"Someone named Mia uploaded it last night. It already has thousands of views. " Erica snatched the phone, her expression darkening as she watched. "Damage control," she muttered. "We need immediate damage control. " Rick looked at the video, then at Thelma. "That's not damage.
That's beautiful. " Outside in the main dojo area, most students had left, but Mia, Josh, and a few others remained, huddled together and speaking in excited whispers. "I can't believe I've been training with a legend," one of the younger students was saying. "My dad is going to freak out. " "How did none of us see it? " another asked. "I mean, looking back, there were signs. " Josh remained quiet, lost in thought. When his phone buzzed, he checked it and frowned.
"It's my dad. " "He saw me as video and wants me to come home immediately. " Mia touched his arm. "Are you okay? He sounded pretty intense last time you mentioned him. " "I'll be fine," Josh said, though his expression suggested otherwise. "He's probably just shocked. " As Josh left, Tyler approached the group, his earlier bravado replaced by sullen confusion. "This doesn't make any sense.
If she's some champion, why slum it here with us? Why pretend to be bad? " "Maybe she had her reasons," Mia replied. "Not everything is about you, Tyler. " Tyler's face flushed. "You've been team grandma from the start. I bet you knew about this. " "I suspected," Mia admitted.
"But I didn't know for sure until today. " "Traitor," Tyler muttered. But there was less conviction in his voice than usual. That evening, Josh arrived home to find his father waiting in the living room, laptop open on the coffee table. Alan Wilson was a broad-shouldered man with calloused hands and a perpetual scowl. The video of Thelma was paused on the screen.
"Do you know who that is? " Alan demanded without preamble. Josh nodded. "Thelma Gardner. She trains at my dojo. " "Thunderhand Gardner," Alan corrected. "The woman who beat Hiroshi Kojima in '73, the only American to win at the Tanaka Invitational. " His voice held a mixture of awe and bitterness.
"I watched her fights when I was training. She moved like nothing I'd ever seen. " He turned to Josh, his expression intense. "This woman has been at your dojo training with you? Well, not exactly, Josh admitted. She was pretending to be a beginner.
No one knew until today. Alan slammed his fist on the table. And you didn't recognize greatness when it was right in front of you? I raised an idiot. Josh flinched at his father's outburst but stood his ground.
How could I know? She was hiding who she was. A true martial artist sees beyond the surface, Alan growled. I want you training with her, whatever it takes. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.