Week 7 Part 1: Journey

     All Luther really wanted to do was to learn how to "get strong". Every other man in his family had proven themselves-- from kickboxing to MMA contracts, every man that Luther had ever encountered that was related to him had some connection to the world of physical strength and power.

            “I don’t know,” Henry pushed his glasses that were far too large for his small head closer towards his nose. “Didja see the ads in the school newspaper? A dojo’s coming to town!”

            “What the hell is a dojo?” Luther spat out the saliva that he’d been collecting in his mouth for some time. Uncle Larry and Uncle Dan both practiced that habit and they were both incredibly tough.

            “I don’t know. Martial arts or some shit. You should try it. I doubt those toothpick arms of yours could break through anything though.”

            Luther groaned. Toothpick arms. He was never going to grow out of that one. If he wanted to become strong he needed to have muscles—not anything like the scrawny bony toothpicks he possessed right now. Henry tossed him a copy of the school’s newspaper and grinned.

            Looking down towards the paper, Luther felt his stomach drop. $350 for a month’s worth of classes? That damned “dojo” better have been constructed with gold, and the teachers better be direct descendants of the Sengoku samurai themselves! There’s no way Luther would be able to ask his mom for her financial support. Money was already spread thin enough around the house, and besides, Luther already knew what she would say if he asked her about the lessons.

            “My dear Luther, you don’t need lessons like that! Violence isn’t the answer,” mom would chide him, “You’re perfect the way you are my sweet baby boy!”

            That thought only made Luther groan even more. Surely, he wasn’t the only young man out there wishing to increase his strength. Surely, he wasn’t the only one out there who wanted to only slightly improve himself.

            “Don’t feel too bad Luther,” Henry’s voice broke through Luther’s negative thoughts.

            “Who the hell has $350 laying around for dojo classes?!? It’s not like money just grows on trees around here!”

            Luther chuckled. Henry always seemed to know how to make light of a dreary situation. But still, Luther desired strength, and he knew taking those classes would get him there.

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