JASON STEED Absolutely Nothing (10 page)

“Dad, it’s me,” Jason replied puzzled.

“Hi, son, sorry. You sound so different. Have you got a cold?”

“Oh that, no. My voice broke.” Jason grinned.

“Well, I guess it has. You sound so grown up. You’ll be telling me you're shaving next.”

“No not quite, Dad. But I am growing hairs under my arms and certain places now.”

“Well, how is the Military Academy? Have you made new friends? What’s it like?”

“Sure is a sweet place, y’all. I like it here. Gonna get me some goddamn root beer later,” Jason said doing his best to speak like his roommate Tex.

Father and son spoke for over fifteen minutes. His father informed him he was lucky to catch him home. In a few hours he would be leaving to join his ship. After the phone call, Jason felt isolated and slightly homesick for a short while but soon had something to occupy him.

The second weekend something strange happened. The boys all walked to the local diner together. They sat at the bar with root beer floats, laughing and joking usually at each other’s expense. Jason looked at him self in the large mirror behind the bar. Behind him, he could see a man watching him. Every time Jason looked he noticed the man was staring. It made him feel uneasy. His senses picked up on it, making a tight knot in his stomach.

After the Root Beer float came the hot dogs and malted milk. Jason jumped down from his stool to use the rest room. As he got closer to the end of the diner, he could see his reflection in the highly polished chrome on the Jukebox. The man had got up and was following Jason. He felt uneasy, so he stopped and looked at the records on the Jukebox. The man passed behind him and went into the restroom. Jason decided he would wait and went back to join the others.

Fifteen minutes passed, and Jason attempted to go again. The same thing happened. The man watched him, got up, and followed him towards the restroom. It gave Jason the creeps so he gave up on the idea until he got back to the academy.

*

As he expected, Jason was by far the best in the karate class and was chosen to represent the Quentin Roosevelt Military Academy. It was the first time in the academies history that a first year student had ever been allowed to represent them, and he was told he would probably be the youngest and smallest in the games. He was allowed to choose three students who could also take the trip to US Marine Corps camp in California. He chose Tex, Yankee, and Cowboy; they were all thrilled to be going.

The students were packed in a cargo plane and flown the fifteen hundred miles to Camp Pendleton in California. They were housed in large tents with make shift beds. Jason was surprised how comfortable they were. He found the more time he spent in the United States with the military, the more he enjoyed it. The nickname ‘Limey’ still annoyed him, but he had to accept it and felt like part of the group.

The Games were set to start on Monday. In all, over twenty-two military academies across America had sent representatives. They took it very seriously. They were given strict orders. Most of the time they had to observe and support various competitions. They could eat what they wanted in the various makeshift mess halls. The US Marines provided the food. Jason enjoyed it. He noticed various television news crews also attended some of the events.

Jason, Tex, Cowboy, and Yankee walked inside the perimeter of the base after dinner. They were in uniform and noticed they were getting a lot of stares from others. There were hundreds of contestants and supporters. They couldn’t quite put their finger on what it was, but they were getting checked out by the others.

“What are they all staring at us for?” Tex asked.

“It’s you and your red hair.” Cowboy grinned.

“No it’s you, Cowboy. They haven’t seen many bow legged people.” Jason smiled.

“No it’s you, Limey, with your crazy blond hair and how you speak.” Yankee laughed. “Bloody barbaric Americans, I say. What, no hot tea, just coffee?” He scoffed trying to sound like Jason.

They all laughed together but they stopped short when a group of five cadets approached them. The group all looked aged around fourteen to sixteen. It was getting dark, and Jason couldn’t quite make out their academy on their uniform. The older cadets studied the younger boys. They looked at Tex. He recognized a few. One in particular was the lead cadet called Carver. Tex remembered him and that he was a bully.

Carver stepped forward. “Why, if it’s not Luttrell and his new Quentin Roosevelt Military Academy buddies. What are you doing here Luttrell? No way you're good enough to compete,” the youth said. Jason thought he sounded just like Tex.

