Chapter 69: The Daughter's Manumission, Part 3, Charlotte's Demo

MICHAEL

Leaning back again the wall of the gym, arms folded, I watch Charlotte's demonstration.

James, hands in pockets, watches too. "That's a lot of pink lycra," he comments.

"They're not just here to get fit and beautiful. They're here to be seen."

"Who by?"

"Each other."

"Mmmm...." He sucks in his cheeks.

Charlotte's volunteer is the husband of one of her class members. Plucked from the group of men waiting to collect their wives at the end of the class, facing her, he looks uneasy. The other husbands watch from the side-lines.

"This is a basic move you can use," she's saying. "It's easy to remember and it works with your instincts."

She cues her 'assailant' with a 'come-get-me' gesture. A bit uncertainly, he steps forward, arms outstretched, to be met by the heel of Charlotte's hand punching forward to his face. He lurches back, and if he had not been an innocent volunteer, would I'm sure, have been disabled by the follow-up kick towards his groin.

Some of the