Cole Read online

“How so?”

  “No legal gibberish. One page. Straight to the point. It feels about a close as you can get to a handshake on paper.”

  Rachel smiled.

  “Yeah, he’s no nonsense.”

  “Perfect.” I took Rachel’s pen and signed the contract. Then I reached into my pocket and removed the cash.

  “Let me prepare you a receipt.” Rachel opened her purse and pulled out a receipt book. Less than 30 seconds later she was tearing out the sheet and handing it my way.

  “Here are your keys. You’re all set.”

  “Thanks. That was easy.”

  “How I like it.”

  “Me too.”

  “Cole, I’m sorry but I must run. A day full of appointments.”

  “No problem.”

  Rachel reached into her purse and pulled out some small bills?

  “What are you doing?”

  “Paying for the drinks.”

  “What is up with women in this town?”

  “Um, excuse me?”

  “Always trying to pay.”

  “Oh.” Rachel smiled. Just a habit of my business I guess.

  “Well, please. Allow me.”

  “Thank you. You’re a real gentleman”

  “And you’re a real lady. You deserve to be treated like one.”

  Rachel blushed.

  “Wow. No one’s said anything like that to me in a long time. Simple, yet beautiful.”

  “Well more people should.”

  Rachel held my eye contact. “Thank you, Cole. I wish there were more real men like you in this world.”

  “Don’t thank me. There are no rewards necessary for doing what you’re supposed to do.”

  “You’re a throw back. Old school. I like that. I have a feeling you’re going to be very well liked in this town. And very successful.”

  “Thank you.”

  “My pleasure. OK, I really must be going. Thank you for the coffee and good luck with the gym. I’ll be sure to keep an eye on its progress and swing by once it’s up and running.”

  “That would be great.”

  “See you.”

  “See you.”

  And Rachel was off. I noticed she took her coffee with her. Takumi prepared it in a to go cup and Rachel was quickly out the door. Smart girl. It would be a crime to waste that cup o’ Joe.

  I enjoyed the last of my coffee, paid, and took off. I wanted to go straight to the gym and see what I was in for.

  Chapter 10

  I unlocked the gym and stepped inside. Yeah, this place was going to need some work. I didn’t have a tape measure, but I was a pro at calculating distances. Long distances from all the years of firing a rifle and short distances from close combat maneuvers.

  The good thing was all we need to get started were some light bulbs and some mats. The rest could grow as we did. I locked the place back up and walked home.

  “You’re back.”

  “I am and I’m on a roll.”

  “How so?”

  “I got the gym.”

  “That’s great man. We should celebrate.”

  “No time.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. I already paid first months, last months, and the deposit. Now I just need to order some mats and pick up some light bulbs.”

  “And don’t forget find some students.”

  “That part might already be moving forward also. My meeting with Carissa went really well last night. She’s open to me coming to the school and speaking to the kids. Could be my first sign ups.”

  “Not so fast.”

  “Why the pessimism?”

  “Not pessimism. Something totally opposite that.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah. I’ve got your first sign up.”

  “What, you’re going to sign up for class. I’m going to teach a SEAL discipline and how to get in shape? I appreciate the token gesture, but I need to do this on my own.”

  “And that’s exactly why it’s not going to be me.”

  “Really? Who did you have in mind?”

  “Jasmine.”

  “Jasmine. Really? She’d be perfect. I’d be honored.”

  “And I think she could really use some time with you.”

  “I’d be happy to work with her of course, but she definitely seems like a little girl who’s pretty well squared away already.”

  “She is, but there’s something else going on. We don’t have a middle school here so next year she’ll be going to our version of a middle school and high school combination. Ages 13 – 18. She’ll just barely be 13 and there are going to be plenty of older boys after her. She developed early for her age and I’m already noticing a lot of looks and out of control hormones when I pick her up from school. I want to make sure she’s ready for anything.”

  “I hear that. I’m going to make sure she’s prepared.”

  “Then it’s settled. First name in the client book is Jasmine Justice.”

  “Done.”

  We shook and embraced. I was now officially in business.

  “OK, next step. Do you think they have those big wrestling mats here in town?”

  “You won’t be able to get them here, but we can get them about an hour from here.”

  “Is there a bus that goes there?”

  “Come on man. I’m free the rest of the afternoon. Let’s go now.”

  “Deal.”

