The Daughter's Manumission

Michael

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 husbands flinch. Others turn away. A couple cross their legs.

“Looks like the classes are going well,” comments James.

“They are,” I say. “We’re booked up and there are more enquiries coming in. I’m having to bring new staff for it.”

He c***s a brow. “I thought you and Charlotte were handling it?”

“Well, yes, but Charlotte’s involvement was only ever supposed to be temporary, to get it up and running and to see if it worked as an idea.”

“So why can’t you run the classes?”

“I could, but most of the applicants are women and, well…. I’m not quite comfortable with it.” James eyes me, frowning. “It can be pretty physical, and you really can’t demonstrate to a woman how to escape an arm-lock, or how to deal with a man who’s trying to, let’s face it, commit rape, without um…. close contact.” His mouth twitches. “I don’t think it’s fair on Charlotte. I’d rather bring in a proper trainer.”

“I take your point. When are you planning this new trainer?”

“I’m inviting applications now. And I’ll be setting up interviews for a couple of weeks’ time.”

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