Truancy Origins Read Free Page A

behind him.
    â€œStill growing out that girl’s hair?” the second boy jeered.
    â€œThat would seem to be the case, wouldn’t it?” Zen replied, his glinting eyes surveying each one of them thoroughly.
    â€œThere’s three of us this time,” the third boy warned. “Think you can take all of us at once?”
    â€œProbably,” Zen said, his gaze coming to rest upon the first boy, who reflexively took a step back. “But the real question is ‘Are you brave enough to find out?’ ”
    There was a moment of silence, as all three of the bullies faced the same indecision that Umasi had experienced moments before. On one hand, Zen had made a challenge that couldn’t be ignored. On the other, each of them had experienced humiliating defeat at his hands before. But with them outnumbering him three to one, there was no way for them to back downwithout losing face. Almost simultaneously, the three boys reached the same decision and lunged forward from all sides, charging Zen with arms outstretched.
    Theirs would prove to be a very painful mistake.
    Zen shed his backpack and smoothly ducked the first boy’s assault from the left. He then stepped forward, bringing his fist arcing upwards into the boy’s belly, the whole motion taking less time than it took his backpack to hit the ground. The impact of the punch was tremendous, and the hapless boy made a noise halfway between a whimper and a wheeze, followed by a gurgling sound as Zen jabbed at his throat, cleanly tipping him backwards like a domino.
    Zen was still in motion and changing targets even as the first boy fell. Deftly seizing the second boy’s oncoming arm to deflect the blow, Zen grasped the boy’s shoulder and yanked, using the boy’s own momentum to send him crashing right into the brick wall. The last boy was more cautious, pausing a few feet in front of Zen before attempting an ungainly kick. Zen grabbed the boy’s leg and kicked the other out from under him. The boy, finding it suddenly impossible to stand, fell onto his back. Hard.
    Seeing that the first boy was showing signs of stirring, Zen seized the opportunity to deliver a swift kick to his ribs, insuring that he wouldn’t be reentering the fight anytime soon. By that time, however, the second boy had already risen from the ground, blood dripping from his nose. Letting out a roar of rage, the boy charged forwards, quickly but clumsily. Zen remained still until the last moment. Then he sidestepped, catching the boy’s leg with his foot and delivering a blow to the boy’s back with his elbow. The boy dropped to the ground face-first. This time he did not get up.
    By now the third boy had also risen, and attempted to attack Zen with a running kick while his back was turned. Hearing the boy’s footsteps, Zen gracefully spun aside, swinging his arm around in an arc as the boy’s leg lashed out. The boy was already unbalanced, and as Zen’s palm came into contact with the boy’s head, Zen was able to comically swat him aside. The boy fell sideways, landing humiliatingly in the sticky puddle of lemonade.
    â€œYou might want to dry that off before your next class,” Zen suggested as he passed by his soaked victim. “You know what the teachers say about bringing drinks into the classroom.”
    The dripping boy did not respond, but rather sputtered and swore loudly as he rolled over and out of the puddle before coming to a rest, his chest heaving. Meanwhile, Umasi found that he could do nothing but sit there as Zen approached him, the three groaning boys strewn over the ground behind him like fallen leaves. A sudden breeze kicked up, sending the actual leaves flying forward like confetti, the brilliant colors streaming all around Zen.
    In that moment, Umasi thought that it was the most impressive thing he had ever seen in his life.
    Zen wasn’t even breathing hard. He scooped up Umasi’s glasses, then