“Oh hi guys. No, I’m just a spectator,” Tex said. The older Cadets were all from Fort Worth Military Academy in Texas., It was where he spent his first year before graduation top of his class and being sent to Quentin Roosevelt Academy.

Carver sidestepped towards Yankee. “So, you get to have your own slave at your posh academy, Luttrell?” He sneered, looking at Yankee.

“Hey, come on guys. No need for that. He’s one of us. His skin color has nothing to do with anything,” Tex argued.

Carver spat on his boot. He turned and grinned to his four friends before looking back at Yankee. “Hey, boy. See that on my boot? Get down and wipe it off.”

Yankee gulped. He had heard rumors that some people in the south were living in the past and racist but had never witnessed it first hand before. Sweat beads started to break on his black brow; he was unsure what to do.

“Guys, he’s one of us. He’s cool. He’s from New York. We call him Yankee.” Tex stuttered.

“Luttrell, unless you  want me to rub my boots on that red hair of yours, shut the hell up. I was talking to your boy here.” He looked again at Yankee. “Listen boy, I told you to get down and wipe that off my boot.”

Yankee paused. He took out a tissue from his pocket and knelt down to wipe his boot.

“Don’t you dare, Yankee. You’re wearing the uniform of the Quentin Roosevelt Military Academy. You don’t have to do that,” Cowboy said, stepping forward and facing Carver.

“I’m gonna have to teach you some manners, Pickaninny lover.” Carver hissed, throwing his fist and catching Cowboy on the side of his face. Cowboy was knocked down by the blow. Carver stepped forward to kick him, but Jason caught his arm and held him back. Carver glared at Jason.

“Who the hell do you think you are touching blond?” Carver shouted.

Jason pushed Carver back. “That’s enough. Let us pass we don’t want any trouble,” Jason said.

Carver and his fellow Cadets roared with laughter. “Luttrell, just who are you hanging with? a Pickaninny and an Australian with a death wish?”

Tex was unsure what to say. He and Yankee helped Cowboy off from the ground. Tex and the others knew Jason was best at the academy in karate, but had never seen him fight and doubted he could take on more than one or two. They were still out numbered.

“That’s Limey. He’s a Brit and representing our academy in the martial arts competition,” Tex said. He looked at Jason, not sure if he should have said it or not. He was concerned it may make matter worse. The reply brought more laughter. Carver moved forward to Jason.

“So blue eyes, you know Kung Fu?” Carver said as he waved his arms around. Eventually he tried to slap Jason’s face. Jason caught Carvers hand and twisted it, forcing Carver to fall to his knees.

“Let us pass, guys. We don’t want any trouble,” Jason pleaded. He released Carver, hoping he would back off.

Instead, Carver swung at Jason. This time Jason blocked it and returned a punch, catching Carvers face. Immediately, the other four older cadets attacked Jason. One threw a punch. It was a simple block. Another kicked at him, but Jason ducked and retaliated with a kick of his own, catching the youth in the stomach and sending him back several yards. Jason stepped back and took a breath. He looked at Tex, Cowboy, and Yankee.

“Come on, let’s get back to our quarters,” Jason said.

The four boys set off running as fast as they could but were chased by Carver and his fellow cadets. Tex ran between two buildings. The others followed, but it was blocked by the perimeter fence. They were trapped. Jason turned and noticed his pursuers had now increased in numbers. Three more from Fort Worth Academy had joined Carver and the others. Jason cursed; he looked at Tex, Yankee, and Cowboy.

“Stay back by the fence,” Jason said. He turned and faced his followers and stood in a fighting stance. “I have to warn you. I know martial arts and will use it. Back off and leave us alone. I will defend myself.”  He was unsure of the law in the United States. He knew in Great Britain if he ever used martial arts he had to warn people first, else it would be considered use of a weapon. Where Jason was concerned, that weapon could be deadly.

