Chapter 7

"Hi Sam!"

"Hi. I was expecting you to call me earlier. Where have you been?"

"I was riding around with Marsha. Se came by and asked if I wanted to take a ride."

"Allen, you know I don't trust her."

"Well, you were right about her. She came on pretty strong but I am still yours only."

"I trust you. I wanted to call and tell you something. I got a job. My aunt knows this lady that owns a bookstore and I went for an interview this afternoon. I start tomorrow and I'll be working from four o'clock until ten Tuesday through Saturday."

"That's great but what about when I want to talk to you in the evenings?"

"You can call me at the store."

"Are you going to come to Detroit?"

"Of course I am!"

"So you talked to your aunt about it."

"Yes, she was reluctant at first but finally said it would be all right."

"Good, I miss you so much!" I stated, anxiously.

"I miss you too."

"I can't wait to see you."

"Me too!"

"You don't sound to enthusiastic."

"I am! It's just I am excited about my new job. It could be a great learning experience for me. You know I want to own my own book store someday."

"I know you do. It's just that I love you and want to be with you."

"We'll be together in Detroit. I've got to go of now. I don't want to run her phone bill up."

"I'll call you right back. I don't care if I run my bill up."

"I've got to get in bed. Aunt Margaret and I are getting up early to go shopping. I need some new clothes for work."

"Okay, I'll call you in a couple of days. I love you."

"I love you too. Good night."

"Good night," I said reluctantly, as I hung up. I understood that she was excited about the job but I couldn't understand her lack of expressions toward me. I felt somewhat hurt that she didn't want to spend more time talking to me. Maybe it is too presumptuous of me to expect everything of her.

The following two days were grueling as far as working out. I was pushing myself further each day preparing for my upcoming match. Tom believed in strong work ethics, and would never say "Slow down, your pushing yourself too hard", because he knew what it took to be the best. To the contrary, he would encourage me to push myself to the limits.

It was nine o'clock when I had gotten home, and I had been anxious the past couple of hours to call Sam. Mom and I talked a few minutes, until I mentioned I needed to call her before she left work. She laughed at me, and said, "You better call her before you go crazy".

I called and the phone rang several times before she finally answered.

"Hi sweetheart," I said, recognizing her voice.

"Hi. Can you call back in fifteen minutes? I have a store full of customers."

"Sure. I'll call back in fifteen minutes."

After we hung up, I felt disappointed. Somehow, I knew this would happen. I was now feeling jealous of her job and couldn't help myself. I wanted her to be happy and if it meant her working then that's what I wanted for her but I had no idea it would make me feel this way. I was beginning to have mixed feeling of anger, jealousy, and love but at the same time trying to understand her needs also. Looking at my watch every minute or so made fifteen minutes seem like an hour. I gave her an extra five minutes just in case and called her again.

She picked up on the first ring. "Hello, Owens Bookstore!

"It's me. Can you talk now?"

"For a couple of minutes, Mrs. Owens is going to show me how to close out the cash drawer. It has been busy here all afternoon. How has your day been?"

"The same, I'm working out hard. I miss you."

"I miss you too. I wish you were here."

"Me too."

"I have to go now. We just closed the store and she wants to go over the receipts with me. Maybe we won't be so busy tomorrow night and we can talk longer."

"Well, now's the time to learn everything you can about the business. I'll call you tomorrow night about eight if that will be a better time."

"I'll be expecting your call at eight. I love you!"

"I love you too. Call you at eight tomorrow."

I went to bed feeling lonelier than I had felt in a long time. I wanted to get on a plane, and go see her but I knew at this time it wouldn't be feasible. I understood she was excited about her new job, but it was still disheartening that she did not want to talk to me longer.

Another week had passed and it was Tuesday night before my match. I was excited and felt I was 100 percent ready for Saturday night. I was more excited about meeting Sam in Detroit, because it had been so long since I had seen her. I waited until nine o'clock to call her, which seemed to be the best time. Tuesday nights also were the best nights to speak, because of business being slow.

"Hi, I missed your voice," I stated.

"I missed you too. Not much business tonight and it seems dull around here."

"I could come up and keep your company!"

"Allen, I have something to tell you."

"Sounds serious."

"Mr. and Mrs. Owens are going away on the weekend. She has asked me to watch the store Friday and Saturday. What do I tell them?"

"You tell them you already have plans. That you have a plane ticket to Detroit."

"I told her that but she insisted I was needed to run the store this weekend."

"Tell her you can't, that you already have plans."

"Allen, she has helped me so much in learning about this business I find it hard to refuse her."

"So what you were telling me is that this job is more important than us."

"You know that's not true. I love you more than anything."

"In the past two weeks, I have been trying to understand you, knowing that are excited about the job. However, do you realize what you have been doing? We hardly talk more than five minutes at a time. There is always get a customer or there is some paperwork to do. It's as though you were taking me for granted. It seems to me your putting that job before me. I know how much you care about it and I know that it is what you want to do. I am happy for you and I know one day you will own your own bookstore. But this is now and I need you now."

"I'm so sorry. I have been excited about this job and I didn't realize I was doing that. I am not taking you for granted. I need you too but I need you to understand how important this is to me."

"So you are telling me that you will not come to Detroit this weekend."

