Dr Jew

ready."
    "Good. You busy right now?"
    "I 'm here, ain't I?"
    We left his house and drove across town to this martial arts place. The one where the kid trained. The evening class was letting out and a few people were still practicing. It was easy to spot the kid. Just look for the tallest one. In any crowd.
    "Swan," said Dave.
    The kid turned and jogged across the room.
    "Hey, Uncle Dave."
    "How'd class go?"
    "Good!"
    The kid was Pollyanna, I swear.
    "Glad to hear it," said Dave. "Got a friend here you may remember."
    "Oh yeah, I remember. He's Vinny."
    "That I am," I said. "Good to see you, kid. Your uncle's been telling me all about you. Quite the scrapper you're aiming to be."
    "Scrapper?" said Swan.
    "Swan, after your class Tuesday I'm not gonna be able to pick you up," said Dave. "I asked Vinny if he could and it's all right. He'll be here around five."
    "Oh, okay," said Swan. "Hey, how… uh…"
    "How can I drive a car?" I said. It was a common question that people liked to hint at and never ask me directly. Like so many questions.
    "Well… yeah," said Swan.
    "I have my ways. I manage."
    Dave gave me a ride home, and it seemed a good start to this business. A lot of things to follow up on.

XV.

    When we got home Aunt Anne warmed up the turkey dinner they had and it was so yummy. I couldn't believe it wasn't Thanksgiving… the food tasted so good! After a few hours of jiu-jitsu I was worn out so it was good to come home and sink my teeth into something. But there was something bothering me. Uncle Dave was upstairs, so I asked Aunt Anne.
    "Aunt Anne?"
    "Yes?"
    "When am I gonna go back to Mississippi? I been here a week now and I miss my mom."
    "I… know, Swan. You'll have to ask your uncle about that."
    And that 's when he walked in like on a TV show, Uncle Dave, right on cue.
    "Speak of the devil," said Aunt Anne.
    "That's what they call me, woman," said Uncle Dave.
    "Uncle Dave – when am I gonna go back to Mississippi?"
    "Why?" he said. "Ain't you having a good time here? Ain't we treating you right and feeding you well?"
    "Sure you are," I said. "But I gotta get back to ma and find out how she's doing. Who knows what's happened since I left?"
    "Well just stop your wondering right now, because I wrote your ma a letter voicing these very concerns of yours – my concerns as well – and I have no doubt she 'll be writing you back before you can blink your eyes. Then we can all learn what's going on. Because I'm as curious as you are. She's your mother, but she's my big sister."
    "Oh, that 's great!" I said. Then I got to thinking, and said, "But can't we call the hospital?"
    "I already thought of that, boy, and guess what? She is out of the hospital and back home. And both you and I know she don't go in for none of them telephones, so we'll have to wait till we get a letter from her. So put on your patience shoes."
    "I don 't have any patience shoes," I said.
    "Then you better get some."

XVI.

    A few nights later I was at the dojo and Ueda Sensei was showing me a new grip. I enjoyed jiu-jitsu. Class was over and I managed to pin him.
    "Okay, let go," he said.
    I did.
    "You are learning fast, Swan," he said.
    "Thanks."
    "And who is that little man staring at you?" he said.
    I looked behind me and there was Vinny. I had forgotten he was picking me up.
    "Oh, that 's my friend Vinny," I said.
    "Your friend?" said Ueda. "He radiates a foul aura. Be careful with him."
    "What do you mean?"
    "Nothing. Keep practicing till your next class. I need to prepare for the evening class. I'll see you."
    Ue da Sensei went to the office.
    "I 'll only need a minute to change, Vinny," I said.
    "I 'll start the car, kid."
    When I got outside I looked around and it was easy to find Vinny. His car was pretty, maybe even nicer than Uncle Dave's.
    "Where are we going?" I said.
    "Wait and see," he said.
    And how he did drive that car. The pedals were bigger than they are on a regular car – they were like giant bricks - and his seat was higher than mine. We drove down 19th Avenue for a while and then turned off and headed out toward the ocean. We arrived at some cliffs that looked down on the sea. The sun was still up but about to set. There were men flying around in hang gliders like I'd seen on TV once but never up close in person. They looped around near the cliffs and came right up near us so we could almost touch 'em. There were also dogs running around those cliffs.
    "I wonder if the dogs ever run off the edge," I said.
    "I