AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"I am really sorry, Alex." Even though I want to make things better for Isabella I definitely don't want to end up in a fight with my new neighbor. I hate confrontation and feel uncomfortable standing here arguing with him. "I'm sorry," I say again and Isabella steps out from behind her dad. She wipes a tear off her cheek and looks up at me.
Her pain tears at my heart. I can't just leave this. I know I can help her.
"Isabella," I say, a little nervous about her dad's reaction, but not wanting her to go through this kind of hurt anymore, "Why don't you come around to my gym? Come and take part in one of my bully-proof classes. It is actually a lot of fun, and you will feel so much better if you just learn one or two…"
"Gabi." Alex's voice is deep with an underhanded warning to it. His eyes are piercing into me, and I cringe a little under his sharp gaze. "My daughter will not be joining your self-defense class. I just told you that she must learn to use her words."
Isabella speaks up. "But, Dad, I really want to go."
I ignore Alex, knowing I'm pushing my boundaries here, but unable to stop. Isabella clearly wants to try out one of the classes and I know it will be so good for her. "Isabella you are welcome any time. I actually know what you are going through. I grew up in a really tough neighborhood and the kids on our street bullied me a lot. Also, I have three older brothers who were always playing rough, and I had to learn to keep up. But I know what it is like to feel small and not feel strong enough, but I promise you are strong enough and you can overcome this. So just come to one class and see if you like it. If you don't, you never have to come back." I glance at her dad. His face is dead serious, and he is glaring at me.
"Dad, please. I really want to go."
Alex has his jaw clenched tightly and I look at him with a soft expression hoping he will agree. He looks down at his daughter and shakes his head. "Fine. Just one class. That is it."
He has said she can come, but looking at him, somehow, I doubt it will happen. I think he just said yes to stop me from trying anymore.
He looks so angry with me. I decide not to carry on with the conversation. I have offered the lesson and I guess we will just wait and see what happens.
I drop to my knees again and give Isabella a quick one-armed hug. "It will be ok, Isabella." I try and reassure her. She smiles at me. "It will be, after I go to your class." She says, smiling. I smile back at her - this girl is feisty and confident. She just needs to learn how to use it.
She would do well in my class. Knowing how to defend yourself does not mean you have to be violent. It just creates that reassurance in your own ability that other people can read in your body language.
I hate confrontation, but at least I know if I am in a difficult situation, I will be able to escape it. I smile at Isabella again and then stand and smile at Alex.
"Sorry, Alex. I didn't mean to cause any issues, but I do hope to see you guys there."
I give him my card with the details of my gym on it. He shoves it into his pocket, his face taunting and angry. He has not smiled once.
I think I have really upset him.
Feeling awkward, I say a quick goodbye and then move along with my morning walk.
I breathe a sigh of relief when he is far enough behind me not to hear me.
Over the next few days, I can feel that Alex is still angry at me, and I wonder what his problem is with a few self-defense classes. His poor kid is being bullied for crying out loud. Why would you not want to do anything you can to stop that?
During the next few days at work, with each class I teach, I keep an eye out for them, but of course, he does not come. It's really silly of him. This could really help Isabella. but I guess with the reaction he had at the park I'm holding onto false hope expecting them to walk through the doors into my gym.
Arriving at home one afternoon I see Alex in the driveway, and I smile and wave. He gives me a stiff nod in return, and I hold back from rolling my eyes at him. I guess I pissed him off more than I had originally thought. I will just keep being polite though and hopefully, this awkwardness will slide over.
I hope Isabella is doing ok. Maybe the bullying will stop, but I doubt it. I know what those kids can be like and usually once they have targeted a victim they see as being weak they stick at it for a long time.
It is Wednesday afternoon, and I'm in my kitchen washing the dishes with my blinds open so that I can look out onto the street. One neighbor is walking her dog, a cute Labrador puppy. Another is unloading groceries from the car. It is so peaceful here I am really loving it, even though I still feel a little out of place. Everyone has been quite friendly, welcoming me and waving when I drive past them.
Living this close to my fitness gym has also been so amazing. I am saving so much time with less travel and finding that I actually have more time to myself which is great because I get to spend time relaxing at home in my beautiful new place.
I prop the last washed plate into the drying rack next to the others and dry my hand on the dishcloth. While I am hanging the dishcloth back on the hook next to the window, I see Alex and Isabella arriving back from school. She gets out of the car and I see she is crying again. Oh no. I have to stop myself from running out there to talk to him again, even though I really want to.
Her dad comes around to her door and he looks angry. Again. He is talking to her the same way he was talking to her the first time I saw them together so I know what must have happened. She was bullied at school today. She is rubbing her eyes and trying to wipe the tears off her cheeks and his anger does not seem to be helping the situation at all. I know he is doing the best he can, just trying to look out for his daughter, but his 'no violence - use your words' method is clearly not working.
I think I do need to talk to him again, but he is still so angry with me he hardly greeted me since the incident at the park. I guess now is not the time.
I should just leave it all alone, but my heart will not let me let it go like that and I am trying to come up with a way to overcome his stubborn refusal to try a new method or a different approach. What can I say to him to convince him just to give it a try?
For the rest of the afternoon, I am going over different scenarios where I come up with some way to convince Alex to let his daughter come to one of the classes. In every scenario in my head though it leads to confrontation, and I really do not want to be in another situation like that with Alex.
I sigh, getting frustrated at his stubbornness; then suddenly I have an idea - a way to gently remind him that the classes are open, and he has an invite for Isabella to join anytime without even speaking to him at all.
