pegkerr | Karate: Going for it (Reply)

I took Fiona to karate tonight, with Delia in tow. They were doing pre-testing (although Fiona is not testing this month), so everyone was going through their form and self-defense demonstrations. When the class was over, and Fiona had bowed and come out of the classroom, she stopped and stared at the wall for a long moment, a faraway look on her face.

"What is it?" I said to her. I shook her shoulder. "It's time to go."

I saw her face change--an intake a breath, a set to her mouth. A suddenly adult look. Wow, I thought. She's growing up so fast. She looked to me and hoisted her sparring bag higher on her shoulder. "I've decided to go for it."

"Go for it?" I said blankly.

She nodded. "I'm going to go for the black belt." She wriggled, suddenly girlish again.
"Can we sign me up right now?"

I sighed. "Not right now. I have to talk with Daddy about where we will get the down payment from. We'll get you signed up within the week, though. Don't worry."

Delia said tonight that she misses karate. She is thinking, now, of coming back when her nine week ballet class is over. We will see.