  I grabbed some cash from my backpack and we headed out in the Jeep and found a sporting goods store that had the mats. Just like Jax said. I bought enough to cover 400 square feet. Delivery was only $40 extra and they’d have them out to the gym in the morning.

  When we got home I texted Carissa.

  Really enjoyed last night. Still possible to come by the school and motivate some kids?

  Less than two minutes later.

  Definitely. How about tomorrow afternoon? 2pm. Last class of the day. Getting, and keeping, their attention will be tough. Up for the challenge?

  Challenge accepted. See you then.

  I was on a hot streak and wanted to keep the momentum going. I had some free time from now until the delivery in the morning.

  “Jax, want to work on some moves?”

  “You think you can take me?”

  “Only one way to find out.”

  Jax smiled. “You’ve still got the fighting spirit. Let me put on some shorts and I’ll see you in the living room in five.”

  “I’ll be there in four.”

  We spent the rest of the afternoon working on takedowns, escapes, and defense. I hadn’t trained that hard in weeks. We continued into the evening and called it a stalemate.

  Jasmine had been invited to a birthday party after school and Jax had to pick her up at 8 o’clock. He showered up and was out the door.

  I showered and went up to lie in bed. Not surprisingly I passed out. My body clock still in shambles. Luckily I had remembered to set my alarm.

  Chapter 11

  The sound of the alarm clock hit me like an incoming mortar. I jumped out of bed and assumed the ready position. Flashbacks. I was hoping improvement in this area might get the ball rolling in my overall improvement. Not happening yet. PTSD is just four letters until you meet someone else who’s fighting it. Service member or not. But when you get it yourself, it becomes all too real. You’re body jumps to flight or flight.

  I looked at the clock and went through the prior days events in my mind. The delivery today. Right. In and out of the shower and down to see Jax and Jasmine finishing up breakfast.

  “We thought you weren’t going to wake up.”

  “Yeah, I was out cold.”

  “Want a lift to the gym?”

  “Sure.”

  “Ok. We’ll drop Jasmine off at school first then head over to wait on the mats.”

  “Perfect.”

  “Congratulations on the gym, Uncle Cole.” Jasmine flashed me a big smile with a couple of key teeth missing. She was at that age were soon cute would bec
ome adolescence. It’s an exciting period of transition for a kid. She was handling it well.

  “Thanks, Jasmine. How’s everything at school?”

  “Oh, it’s good. Jimmy Ratcliff brought a snake yesterday in his backpack and turned it lose in math. A lot of people screamed, but I knew it wasn’t going to hurt anyone. Plus it’s better to be calm around animals. If you panic they might panic too.”

  “Very true. And you didn’t get bit?”

  Jasmine laughed. “Very funny.”

  “Not even a little peck on the cheek with his long tongue?”

  “Oh, gross. That would feel weird.”

  “Yes it would.”

  “Have you ever been kissed by a snake before, Uncle Cole?”

  Jax about spit out his cereal laughing.

  “What’s so funny, dad?”

  “Nothing, honey. Let’s let Uncle Cole answer.”

  “Well, Jasmine. I can’t say I have, but I can say that I kissed a snake.”

  “Really? Why did you do that?”

  “Team building.”

  “A team of snakes?”

  We all laughed.

  “No. We were training in Thailand with their special forces. Your dad was there too. The Thais demonstrated how to kiss a cobra. They asked for one volunteer from our SEAL team. For some reason I volunteered.”

  “Wow. Really?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And you kissed him.”

  “Somehow, yes. It took a long time and a lot of courage, but you are right. Eventually I realized I had to keep calm. The calmer I was the easier it was to get closer to the cobra.”

  “And you weren’t scared?”

  “I was terrified. At least at first.”

  “Wow. I’m going to tell everyone at school that.”

  “You might not have to, honey.”

  “Why dad?”

  “Cole.”

  “Jasmine, I’m going to come to your school today and give a presentation. About discipline, fitness, and making the right choices for you as an individual.”

  “You’re coming to school! Today?”

  “Yep.”

  “Cool! I can’t wait.”

  “Do you have Ms. Compton for math last period?”

  “No. I have math in the morning. And Ms. Compton isn’t my teacher for any subjects. I just met her for the first time in the parking lot during Parent’s Day.”

  “Ok. Well then, we won’t see each other. At least in the classroom. Maybe in the halls though or after school.”

  Jasmine laughed.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “So today dad will come to school to pick us both up.”