Carver ran towards Jason followed by the others. He swung his fists widely at Jason. each attempted strike was blocked. When another cadet came close, Jason hopped on one leg, span around, and kicked out, catching Carver and the other Cadet one after another. Carver was knocked to the ground. Three other cadets moved in towards Jason.

One stood in a fighting stance and threw a roundhouse kick towards Jason. The youth obviously knew some karate and was sure he could take down the smaller boy. Jason blocked the kick, dropped to his hands in a push-up position, span around, and swept the boys legs away. He fell in a heap, and before he could recover, Jason pounced on his chest, landing on his knee. He threw two fast punches at the boy's face. The second blow shattered the boy's nose.

Carver scooped up a large handful of gravel and dirt, then he tried to kick Jason, knowing the boy would block it. However, when Jason did block, Carver threw the dirt into Jason’s eyes. The grit immediately stung Jason’s eyes. They streamed with tears, and he frantically tried to rub then clean. Carver took his chance and punched Jason. He caught him just above his right eye, and then another cadet moved in as well. Together, they started to pummel the smaller boy.

Jason was temporarily blinded. His eyes felt like they were on fire. Punch after punch caught his face as he desperately tried to wipe his eyes. He thought back to his training in Hong Kong and what his mentor, Wong Tong, had always taught him. Jason forced his eyes open and ignored the pain. Instinctively, he blocked the punches. He induced an adrenaline rush into his body. He caught a fist. Whose it was Jason did not know or care. He was now in self-defence mode. His pupils dilated black as he concentrated to make out the shapes around him. He caught and twisted a fist coming towards him with one hand and struck down with his other hand, breaking the boys wrist. It was Carver. and he screamed out in pain, falling to his knees as he held his wrist.

Jason’s vision was blurred. He tried to make out the figures around him. As he kicked out at his attackers, he caught one cadet by the collar with his left hand and pulled him. As he did, his right fist catapulted from his body. Inches from impact, Jason threw his shoulder into the punch. The impact shattered three ribs. The injured youth went down like a trapdoor was opened beneath his feet. Jason leapt over the fallen cadet and Carver who was now sobbing on the ground holding his broken wrist. The cadet who had previously kicked Jason was now terrified. Jason elbowed the youth in the face, cracking his jaw and breaking three teeth.

It was now obvious that they needed to contain Jason. He was like a wild animal. His arms and legs shot out at his attackers. The more they tried to hurt him. The more they got hurt.

The commotion drew a large crowd. A Jeep pulled up and three military policemen jumped out, running towards the fight. They had no idea who was fighting who. They saw four cadets on the ground, some bleeding and some fighting. The first MP to arrive pulled two cadets back and threw the youths on the ground, trying to break up the fight. Jason had caught hold of a cadet and had him in an arm lock. He used his right leg to kick out at another attacker.

A second MP caught Jason’s collar and pulled him off the youth. Jason retaliated and threw the MP over his shoulder, pounced on him and punched the MP four times in the face. The third MP tried to help his colleague. He attempted to grab Jason, but his hand was blocked. Jason sprung to his feet and kicked the MP to the ground. While the MP fell to his knees, Jason span around and smashed the side of his foot into the MP’s face.

Cowboy ran towards Jason and shouted at him. “Jason stop! They’re MPs.” Jason sprung back to his feet and stood at an angle to Cowboy on his toes. He tried wiping his eyes to see clearer. Cowboy gingerly went towards him, “Don’t hit me, Jason. It’s me, come here.” Cowboy was a little nervous approaching him. He caught Jason’s arms and took him towards the side of a shed. He bent down and turned on a faucet. Jason knelt down and washed his head under the running water to clean the grit from his eyes.

A very large crowd had gathered. More MPs arrived along with three ambulances. Jason was taken to the military police station. He was shown into an interview room and locked in.