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Read the ongoing saga, drawn from real life, but fictionalized to protect the guilty, of high spirited Kuri, straight laced Thomas, and the All Knowing Camp Director as they work to take care of Sensei, and get a nap in before the next practice...
Most likely, everything would get taken care of on its own. That was the "Aiki Spirit" he rolled his eyes even as he thought this phrase. But Thomas would take care of the Zen pillows, and Kuri would remember the weapons. If Sensei's room contained broken glass, urine, and furniture all askew, then Billy Bob and Aneko would clean it all up before Sensei arrived. And every student knew to sweep the mat after practice.
But what if the mats stored in the barn in Santa Rosa had become infested with rats? What if Sensei caught a cold, and could not teach? WHat if the cafeteria ran out of food before the Aikido campers reached the front of the line? What if someone drove off the Golden Gate Bridge on the way to camp?
Kuri rested her head against the window, and while its cold hardness did refresh her in some way, and the steady rattle soothed her, the truck would bump and crack her on the head every few seconds. So she drew her posture up again --- she supposed this was good training.
"You never know what you are going to get with a rental truck." She said. Thomas tilted his head a little, but said nothing. He was Driving. He thought about calling into John to let him know they were now 15 miles south of The City. Kuri continued:
"Doesn't it alarm you that rental trucks have star emblazoned phrases painted on the door that say things like 'Air Conditioned' or 'All trucks have power steering?'..."
Thomas leaned well over to check the sighting on the driver side mir
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The Summer Camp Director had allowed himself to sleep until 8am, but laying there at 7:30, wondering if he had all the phone numbers, and having wondered the same thing for four hours, he decided he may as well get up. By now, Thomas and Kuri were supposed to have picked up the mats in Mountain View, and were headed towards The City.
When you attend an Aikido camp, you have plenty of worries. With Zen sittings that begin at 5am, and four hours of Aikido each day, it is all you can do to be sure your alarm clock is set, your Gi is clean, and you have eaten enough to sustain the training. But the worries carry a virtue: All other concerns are displaced.
The Summer Camp Director sat at the edge of the bed, while his wife muttered in the kitchen at the cats in her way and the children forgot to put the jam away oh my god it must have been yesterday look at these ants what a waste. The Summer Camp Director reached for the dresser, and stood up using as little of his back as possible. His wife came in muttering about all these Gis monopolizing the hooks for *our* *bathrobes* is your back alright honey?
The Summer Camp Director nodded. "I am" his voice croaked to a halt, then restarted "As a 4th degree black belt, I have learned that you can avoid throwing your back out when getting out of bed by assuming you already have done so."
"Are these gis crumpled on the floor clean or dirty?"
"And to think that six and a half foot tall muscle bound youths call me 'Mr. Sensei
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