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“I think they’d listen and spread the word. That will keep everyone away from the school until the cops knock on their doors. These guys are likely wimps. It’s like Gemma said, they’re only he-men online. In real life, they’re couch potatoes. I wouldn’t be surprised if they go after Brad for setting them up.” He watched Simone’s face. “No one will really get hurt—not by our friends.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive, although I’m also positive that we’ll have to buy a couple of rounds at the clubhouse to make it up to the guys for making them play nice. When dealing with bad guys, they’d rather just knock on their doors, yank them off the porch, and beat the crap out of them. But if I ask, they’ll just get up in Brad’s face and growl menacingly.”
“Cool beans.”
They turned to see Gemma standing there. “Hey there, big ears,” Simone said. “I thought you were busy researching.”
She giggled. “Done! I already sent Rafe and Max the complete list of names and home addresses of the guys, along with their Twitter and Facebook names and email addresses.”
Max laughed. “Above and beyond the call of duty. Were you thinking maybe I should send them a newsletter?”
“No, but we can put their emails on some spam lists that will fill up their inboxes in about thirty seconds. It’s no big deal for them to undo, but it will keep them busy for a time and out of trouble.” Gemma’s dimple appeared when she grinned.
“I think we should wait and see how they respond to threats of physical harm before we unleash you on them, okay?” said Rafe.
The girl beamed with pride. “Okay.” She ducked into the kitchen, coming back with her computer and a soft drink. “I’ll go to my room and do my homework. I want to give you three the space and privacy to… talk.”
Simone shook her head. “That girl is rising to the occasion. I think she’s actually having fun.”
Rafe sipped his beer and thought. “You know how your training in martial arts helps you feel that the world isn’t spinning as far out of control as it looks at first glance?”
Simone laughed. “Yeah. Exactly like that.”
“She’s just had an important lesson—she learned that she can use her brains to level what probably seemed like a very unlevel playing field. Despite her bravado, I’m sure the guys seemed scary. Now she sees that a retreat, taking time to think, and then counterattacking can produce some satisfying results. It’s an important part of growing up that not enough kids get taught. And it opens the door for you to convince her about the total coolness of a self-defense class.”
“Coolness?”
“Well, you’ve probably suggested she take one, right?”
“Yes.”
“And what reason did you give? What logic makes the class a good idea?”
“That she can learn to defend herself, take care of herself.”
“And where is the coolness in that?” asked Max.
“How would you put it?” Simone asked frostily.
“I’d point out how cool it is that when some jerk tries to grab your wrist, if you’ve taken the class, you can easily dump his ass on the dirt, and everyone will laugh at him.”
“I guess I did approach it wrong. The loss of face thing wasn’t what I was thinking about at the time.”
“She’s already helped us use the computers in a couple of different ways to defend home and hearth. We haven’t attacked anyone but set up defenses. The fight isn’t over, but already she sees that there is no need to immediately try to inflict harm. She’s staying focused, and we know that’s where the fun is.”
Simone came close on the couch. “Okay, my philosopher biker… By the subterfuge of implication, she also made a salient, adult-type point that has nothing to do with all this.”
“Which is?”
“Are we going to sit here all evening and talk? I mean, upstairs there is a perfectly good bed waiting for us.”
Max nodded. “That is a good point.”
“Ah, you wanton woman, I think that is the best idea of the day.” Rafe grinned.
“From the mouths of babes.” Simone giggled when Max pinched her butt.
