The room itself was pretty big—fifteen by twenty feet of open space with a sink and kitchenette cupboards along one wall. We had some mismatched chairs, a table and I had some plastic pamphlet holders on the wall near the window for all the brochures on subjects that affected these kids. I wasn’t sure if they ever took any—from the stock levels I could safely say not many were missing, but if anyone ever needed information on drug use, STDs, teen pregnancy or depression then they knew where they could get it.
Like every morning, I tidied up and restocked the kitchenette supplies. It was just cheap powdered chocolate, instant coffee and powdered milk. I paid for it out of my pocket every week, which didn’t cost a lot, but the kids that came in loved it. I’d bought a pile of old coffee mugs from the thrift shop and had a rule—you use it, you clean it.
And for a bunch of kids who didn’t respect much, they respected that.
The ages of the kids that came in ranged from six or seven up to eighteen and even adults. Weekends were busiest, but afterschool hours were busy too. I could also determine from the hours some kids came in, school was not on their to-do list.
All in all, I had about twenty familiar faces that I saw most days, another twenty on top of that maybe once a week or less. I ran self-defence classes a couple of times a week for kids who were interested, and had community nurses come and do talks on sex and drugs.
I helped them on the gym floor, and helped Boss out ordering stuff and organizing the day-to-day stuff. I was still on ‘light-duties’ because of my vertigo. Even though the episodes were getting fewer, learning to live with hearing in one ear was something I was still getting used to.
I found myself turning my head to the side when talking to people, so I could hear better. Large open spaces with a lot of people, particularly in the gym, were harder than in smaller rooms simply because noises seemed to get lost. Sometimes, like the other night with Kira, I’d find myself being startled by someone suddenly appearing on my right side, though most people at the club knew and were pretty good about it.
The kids had all thought me being deaf in one ear was lame, until they’d found out how it had happened. I hadn’t told them—maybe Cody or Jamaal had. It didn’t really matter. A group of them had asked me directly, with a lack of tact only kids have. “Is it true?” one of the older kids had asked. “Was it from getting your head smashed in a cage fight?”
“Yes, it was.”
“Did you save Arizona’s life?”
“Well, I guess I did,” I had answered. “But it was my fault he was in there with me.”
“Does it hurt?”
“Nope. I get dizzy sometimes, but that’s all.”
“From being deaf?”
“No. Damage to the inner ear causes balance issues,” I’d told them. “When I got hit, it messed up the inside of my ear.”
Claude—the young girl I’d told my shrink about—had looked at me with her head tilted. “Is you okay?” she’d asked, all concerned.
I’d smiled at her, and told her I was fine.
Claude, whose real name was Claudia, was also the one I was worried about. I mean, I worried about them all, including her brother Ruby, but her in particular.
The fact she, a small child, on her own—or sometimes with her brother who was only a few years older than her—walked off the streets of LA into a fight club at seven-thirty in the morning looking for something warm to drink was what concerned me. Like today, she walked into my office like she owned it, wearing the only clothes I’d ever seen her in.
“Hey, Claude,” I said with a smile.
“Hey, Matt,” she replied.
“No school today?”
She gave me a non-committal shrug for an answer as she made herself a hot chocolate. I’d asked about their family once before and she’d shut down on me so I knew not to push that subject. I wanted her and her brother to feel comfortable here—to have a place they felt welcome.
Instead of asking questions she didn’t want to answer, I picked up one end of the table and said, “Here, help me with this.”
She put down the mug she’d claimed as hers and picked up the other end of the table. It wasn’t heavy by any means, and even though she was only tiny, I treated her like I would any of the kids.
“Whatcha got on today?” she asked, walking back to collect her hot cocoa.
“A bit of a meeting with the other guys when they get here,” I said. Looking at my watch and seeing it was almost nine, I amended, “In about five or ten minutes, then I’m meeting with a lady from Hillvue community college, and then this afternoon I have some sessions with you and the others.”
Claude nodded. “Busy.”
“I try to be,” I told her. “I try and meet with another community venue at least once a week. I take this place very seriously, and I want them to take it seriously as well.”
“That’s pretty cool,” she said, before sipping her drink.
“You like having somewhere to hang out?”
