Chapter Two

Betzy – 8th Grade

Intervals to Ignore

They called her names. She fought with frozen frowns. The four boys in tenth grade whimpered home. She roared, "I beat their butts." As an eighth grader she strutted, swayed and swaggered. Warmth radiated throughout Betzy's body. Her heartbeat sprinted as it thumped. She jumped up and bumped hands with Bobby and Carl. Her face reddened along with a grin uncontained.

'Trouble,' a nickname, no one uttered in her presence except for Bobby Boy and Carl. A snarl flashed on her lips. Fists clinched firm and arms strutted her muscles. She walked away bruised, battered but not beaten. Her friends, Bobby and Carl, separated Betzy from the four assailants. The boys bawled at their defeat. Bobby bellowed, "There is no honor in fighting a girl." She glared at him then chuckled.

Bobby's Pappy and Betzy's Dad owned farms next to each other. She shook her fists and stated, "I start no scraps, but I win." Her laugh broadened while gazing at Bobby. Her pulse accelerated, and she fanned herself with a manila folder.

Bobby said, "You have already smashed them. Allow those boys to soak in their sorrow." His eyes twinkled while bouncing from foot to foot. He spoke louder and quicker. He scowled at the running boys and hugged Betzy.

Previously, growls surged from the four sophomores ready to cream a seventh grader for not giving them his money. Two dozen students formed a circle around them with their feet frozen to the floor, except for Betzy, Bobby jumped in front of one bully, puffed out his chest and said, "If you touch him, I will break your arms." Betzy smacked the tallest tormenter, knocked him down, thumped and then kicked him. Bobby and Carl's stayed unneeded, but all three of them damaged the intimidators' gang. The whipped teens gazed face down as tears trickled off their chins. They stumbled while the younger spectators shook their fists with snorts, chuckled as the extortioners meandered away. Bobby cupped his hands under Betzy's chin and proclaimed, "You are special." She sparkled as her expression soften and heartbeat quickened.

Senior Year, University – Bobby Boy

Bobby mumbled, "Does the Red Badge of Courage apply to me?" Words evaded him, and tremors controlled his movements. Perspiration poured from under the young man's forehead and silent screams smothered him. He murmured to himself, "Students protest, others abscond to Canada and the rest proclaim patriotic positions." His views varied, and every belief baffled him.

Facing a lineman 250 to 300 hundred pounds came easy. The linemen kept him safe. He deflected the rare one who made it through. Confidence expanded on the field. However, his future puzzled him

His legs trembled. Half his brain argued with the other half. Betzy, Carl and Bobby kicked and hit with fury during high school and college. His courage soared, but now the prospect wavered. The reality of his future balked.

His focus softened when Carl said, "Don't worry. We will make it." He aspired to appear brave which clashed with promising God he would be good if... He debated on whether to complete the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at the university and escape the draft. Bobby's Dad said, "Mr. Ralph Jones claims your name is on the list for the July induction after you graduate in May."

His shoulders sank. A notice required him to report to the hospital in Lexington for a physical. The day he read the note, his ROTC advisor said, "You need to complete the program and petition to transfer to the regular Air Force. You are too tall for pilot school. Choose Administration to keep you safe from going to Vietnam."

Carl said, "As your pal, I'll go with you."

The university offered a non-credit course in martial arts. It was free to ROTC students. Carl and Bobby good a kicking and hitting, but signed up for the course. Master Woo taught an ancient form of fighting pre-dating written history. He said, "Both of you are good at kicking and punching. There are many things you need to learn such as the pressure point on the shoulder near the neck. If you massage it, a pleasurable sensation will be the outcome. If you pinch, hit or kick the location it will cause a person to collapse. Usually it is not harmful. The time the person is out varies from seconds to a few minutes." Their lessons taught them to fall properly. They discovered a few kicks and pressure points.

They practiced what they were shown. Two assistants supported them in a gentle fall. They attended twenty sessions. Master Woo said, "You have acquired only a few procedures out of hundreds."

"Sorry, with graduation approaching and ROTC duties, we need time to study. What are the techniques called?"

"The Brothers of Fraternal Fear (FF.) All close combat and martial arts start, but several different disciplines."

When the time came for them to make the preference it had dwindled down to three choices. They took the recommendation of their ROTC advisor and chose Administration. It should keep them from being killed.

Bobby's mind and mood mellowed while his limbs loosened. A bounce bridled his bearing. Carl mimicked his actions. Tension dwindled. Smiles swelled their lips. Strange shudders seized their structure. A chill gusted, yet Bobby experienced sweating. His muscle stiffened and quivered. His face paled and speech stammered.

Carl recommended fluids such as oriental green tea and chicken soup. There was no theory or diagnosis to Bobby's problem.

The military doctor scribbled brief remarks and uttered "ah um" a dozen times. "Have you lost a lot of weight recently?"

"Perhaps twenty pounds. I have been taking a martial arts class at school and slimmed down."

"You may have flunked the physical by a quarter of a pound."