  I guess you’re right.

  “You’re like Billy Madison. Back to school.”

  “Very funny. Not like that, but yes, I’m going back to school today.”

  “Cool. I can’t wait.”

  “OK, team. Are we ready to head out?” Jax asked.

  “You bet.” I replied.

  “OK, we’re off.”

  We dropped Jasmine off at school and headed to the gym just in time to take the shipment. We laid out the mats and then headed back out for light bulbs and some simple sparring gloves we could find at the sporting good store in case anyone signed up that was a little more advanced.

  We stopped for a long lunch and caught up on old times from Thailand. Cobras, jungle militants, and beautiful beaches. All amazingly close to inebriated backpackers enjoying gap year travel and summer holidays. Hard to believe how close chaos was to paradise. After lunch we returned to the gym and put in all the lights.

  “That does it. We’re ready to go.”

  “We are. And now if you don’t mind can I get a ride to school?”

  “A ride? Brother, I’m going to sit in on this presentation. If it’s OK with you at least.”

  “That would be the best.”

  “Then let’s do this.”

  An urban handshake and a slaps on the shoulder and we were off.

  We arrived at the reception and I immediately noticed a familiar face. She stood and offered her hand.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Callahan. Nice to see you again.”

  “My pleasure. Last time I didn’t get your––”

  “Rebecca. Rebecca Rader.”

  “Pleasure to meet you, Miss Rader.”

  “All mine, Mr. Callahan. And sorry if I was a little rough around the edges last time.”

  “I didn’t even notice. Believe me, where I come from that qualifies as a warm welcome.”

  Rebecca laughed. “Miss Compton told me about your background. Very impressive.”

  “Thanks. Definitely some interesting times. Any time I didn’t have to kick down a door I felt like I was a VIP visitor.”

  Rebecca laughed again. “Well you’re definitely our VIP here at the school today. Everyone has been talking about your visit.”

  “Great. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone. Especially the students. It’s been awhile since I was their age and I want to see where they’re at. Emotionally, mentally, and of course physically.”

  “We have a lot of great kids. That’s for sure. But I think once they hear your story they’ll want to become even greater.”

  “I hope so and yes, I’m excited about the possibilities for the youth of our town.”

  Jax raised an eyebrow and gave me a curious look. Mouthing our town as a question.

  He was right. What was I doing? I was already claiming myself as a part of the community. Part of me said to slow down and earn that respect, but I’m not a patient person. If I can do something positive I want to do it immediately. That was definitely the case here.

  “As are we. So without further ado please allow me to show you to Miss Compton’s classroom. Right this way.”

  As we walked down the hallways each class seamed to suddenly come to a standstill. Two 6’5” men who had obviously spent too much time in the sun and a lot of time training their bodies are a start contrast to young kids no older than 12. We even caught the teachers staring. I had forgot what that feeling was like. When our SEAL teams entered a village the whole community stopped. Warriors in the ultimate sense. A team of warriors. An impressive sight to behold.

  As we arrived at Carissa’s classroom I saw her eyes move from the children to the doorway. The entire class turned in one uniform movement. Most had mouths open and looks of amazement in their eyes. I never needed any sort of attention in my life, but I had to admit the kids were really pumping me up. I was beyond excited to begin my presentation.

  Carissa nearly skipped to the door to great us.

  “Miss Compton. Your guests,” Rebecca announced.

  “Thank you, Miss Rader.”

  I turned just in time to see Rebecca give Carissa a wink and a grin. Good. Maybe the girls were already talking about us. If they’re excited about our visit it’s more likely the kids will be too.

  “Hello Gentlemen.”

  “Hello, Miss Compton.” I offered my hand and we shook. “This is Mr. Jax Justice. I hope you don’t mind, but I brought him along today. His background is similar to mine and he wants to help.”

  I could see Carissa doing the mental gymnastics. Justice. This must be Jasmine’s father. The man she mistook me for. I hadn’t thought of the weirdness this might bring, but maybe I should have. Of course I didn’t mean anything by it. She didn’t seem to mind at all.

  “Nice to meet you, Mr. Justice.”

  “Please to meet you, Miss Compton.”

  “Ok. Shall we begin?”

  “Definitely. We’re itching to get started.”

  Carissa motioned for us to go to the front of the room.

  “Will Jax be speaking as well?” She asked quietly.

  “Just observing. But I’m sure he might want to offer some help at some point.”