Throw Away Teen by Shannon Kennedy Page A

to take karate when they were girls. I paid for Evelyn’s other daughters to take it, too. I’ve suggested it for Sarah for quite some time, but her parents won’t allow it yet. As soon as Chance is old enough, she’ll take lessons.”
    While I agreed with him, I wasn’t about to let him know that, so I said, “I think you’re paranoid, Ted.”
    “ Yeah, well, that’s what people say about rabbits. They’re paranoid and coyotes still eat them. You gals aren’t that big. I know I can take care of anybody who hassles Liz, but I may not always be there to handle the perverts of the world for you, B.J. You’ve got to be able to kick tails yourself. So, I’m going to make sure you know how.”
    “ He should’ve asked if you wanted to learn.” Liz looked worried. “It’s a decision only you can make.”
    “ I already have,” Ted said. “I’ve decided and she’s going.”
    Liz still seemed concerned, but I was trying not to laugh at Ted. His overprotectiveness reminded me of Guard and the poodles. “Okay, Ted. I’ll learn karate, then I can beat people up. It’ll be cool.”
    “ All right.” Ted swiveled back around and stuck the key in the ignition. “Oh, but promise me you won’t start fights, just finish them.”
    “ No problem.” I buckled my seat belt. “Don’t worry, Liz. This will be totally cool. It’ll come in handy when I’m back on the streets.”
    “ As if I’ll let you go back there.” Liz gave me a stern look and then scowled at Ted. “But I want both of you to understand something. Once she has her black belt, that’s it. No more karate. She’ll need judo so she can throw out the garbage after she’s finished stomping it.”
    I choked back a gasp.
    Ted winked at me in the rear view mirror. Then he said, “Yes, dear.”
     
    ***
     
    I thought all karate guys were Asian, like in the movies. But when we walked into the school, a big white dude sat behind the desk. He stood up when we came in and walked around the desk to meet us. He wore a short white robe and what looked like pajama bottoms. Around his thick middle, he had a black belt with gold designs. Being bald, he looked almost as old as Ted, but I didn’t think the guy was much past fifty.
    “ This is B.J.,” Liz introduced us, “and this is Sensei Nichols.”
    “ That’s how we say teacher,” Sensei Nichols explained at my questioning look. “There are a lot of rules in karate and referring to your teacher as Sensei is one of them.”
    “ Of course, there are.” I muttered. After all, the center had rules. Every foster home I’d ever been kicked out of had rules. Ted and Liz had rules. There were even rules at church. So, why wouldn’t this karate dude have them, too? “What sort of rules?” I asked skeptically.
    Sensei Nichols pointed to the big room that opened off his office. “First, we call that the dojo. Before we go inside, you’ll need to take off your shoes. At the doorway, we bow.”
    “ Why?” I didn’t necessarily mind following rules, but I liked to know the reasons behind them before complying. It always got me in a lot of trouble at school and back at the center. But Sensei Nichols didn’t get mad. Instead, he explained that bowing was how to show respect for him and the school.
    While Liz filled out a bunch of forms, I was given my own set of white pajamas and a white belt. The outfit was called a gi and the belt was an obi. Sensei explained that the color of the obi corresponded with the student’s skill level, which went from white at the very bottom all the way up to black. He waved me toward the bathroom, which was right off the entry, and I went to change.
    The top didn’t close all the way, so I was grateful I’d put on a T-shirt that morning. I folded up my jeans and stuffed my rolled-up socks in my shoes. Then, I returned to the office where Ted and Liz waited.
    “ Shall we go have coffee, B.J.?” Liz asked me. “Or would you rather we stay and watch?”
    “ Go have