making sure that there is no dust.

She hands me her lunch box and sits beside me. She opens the box, pulls out a cloth napkin, and sets it on her lap. I smile at the way she is so prissy. She is really beautiful and I would love to be with her if she wasn’t a crazy lunatic.

She pulls out two sandwiches and unwraps them from the foil. She hands me one as we start eating in silence.

“Megan is not one of us,” Emily starts when she finished her sandwich. I have many questions about her and her family. They scare me with their talk of the gospel and what is written.

“So,” I start trying to add to her conversation. “You are my soul mate and we are to be together.”

“For eternity,” Emily adds. “But not now. You have to follow the gospel.”

“What is this gospel,” I ask getting annoyed. “Have you read this gospel?”

“No! Very few have read it,” Emily answers. “But, my father has and that is why he watches over you. And he knows that you will watch over me and keep me safe, because we are soul mates.”

I look into her green eyes. She is so beautiful.

“Then why can’t we be together now,” I blurt out not realizing that I said it.

She leans in as we share a kiss. Her lips are hot and sweet. She wraps her arms around me as she slips her tongue into my mouth. There is something about her that turns me on. We make out until she breaks the kiss.

“Father said that it is not our time.” Emily answers as she packs her lunch box and leaves.

What is this gospel?

After my lunch with Emily, I head to my last class, which is Home Ec. I have Emily in most of my classes again, except for gym and my last class. I’m still wondering what got into Megan this morning and at lunch. Is she mad about Courtney kissing me? And what is the infatuation with Greg? Yes, he is a good looking guy. Muscular, with blonde hair and blue eyes. I am deep in thought, when someone walks up beside me.

“Why didn’t you come and sit by me when I waved at you,” Courtney asks. “I saved you a seat.”

“I wasn’t hungry,” I lie.

“So...” Courtney starts with a smirk, wanting to say something. “I’m assuming that you and Megan are not together anymore.” I give her a confused look. “Well, she has been flirting with my cousin all morning and he seems to like her.”

I see my escape, not wanting to answer her question, I slide into Home Ec. However, Courtney follows me in and sits beside me at a two person table. Courtney stares at me waiting for an answer as the bell rings and I’m saved by the teacher.

The teacher, who introduced herself as Ms. Hughes. takes roll. She stops when she gets to my name.

“So ... Mr. Wang,” Ms. Hughes starts looking up at me. “Why are you interested in Home Ec.? Is it because you get to be in class with all girls,” she asks as I hear some girls giggle.

“No ma’am,” I lie. Actually it wasn’t. It was actually, because I had two choices. Shop with Mr. Marcos or Home Ec. “I want to learn to take care of myself.” Ms. Hughes smiles and begins the class.

“Okay,” she starts. “Whomever you are sitting with is your partner throughout the school year.” Courtney smiles as I shake my head. Just my luck.

After class, I make a hasty retreat, not wanting to talk to Courtney right now. I am heading to my locker when I see Megan walking towards the locker room with Greg. Before I can think, I hear a familiar gravelly voice.

“Wait-up Andrew!” I turn and see Carl, who was last year’s second string quarterback, walking towards Andrew with a slight limp.

Now it makes since to me. I thought that voice sounded familiar. Carl is one of the eight that jumped me the night our house was ransacked. And Carl was last year’s second string quarterback and was supposed to be this year’s starting quarterback. ‘The starting quarterback hurt his leg this summer’. I remember Courtney say this morning. He must have been the one who came at me with a kick and I snapped his leg in two.

He stops and talks to Andrew. I walk by as they stop talking and give me the stare of death.

“So...” Fred starts, trying to tread lightly. “Are you and Megan still a couple?” It is Friday and we are sitting at our lunch table. I sit back not knowing the answer myself. Everyone has been asking me that question all week. Even Damian asked me that question. And I honestly don’t know. Megan has been avoiding me all week and won’t take my calls. She even moved to the jock table to sit with Greg during lunch. “Did she tell you that the two of you are over? What did you do, because it looks like Megan and Greg are a couple?”

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. I can deal with us no longer dating, however I wish she would tell me and stop avoiding me. “She hasn’t talked to me all week and has been avoiding me.”

