Serena grabbed a tissue and handed it to him. Zack wiped away Sonny’s tears and tenderly uttered, “Dunc is repairing your bike right now. Don’t worry, your bicycle will be okay. It’s just a small problem. Don’t cry. Sonny is a man. You can’t cry in the face of every tiny issue.
“We men should shed blood and not tears. Get it?”
Sonny whimpered. “But I feel hurt and want to cry.”
Zack asked affectionately, “Why do you feel hurt? Is it because your bike is broken? Did someone break it?”
“No. I let go and the bike turned.”
“So you were the cause of it. Why do you feel hurt? So your bike turned. You must remember not. to make the same mistake again. The dent on the bicycle is a minor issue. We, adults, can fix it for you. You don’t have to cry even if we can’t fix it though.
“We can always call a specialist to repair the bike if we can’t do it ourselves. They have the tools and technique, but in the event that the bicycle is beyond repair, we can just get a new one for you. There’s no need to cry. We must think of solutions when we experience problems instead of crying. Crying doesn’t solve anything. People will only think of you as weak to cry when running into problems.”
Serena said, “Babe, that’s too much for Sonny to take in.”
“Well, I still need to tell him. One day, he’ll get it.”
Liberty agreed with her brother–in–law. That was how she educated her son too.
She believed education should begin early and at home without putting it on pause because they were young.
“Alright, Sonny. Your bicycle is fixed,” said Duncan with a smile after putting Sonny’s ride back together.
Sonny cocked his head and looked at his bicycle. It was as good as new. The boy slipped out of Zack’s arms and checked out his bike with a beaming face. It was really repaired.
“Thank you, Dunc. You’re the best! You’re better than Dad!”
Sonny expressed his gratitude and even pointed out that Duncan was better than his father.
His dad could not even assemble the Lego bricks, but Dunc could build the Lego bricks and repair his bike.
Exuding softness in his expression, Duncan reached out to stroke Sonny’s head and confidently said, “I am better than your dad.”
Hank was no match for him.
“Uncle Zack, I can ride a bike. I’ll show you.”
Since Sonny wanted to perform for Zack, the latter dotingly said, “Okay. Show me.”
Sonny pushed his bicycle to an area and rode away as the adults watched him.
He did not get far and soon returned to where the adults were.
Zack took Sonny off the bike and praised the boy, “You’re amazing, Sonny! Do you want to learn.
to ride it better?”
“I do.”
“You can ride the bicycle better if you pick up the art of self–defense. Do you want to learn to fight?”
“I do.”
Zack carried Sonny to a man in black who was standing not too far away. As he was walking. Zack said, “Sonny, I got you an instructor to teach you to fight. You must listen to him and work hard.”
Everybody turned their attention to the stranger.
Serena said to her sister, “Zack mentioned he’ll get someone to teach Sonny to fight for himself. He can train and learn to protect himself.”
“That’s kind of Zack,”
Liberty was grateful.
Her brother–in–law did bring it up after what happened at the zoo.
Liberty believed boys should pick up a skill for self–defense.
Duncan jumped in. “You could’ve told me that Sonny wants to learn to fight. I can teach him.”
“Mr. Lewis, you’re busy with work. I wouldn’t want to bother you.”
Liberty thought to herself, ‘It must cost a lot to hire Duncan to be my son’s instructor. Sure, I have made some money now, but that doesn’t mean I can afford Duncan.”
Zack hired the son of the instructor who taught him, his brother, and his cousins. Although the son was not as skilled as their instructor, the man knew enough stuff to put Sonny in the right.
direction.
Reminded by his hefty workload, Duncan smiled without saying anything more.
“This is William Jr., the son of William Sr. who taught me, my brothers, and my cousins. He’s really good and has opened a few gyms of his own. A lot of people learn to fight from him.”
Zack introduced William to his sister–in–law.
Liberty said hello to William.
William was about Dunca’s age. He was a decent young man with a towering build. Although he looked stern, the man curled his lips when Liberty greeted him. “Hello, everybody.”
Zack put Sonny down.
William kneeled down, getting at Sonny’s eye level as he sized Sonny up. The man felt Sonny’s limbs and torso before telling Zack, “Mr. Zack, we can train your nephew young, and he’ll be able to take down a dozen people alone after years of training.
“But I doubt he can be the champion of the world.”
Zack answered, “We just want Sonny to learn to fight and protect himself, William. He doesn’t need to be famous for being the best. Just teach him to the best of your ability.”
The art of self–defense, for people in their circle, was merely for what it was called–self–defense.
There was no need to make a name for themselves in the world of fighting.
Many would take it up as a hobby or enjoy a class or two.
The York family hired the real deal to teach them to draw blood because of Grandma May’s wishes.
Zack mentioned that Serena’s skills were more than enough to take out girls or regular thugs.
However, Serena had no chance of surviving against a real professional.
William’s mind was at ease.
Instead of feeling flattered, William felt the pressure when Zack came asking for his help. William was concerned that Zack may ask for a lot, and that he would not be able to meet Zack’s demands.
William was not in the position to say no because the York boys had learned to fight from his father. That was why William came with Zack to meet with his future and youngest student.
Thank goodness Zack had no intention of letting the boy be famous in the fighting world. He could focus on guiding the young child in the art of self–defense.
Liberty immediately told her son to greet William Jr
“Hello, William.”
With Sonny greeting his instructor, William responded with a smile.
The boy may not have a real talent to learn to fight, but he was the cutest little thing. William had a good first impression of Sonny.
“Come in, William.”
Zack and Serena invited William into the house.
Taking Sonny by the hand, Liberty took strides into the house with Duncan.
“Are you getting your car this afternoon, Liberty?” Duncan asked in a seemingly casual way.
“Yes, I am.”
Liberty was all smiles talking about the car. Although she did not buy a luxury car, it was the first vehicle she bought for herself.
Liberty was over the moon.
“I have nothing to do this afternoon, so I’ll go with you.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.