Sniktch
First Post
Project Genesys
After the school bell rang, Jimmy Lee raced through the streets of Chinatown to get home, a wide grin pasted on his face. The last day of school was done, and now the summer was his. In his mind he made a list of everything he wanted to do with his vacation, and a minute later made decisions and revisions that another minute reversed. But first he needed to train for the city kung fu championship – he’d even the score with Eddy this time or he’d eat his shorts!
He bounded up the steps to the small apartment he shared with his mother. He had lived here with her for as long as he could remember. His father had disappeared when he was only two, and though sometimes he closed his eyes and tried to picture him, the image was never clear. He had tried talking to mother about him, but the discussion always made her sad, and Jimmy didn’t pursue it anymore.
His happy mood evaporated within moments of stepping in the door to the apartment. It was obvious from his mother’s expressions that something was… off.
“Mu? What’s wrong?” Jimmy ran a hair through his spiky black hair to get his bangs out of his eyes.
“Du zi, you have had visitors.” His mother nervously clenched a piece of paper in her hands, which she tremulously pushed towards him. “They wore black suits. They did not have patience to show courtesy to an elderly Chinese woman. Have you gotten into trouble, nan?”
“No, mu, I haven’t done anything. What did they want?”
“They wanted to speak with you. They left this, but you know my reading is not so good, and as I said, they did not have patience for an old Chinese woman and her questions.”
She pressed the paper into Jimmy’s hands and he began to read. It was a letter of acceptance, telling him he had been given a full scholarship to attend a summer martial arts academy and training camp. His brow furrowed, his mind was troubled. He had never heard of this academy, and he had certainly never applied for any scholarships or programs. Still, they were offering him a free ride; he decided he should at least check it out.
*****
A week later Jimmy climbed out of a Lincoln Towncar in Montana, wondering how he’d been talked into this. This place was in the middle of nowhere! It looked like he’d just given up his fun summer in San Francisco for insect bites and poison ivy.
And the ‘facility’ – what was up with that? He hadn’t really known what to expect, but not this. Instead of a dojo or even a building, the car was parked in front of a small mountain in the middle of Montana, with big double steel doors open wide in the side of the solid cliff face. Currently a small stream of young people moved through the doors in single file.
“What is this place?” he asked the man who had driven him here.
“You’ll find out soon enough. Later rather than sooner if you don’t take your place in line.”
“I think I changed my mind; I don’t want to go to summer training anymore. Can I just get dropped off back in San Francisco?”
“Sure, kid, if you can get someone to come get you. I’m not driving back that way.”
Jimmy sighed and his shoulders slumped. Whatever he’d gotten himself into, it seemed he was stuck. Might as well make the most of it.
He scanned the line and spotted a real hottie talking to a small group of guys who had gathered around her. She was fairly short, but very slender, and looked darn good in her tight pants and leather jacket. Best of all, her hair was dyed with purple streaks that ran through it. A punker; just his type. In fact, now that he looked, there were a lot of cute girls here! Maybe this trip wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Jimmy turned to speak but the man had disappeared. He shrugged, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and started whistling softly as he took a spot at the end of the line.
Next: Class is in session…
After the school bell rang, Jimmy Lee raced through the streets of Chinatown to get home, a wide grin pasted on his face. The last day of school was done, and now the summer was his. In his mind he made a list of everything he wanted to do with his vacation, and a minute later made decisions and revisions that another minute reversed. But first he needed to train for the city kung fu championship – he’d even the score with Eddy this time or he’d eat his shorts!
He bounded up the steps to the small apartment he shared with his mother. He had lived here with her for as long as he could remember. His father had disappeared when he was only two, and though sometimes he closed his eyes and tried to picture him, the image was never clear. He had tried talking to mother about him, but the discussion always made her sad, and Jimmy didn’t pursue it anymore.
His happy mood evaporated within moments of stepping in the door to the apartment. It was obvious from his mother’s expressions that something was… off.
“Mu? What’s wrong?” Jimmy ran a hair through his spiky black hair to get his bangs out of his eyes.
“Du zi, you have had visitors.” His mother nervously clenched a piece of paper in her hands, which she tremulously pushed towards him. “They wore black suits. They did not have patience to show courtesy to an elderly Chinese woman. Have you gotten into trouble, nan?”
“No, mu, I haven’t done anything. What did they want?”
“They wanted to speak with you. They left this, but you know my reading is not so good, and as I said, they did not have patience for an old Chinese woman and her questions.”
She pressed the paper into Jimmy’s hands and he began to read. It was a letter of acceptance, telling him he had been given a full scholarship to attend a summer martial arts academy and training camp. His brow furrowed, his mind was troubled. He had never heard of this academy, and he had certainly never applied for any scholarships or programs. Still, they were offering him a free ride; he decided he should at least check it out.
*****
A week later Jimmy climbed out of a Lincoln Towncar in Montana, wondering how he’d been talked into this. This place was in the middle of nowhere! It looked like he’d just given up his fun summer in San Francisco for insect bites and poison ivy.
And the ‘facility’ – what was up with that? He hadn’t really known what to expect, but not this. Instead of a dojo or even a building, the car was parked in front of a small mountain in the middle of Montana, with big double steel doors open wide in the side of the solid cliff face. Currently a small stream of young people moved through the doors in single file.
“What is this place?” he asked the man who had driven him here.
“You’ll find out soon enough. Later rather than sooner if you don’t take your place in line.”
“I think I changed my mind; I don’t want to go to summer training anymore. Can I just get dropped off back in San Francisco?”
“Sure, kid, if you can get someone to come get you. I’m not driving back that way.”
Jimmy sighed and his shoulders slumped. Whatever he’d gotten himself into, it seemed he was stuck. Might as well make the most of it.
He scanned the line and spotted a real hottie talking to a small group of guys who had gathered around her. She was fairly short, but very slender, and looked darn good in her tight pants and leather jacket. Best of all, her hair was dyed with purple streaks that ran through it. A punker; just his type. In fact, now that he looked, there were a lot of cute girls here! Maybe this trip wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Jimmy turned to speak but the man had disappeared. He shrugged, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and started whistling softly as he took a spot at the end of the line.
Next: Class is in session…