I am in Home Ec, when I’m called to the main office. I grab my books since there is only ten minutes left of class. I walk in to the main office, wondering what I am being called in for.

“Oh sorry Joe,” the secretary apologizes. “Coach Taylor wants to talk to you in his office.” I trudge to his office as I’m dreading the million dollar question that I know is coming.

I walk into the locker room as the school bell rings letting everyone out for the weekend. I knock on Coach Taylor’s door as I hear him tell me to come in. He motions me to sit as he sits back in his chair.

“What’s going on with you and Megan,” Coach Taylor asks getting right to the point. “She has been acting strange all week. And will not tell me what’s going on. Damian thinks that it’s the new boy.”

“I’m sure that’s it,” I agree. “Since she hasn’t talked me and has been avoiding me since she met him.”

“So are the two of you over,” he asks.

“If we are she hasn’t told me,” I answer. “If we are over, I hope that she would tell me.”

“Are you still going to play basketball for me,” he asks as I chuckle and shake my head. I don’t know why he would ask that question. It doesn’t matter if Megan and I are together or not. I still want to play basketball.

“Of course, Coach,” I answer as he grins. “If Megan doesn’t want to be with me then there is nothing I can do about it. Life goes on.”

“Good!” Coach Taylor sighs. “Because we have a good chance of winning regional’s and possibly taking state. The football team is a lost cause this year after Carl hurt his leg over the summer in an accident.” I hold back a smile, knowing that the accident was me. “We have to let a cocky boy from California that thinks he knows everything and won’t listen to the coaches.”

“Greg,” I sigh as Coach Taylor looks at me surprised. “The guy that Megan has been hanging around all week.” Coach Taylor puts his face in his hands as he gives up.

I walk out of Coach Taylor’s office and right into him.

“Watch where the fuck you’re going asshole,” Greg yells as I try to apologize. “And what the fuck is a pussy like you doing in the men’s locker room. We have a game to get ready for so you need to run along.”

I decide that walking away is the best action to take.

I decide to stay and watch the game since Cindy is cheering and mom and dad will be there to watch. I get to the bleachers and see Fred, George, and Johnny. They wave me over as I join them and we settle in to watch the game. Sheila is cuddled up next to George as I look around for Megan and don’t see her.

“Where’s Megan,” I ask Sheila, who smirks.

“I don’t know and I really don’t care,” Sheila answers. “Megan is really acting silly over this Greg guy. All she talks about is Greg. I keep asking her about you, but she won’t answer. I’m sorry George, I’ve never seen her act like this. She’s acting like ... Well a bitch.”

The game starts as the other team kicks off to us. The game is a practice game and doesn’t count as a season game. The real games start next week. Our offense heads out as I see Greg. huddle up the team. The team lines up as I see the coaches clearly yelling at Greg. I’m assuming that he is not using the coaches play and is calling his own plays. The ball is in play as Greg passes the ball right to the other team and they run it in for a touchdown. At halftime the score is 21-0. I remember what Coach Taylor said about Greg not listening to the coaches.

During halftime, mom and dad enter as I wave them over. They sit beside me as mom gives me a hug.

“Where’s Megan,” mom asks as I point to Megan sitting in the bleachers behind the bench. “Honey what happened?” I wonder if I should stand up and tell everyone what happened between Meagan and I so that I don’t have to answer the question anymore. Instead, I point to Greg as he is running out with the team. “I’m sorry,” mom soothes as I shrug.

At the start of the fourth quarter, we are down 32-0 as the coaches decide to bring in the JV team to finish out the game. They are clearly disappointed with the team.

After the game, we are heading out to the parking lot as the three musketeers run up to us.

“Mom, we’re going to a party at Courtney’s cousin’s house.” I cringe at knowing that she is talking about Greg.

“And where is her cousin’s house at,” mom asks.

“It’s in our neighborhood and Damian will make sure we get home okay.” Damian and Cindy have started dating. I wonder how long that will last. I tried to warn him, but he won’t listen.

Mom shakes her head and nods. She is used to Cindy’s outgoing personality.

