Chapter 26

Feeling the need to talk some more as a relief valve, Peter said, “I took up karate to help me be able to balance on my surfboard better, and it taught me a lot of other really good things as well. The first one is this; tell the other person you don’t want to fight them. Then, if they start it anyway, you have your choices. First, you could duck, or run away. No shame in that. It’s called survival. And then—pretend you’re going to hit me, go ahead. You won’t get me.”

Lewis made an ineffectual jab at Peter’s stomach. Peter knelt down. “Try again,” he laughed, “right at my chin. And it doesn’t matter at all if you’re smaller than the other guy, either. Sometimes, that’s a big help.”

Lewis popped out his fist again and almost touched Peter’s chin this time. Then he found himself falling forward, slowly, but it really surprised him. He was being held up only by Peter’s arm now. “How did you do that?” he asked, as Peter stood him up again.