“Yeah,” she said casually. “It’s cool here. I like it.”
“What exactly do you like about it?” I asked. “I mean, some feedback would be good. We’re gonna have a meeting shortly about what we can do to improve this place, so any suggestions would be great.”
“From me?”
“Sure. You come here, you do some training, you and Ruby use the facilities. Why not you?”
Claude’s face lit up. “Seriously?” She took another drink and thought for a long second. “Well, shit. I can’t think of anything.”
I considered chipping her about her language, but thought better of it. “Well, have a think and let me know later. I gotta grab these boys before they start lessons.” I walked to the door, leaving the young girl alone in my office. Before I walked out, I turned back to her. “Hey, Claude?”
“Yeah?”
“If you’re gonna stick around, can you finish sorting out those pamphlets and brochures for me?”
“Yeah, yeah.” She tried to act like it was no big deal, but there was a smile in her eyes that told me otherwise.
I grabbed Arizona, telling him about the meeting, and Cody and Jamaal as they walked in too. “Hey, guys. We need a minute,” I said, nodding towards the office.
“Sure, Matt,” Cody said. “Wassup?”
“Boss wants to see us.”
Jamaal groaned. “Well, this can’t be good.”
“Come on, it’s not that bad.” I led the way to Boss’ office. He was at his desk, looking at the same spreadsheets. Chewing on his lip and with furrowed eyebrows, he looked worried and nervous.
“Boys,” he said. “Come on in.”
The four of us filed in to what used to be Tressler’s office, but now belonged to Boss. “We got the financial reports for the first six months, and it doesn’t look good. We need some money.”
He had the tact of a wrecking ball.
Arizona, Cody and Jamaal all paled and it was a very concerned looking Arizona who spoke first, “What? Are we gonna lose our jobs?”
I stepped forward and put my hand up. “Whoa, stop. Jesus, Boss, you can’t say it like that.”
“It’s the truth, ain’t it?” the old guy said gruffly.
“Look, guys,” I said, facing my three workmates. “What Boss is saying is
kind
of true, but exaggerated. It’s not that bad. We’re doing okay, but we just need to tighten up where we can.” I looked at Arizona. “No one is losing their jobs, okay? We just need to think of some ways to increase the income for the club, that’s all.”
Then I clarified, for the benefit of everyone in the room, “When Boss asked me to take a look at the figures, it was my idea to bring you guys in on this. You’re a part of this business, so your input is important. Some ideas on how we can get some money, or increase our turnover and cash flow would be great.”
“What the hell do we know about runnin’ a business?” Cody asked.
“You’re on the floor with our clients every day, man,” I said. “Ask them what they like. What we’re doing right, what we’re doing wrong, what they want to see more of.”
“Well”—Cody scratched his head—“Tressler made money from hosting fights…”
Arizona looked around Jamaal and glared at Cody. “You lost your freakin’ mind, boy?”
Cody’s eyes widened and darted to mine. “No, no, I didn’t mean underground fights, man. That’s not what I meant.”
I gave him a smile. I know he didn’t mean anything by it. “Legal income. It can’t be illegal in any way, or the city will shut us down. And preferably an idea of something where no one nearly dies.”
“I meant real fights, like a tournament or something, that’s all I meant,” Cody said.
I nodded. “That could work. We’ll need more of a plan than just that though. Is that something you could work on, Cody? Get some ideas together?”
The young man nodded. “Suppose. Just ideas though, nothing too special.”
“Maybe we could set up a legit tournament or something,” Jamaal said. “Like a charity day or family day. I know that sounds kinda lame, but when I was a kid, I spent the holidays with my cousins and, in their town, they used to have these family days where they closed off the street and had these stalls and shit. It was so cool, for a kid, ya know. No one does that shit anymore.”
“I like the sound of it,” I said, smiling at his enthusiasm.
“What kind of insurances you think we got?” Boss cried. “We need to make money, not spend it.”
I looked to Boss. “We’ll look into it,” I told him. “I’ll make some phone calls and see what has to happen. But it could be real good, for us, the club and the kids, ya know?” I looked back at Jamaal. “That could really work.”
Arizona shook his head and smirked at me. “I’m gonna start callin’ you Mike fuckin’ Brady.”