“Joe...” Courtney chimes, trying to act shy as I sigh knowing what she is going to ask. “Will you come to the party as my date?”

I hear my EX-mom and dad chuckle.

“Sorry Courtney, I have other plans,” I lie. After my run-in with Greg today, I do not want to be in the same house as him.

“My son ladies man like me,” dad brags as mom smirks and punches him in the arm.

After dinner, I inform mom and dad that if Cindy brings Amy and Courtney over for a sleepover that I’m going to block the door. They smile knowingly as I head up to bed.

I wake up at 4am, change into my running clothes, grab my blindfold, and put it on. The chair is still blocking my door. I walk to the window and make my escape. I am in Zen as I walk to the gate with the blind fold on my eyes. I’m glad that my grandfather taught me how to see with my soul. I run up the canyon as I wonder about my real family. Not that I don’t love my mom, dad, Cindy and Wayne.

I remember grandfather telling me the story of my greatest grandfather before he pushed me into the ocean. My greatest grandfather’s parents were murdered like mine. And he was taken in by the Shoalin Monks like I was taken in by the Wang’s.

I get to the top as I sit in the lotus position and meditate.

I love my family and my life. I think about my greatest grandfather and how we are the same.

But I am not at peace. Still too many questions about my blood parents.

I get home and down to the basement. I still have my blindfold on as I feel someone crouch in the corner.

“I see you,” I inform dad as I feel him smile. “Choose the weapon.” I feel dad walk to his weapons rack and take the pole. I still have my blindfold on as I walk to my weapons rack and grab my pole.

Dad attacks me. I am not fast enough as he clips my right temple and I feel blood. Dad is so fast and I hope that I can be as good as him someday.

“Focus,” dad chastises. “Zen!”

He comes at me again, but I block him as he pulls back and gives me a combination of hits, which I block. I disappear and am behind him as I use the pole to sweep dad off his feet.

“Focus! Zen!” I tease as dad and I start laughing so hard that I am on the floor.

“You smart ass,” dad informs me as we are howling in laughter.

It’s 10am when we walk out of the basement laughing. I see Cindy, Amy, and Courtney at the table eating breakfast and giving me a sad look, like they want to give me some bad news.

“I ran into the wall,” I lie wiping the blood from the side of my face and walk out the back door. I walk up the side of the house and into my room.

Oh shit, I’m still wearing my blindfold.

That night, Cindy informed me that Megan and Greg are officially a couple.

“They were all over each other at the party,” Cindy said. “And then they disappeared for a couple hours in his room.”

I would cry, but I have Eve and my family. It takes a lot more than a girl to hurt me. I’ve been through hell and back.

I have a family.

Monday morning, I get off the bus with Amy and Cindy complaining about riding the bus. I can’t help but notice a black Ford Mustang pull into the parking lot and I see Greg get out as Megan runs from the school to greet him.

The week end went without incident. I learned a little more about Greg from Cindy. He is a junior and his family moved here from California. His mother is a nurse and his father works for some large business that moved him here to open up a location in the big city.

I walk down the hallway and sigh when I see Courtney standing by my locker waiting for Cindy and Amy. I hope.

“I’m sorry, Joe,” Courtney pouts with a sad face. I can almost see a smile in her eyes. I’m assuming everyone knows that Megan is now with Greg. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I answer. “How are you,” I add to throw her off her guard.

“I mean, are you okay that Megan and Greg are a couple,” Courtney asks as I feel Cindy and Amy get quiet behind me, waiting for my answer. I think for a minute, knowing that I’m not getting away without answering.

“I’m fine with it,” I blurt out as the girls look surprised. “The only thing that I’m not okay with is the fact that Megan did not have the courage to tell me that she was interested in Greg. If...” I pause for effect. “She had told me, I would have let her go and we could still be friends. Now...” I pause for effect again. “She is on her own. If they ever break up, I refuse to be her friend.”

I close my locker and leave the girls standing there speechless.

I’m standing in line during lunch, when Damian approaches me.

“My dad said that we can use the school basketball court on Saturdays as long as the coaches are not there. Is 1pm good for you?” I nod as he walks away.