TGoaW-43

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==Chapter 43 - The Glow of a Worm inside a Child's Eye==
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In 3049...
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...Elizabeth Ngo is twelve. She's sitting in the bleachers at Groningen Junior Military Academy, not as a student, but as a family member. Her brother Henry is in the ring down below, fighting for the Coventry Province scholastic intramural kickboxing championship (Grade 12). She's here without their parents, and she's doing her level best to be heard cheering her brother on over the crowds, which includes parents and students from half the private schools in the Commonwealth.
Safety equipment and rules prevents Henry from using the more exotic and esoteric takedown methods he's mastered-this match must be won on points.
Let's take a moment to examine seventeen year old Henry Ngo. He's physically fit, in a wiry, almost 'hidden muscle' way that comes from refined, focused exercise and practice. At 1.7 meters, he's on the low side of average height, if he let his hair grow out past the buzz-cut it would be brown, and curly, and it would contrast hard with his asiatic eyes, which are hazel.
He moves through his match like a wraith-bypassing his opponent (Liam McClusky, age 18, 1.93 Meters tall, and heavily muscled, with nearly 20 Kilos on the smaller fighter.) like smoke, delivering blows with surgical precision while the larger boy lashes out with too-powerful blows that barely miss.
As Elizabeth screams encouragement from the bleachers, the bout approaches its end, and Liam lands a left, knocking Henry to the floor, but not in a sprawl. The Ngo boy rides the blow down and rolls to his feet, with a left-right shuffle, he's back at it-this time moving a little faster, a little more viciously.
Blows to numb and imbalance, understepping each punch, sidestepping kicks, Ngo closes, delivering a flurry of body-blows to distract his opponent, before delivering a complex kick that takes the larger boy's feet out from under him with a slamming sound.
"You okay, Liam?"
"Aye, Fu...that's new!"
Henry reaches down, and helps his larger opponent to his feet. "Yeah. Good hit with that left."
"Not good enough-you didn't stay down."
"We're wearing pads so I don't HAVE to..." the bell rings, the referee approaches, grasps Henry's gloved hand and raises it.
Henry grabs Liam's hand, and raises it. "Good fight, Man!" He tells Liam.
This is who Elizabeth's brother is in this moment. His character, if you might say.
"Who's that up there holding a two meter sign, Hank??" Liam asks.
Henry nods, "That, is my little sister." he asserts.
"Duuude...I don't think you could get MY sister to show up for a bout with a chainfall...she's older than me, and if it's not fashion related she's not interested."
"Well, I'm lucky I guess. You coming to the after party?"
"Sure, I guess...if I'm invited."
"bring your friends, I'm not going to drink all that beer and eat all that beef I bought by myself." Henry tells him.
"It's a deal."
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Springtime on Coventry is a wonderful season, and in the acre of vacant lot Henry Ngo bought officially as an investment (but it's not really-he just wanted a party without having to reassure some landlord) there's a fire pit dug (850 Kroner paid to Simmonsen's construction for a day of labor) it's cooking half a side of beef, and has been since the start of the tournament three days ago.
A cargo truck, two sawhorses, and six case-flats of soda and one of beer are arranged in a sort-of-bar, with picnic tables arranged to create an open area, and here, the Student Athletes, and their guests, are gathered.
It's not the social event of the year, except to the people who accepted Henry's invitation to the after-graduation party.
A few parents are here too, moving in an 'out of place' sort of manner, watching to assure their children don't get up to something they truly shouldn't.
It's an outdoor party, and someone always brings music, just like someone always shows up who's underage. In this case, the Host's little sister, Elizabeth, is the first underage interloper...but not the last.
There are plenty of adults to supervise though.
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