I laughed. “Just as long as we don’t sing those songs we used to at camp, right? Like Kumbaya.”
The three men stared at me blankly, and I realised none of them would have ever gone to camp. “Never mind.”
Boss laughed behind me and clapped his hand on my back. “Different world here, Elliott. You don’t wanna hear this lot sing anyway. Probably a good thing you’re half deaf.”
I chuckled at him. “Yeah, small blessings, huh?” Then I turned to the other three. “Okay, so the plan is this—I’ll do some homework on having a community street day in conjunction with a tournament, and see just what’s involved. You guys talk to the customers, see what they’d like to have improved and have a think yourselves about where you want this place to go.”
Cody and Jamaal practically bounced with excitement as they walked out, and Arizona stayed back for a second. He was smiling. “You do realise you just rounded us up and gave out orders like you’re still a cop, right?”
Boss snorted, and I laughed. “Yeah, but the strategic planning and morale talks worked, yes?”
He held out his fist, which I bumped with mine. “Sure did.” Then he sighed. “Don’t know what I’ll do if this place shuts down.”
“That’s why we can’t let it get to that,” I said. “That’s why we’re acting now, so it doesn’t happen, okay?”
The big man nodded. “Just lemme know what you want me to do.”
“I will.”
He got to the door then stopped. “You know, if you want me to work later every day, and run classes in the evenings as well as weekends, any extra shifts, I’ll do it.”
I gave a nod. “We’ll see.” Then I looked at Boss. “That goes for me too. If we need someone to do extra shifts…”
“You’re supposed to be on light duties,” he said. “And you’re not even on our payroll.”
“All the more reason to use me,” I said. “And I’ll see my doctor about my limitations and see what I can do. I won’t push myself, but if I get the all clear…”
Boss sighed, and gave a nod as he sat back down at his desk. “All right.” Arizona left and when I got to the door, Boss called out, “Elliott?”
“Yes, Boss?”
“What you did back there, with the boys, was good. Arizona’s right. You’re good at organizing the team stuff and makin’ ’em feel good about the place… They look up to you. They were unsure to begin with, when they found out you was still a cop, but you’ve earned their respect by doin’ what you’re doin’.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t get a fat head or anything, you hear?” he said, back to his gruff self. “And don’t go tellin’ them I said somethin’ nice or they’ll all go expectin’ it.”
I bit the inside of my lip to stop from smiling. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
He grunted at me, which was my dismissal, so I went back out to my office and found Claude was still there. “Hey, my little assistant is still hard at work.”
She grinned and stood back from the wall of brochures. “I rearranged them for ya. I put the girl stuff on this side, and the boy stuff on this side, and put ’em to match by colour. I figure if they look different and we change ’em up once in a while, then people might take a second look, yeah? Might even pick one up.”
I held out my fist to her. She looked at it for a while before she bumped her fist to mine. “You are one very smart kid.”
She seemed proud of her work, or pleased with my compliment. I wasn’t sure which.
“Well,” I told her. “I’m gonna run through some defence programmes for you kids. Wanna help?”
Claude nodded eagerly. “Sure.”
I went over to my desk in the corner. “Pull up a chair.” I took out my folders and waited for my little assistant to get comfortable. “Right,” I said, pointing to the charts and database tables in my folder. “These show what week we’re up to, and which programme we’re on. Right now, we’re up to week seven, and see here?” I asked, pointing to the week seven column. “These are the moves I’ll be teaching this week.”
She glanced at the paper for a second then looked at me. “I didn’t think you put that much thought in it. I just thought some kids turned up and you got ’em to do stuff.”
I laughed. I loved the tact of kids. Brutal honesty. “There is a method to what I’m doing,” I said. “Each week we learn new things, and in a certain order. You know, like in
Karate Kid
—wax on, wax off.”
She stared at me blankly. “Huh?”
I chuckled. She’d obviously never seen that movie, the new or old version. “Well, it’s kinda like painting. If you wanted to paint a tree, it’d make sense to try and draw it first, yeah? To make sure it all looks right before you add the paint.”
“I guess.”
“Well, that’s what I’m doing. I’m teaching you how to draw before I’ll let you paint.”