"I'm saying that I have been put in a situation where someone is depending on me."

"I understand."

"Now what does that mean?"

"I'm saying if all goes well you will have everything you have ever wanted. My whole life now is devoted to securing us a future. From my point of view at this time you don't need that job unless you're saying you don't have faith in me."

"I do have faith in you, but this is for me, it's what I need now."

"I guess there's nothing else I can say to change your mind."

"You're acting as if this is the end of us."

"I'm not saying that at all, I'm saying it seems this is the beginning of the end."

"Don't talk like that! If you want me to I will quit this job."

"And what will that make me out to be, a dictator? I'm sure if I did that you would have a lot of respect for me."

"You know I want more than anything to go to Detroit to be with you."

"Then why is it so hard to tell them no?"

"Because it is something that I've wanted all my life."

"Then there's nothing I can say," I stated, feeling hurt.

"I love you Allen and nothing will change that. We'll be together soon."

"I'm going to miss you this weekend."

"Will you call me and let me know how things are going?"

"Sure, well, I'll call you Saturday evening."

"Please, don't be mad. I love you."

"Don't worry I'll get over it. I'll talk to you Saturday."

"I'll be waiting."

After hanging up, I laid down on the bed. I felt in my heart something was wrong. As I lay my head down on the pillow, my heart began to ache. Had I done something wrong, did I not love her enough? How could she not want to see me this weekend? I want to be with her so bad it hurts and I thought she would feel the same. I should have gone up to see her when I had the chance.

The Test!

On Friday, Tom and I flew to Detroit, arriving at seven thirty in the evening. We checked into the hotel and took a cab to dinner. Noticeably to him I was quiet all evening because he asks me what was on my mind? I explained about Sam and he encouraged me to forget about until after the match. I assured him nothing would interfere with what I had to do this weekend.

The following morning we signed in and watched a few matches. Sam remained on my mind but I new when my match was near I could focus on it and wouldn't be side tracked by anything. At 4:30 PM, two hours before my match I saw Master Khan and went over to say hi. He was speaking with someone I recognized, David Fallon, a third degree black belt in Jujitsu who also had stunt doubled in many movies.

"Hi Master Khan!" I said, as I walked up to him.

"Hello Allen. Good to see you son. How have you been?"

"Fine sir. How have you been?"

"Allen, I have someone I want you to meet. David, this is the young man that I was speaking of. He is a very dedicated young man."

"David Fallon, I recognized you," I stated shaking his hand.

"Allen, Master Kahn has had some good things about you. You have a match at six thirty and Master Kahn has convinced me to sit with him and watch it. He said I might find it very interesting and I'm looking forward to it."

"Thank you sir. I'll try not to disappoint you. Nice to have met you and it is good to see you again Master Khan. I've got to go prepare myself now for the match."

"Good luck son!" Master Kahn stated.

"Yes, good luck Allen," David agreed.

"Thank you." I said, and walked away.

I returned to my room and ran a hot bath. Soaking in hot water loosened my muscles allowing me to stretch easily while doing exercises and limbering my body for the match.

As usual, my adrenaline began flowing causing my heart to beat rapidly. Each time before any match, my body felt the same emotions; my mind would accelerate imagining all possibilities that might happen. I never considered losing, but understandably, being in competition with a more experienced competitor always left that slight impression of doubt. My opponent having at least two-dozen matches in his amateur career out weighing me by 20 pounds and having three to five inches arm and leg reach on me would leave the impression with anyone that he was the superior fighter. However, those things never bothered me because I knew my capabilities.

After bathing, I worked out, mostly with moves that stretched my muscles giving me full flexibility then relaxing and meditating, clearing my mind of all negative thoughts.

I stepped into the ring as I was announced and a cheer of voices filled the coliseum, "Allen! Allen! The crowd chanted. I was surprised by their chants and the favor shown toward me. Again, something about a large crowd chanting my name sent a rush of adrenaline throughout my body. In my mind, I loved it but kept my composure, concentrating on the task before me.

James stepped into the ring as he was announced. Both jeers and cheers filled the coliseum as he threw his hands up in appreciation. Immediately he walked up to me and mumbled words in a low tone but loud enough for me to hear. "You shouldn't have gotten in the ring!" I knew he said it to intimidate me but it didn't work. Sometimes an outburst like that was enough to spark a little anger, just enough to stir a little more emotion and I welcomed it.

I looked at him with a little smile and turned to look at Tom shaking my head.

"You know what you have to do now. Go do it!" He stated.

I stood in my corner, arms on the upper rope waiting for the bell to sound. A thought came to mind that I should toy with him for a round but common sense prevailed. 'Be aggressive and end it quickly if possible' I thought.

The bell sounded and I walked directly at him and lunged forward with a front kick. His reaction was quick, sidestepping me, but I caught him in the jaw with the heel of my hand, knocking him to the mat for a moment. He then quickly stood up as I lunged again faking another forward kick. He lowered his hands to protect himself and I drove my knuckles into his throat causing him to back away and rethink. Instinctively, not giving him time to regroup, I quickly moved forward with a roundhouse kick, missing him with the first but catching him off guard with a second, placing my heel to his temple. He fell to one knee and I thrust my fist into his chest knocking him backward.