Girl Takes Up Her Sword by Jacques Antoine Page A

explain it? You know how we meditate in the dojo at the beginning of class? It’s kinda like that.”
    When she looked up, she saw the incomprehension written across all their faces. This was going to be more difficult than she thought.
    “Okay, so when I meditate with Sensei, if I really let go of everything, I find myself in this place inside, somewhere. I don’t really know where it is. But it’s always the same place. It’s like I’m walking through a shady grove, and then a sunny meadow. There’s a stream and a waterfall. When I’m in the meadow I feel my dad. His spirit is always there, waiting for me. It’s the peaceful place inside. In a fight, I try to find that place. It helps me focus.”
    “That’s beautiful,” said Andie.
    “There’s a cave behind the waterfall. When I enter it, the darkness envelops me, carries me down to the bottom of the world. I feel the way it loves me. Mom, it’s you. When I’m there, I feel you. When I fought Ba We in Kamchatka, that’s where I found the strength. You gave it to me, Mom. I couldn’t have done it without you. The two of you are always with me, deep inside.”
    “Oh, my beautiful girl,” Yuki gushed and put her arms around her.
    “How does Walker fit in?” asked Michael.
    “Well, when I got back, Sensei and I were meditating together, and I let him follow me in, you know, inside my meditation. I’m not sure if this makes any sense, but he was able to walk through the meadow, following after me. He saw the stream and the waterfall. But when he saw me, he said it was like looking at the sun, like it hurt just to look at me. When it was over, he was exhausted by the effort, which is a bit odd, since meditation is usually restful.”
    “Is that what Walker was doing?” Michael asked. “Was he inside your... I don’t know what to call it, your meditative dreamscape?”
    “Yeah. I think so.”
    “But you weren’t meditating when he was here, were you?”
    “No. But I’m sort of always partly in that meadow. It’s so comforting there.”
    “I don’t blame you,” Yuki said. “I wish I could see it with you.”
    “It’s not dangerous, is it, letting him in like that?” asked Andie.
    “I don’t know. But I can’t imagine trying to close it off. Openness to others is like the whole meaning of meditation. It’s really who I am.”
    “Could you see him?” asked Michael.
    “I’m not sure. I certainly felt him there. He’s a dark presence, sort of scaly. But I wasn’t really looking for him. I think the brightness must have been uncomfortable for him though. Maybe that’s why he stumbled.”
    When she stopped speaking, the room fell silent for a moment as the rest of them tried to digest what they’d just heard.
    “You know, there’s someone else I come across in the meadow. When Sensei’s here to train the kids, and we meditate together, I see Stone. He’s so happy to be there with me. I hear him giggling and playing. The light doesn’t seem to bother him. And sometimes it even feels like he’s speaking to me. He calls me Ama.”
    Yuki stared, wide-eyed, at her daughter. The look of astonishment gradually gave way to a mother’s affectionate gaze.
    “Ama.”
    She paused to let the name sink in, as if it struck some deep chord.
    “You are my perfect daughter. Maybe more than I ever understood. Have you told Sensei about this.”
    “Yeah, probably. But he doesn’t know who Stone is, don’t worry.”
    “I need to speak to him next time he’s here, maybe sooner.”
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Chapter 10
    The Valedictorians
    Monday morning, toward the end of World History, Emily was summoned to the Principal’s office. Her steps echoed through the empty halls. She’d been in this position before. “What now?” she thought. More videos? Another one of Amanda’s schemes? Or just more intrusive solicitude from the Assistant Principal, Mrs. Abernathy. If there had been a real crisis involving her family, Ethan would have texted her