Free A Pretty Pill by Criss Copp Page B

shoulder to the door to the internal office.  Suddenly, I know she knows who I am, even if she’s never met me, because she’s grinning like a loon, and Cliff is my old Boxing instructor.
    “What?” a gruff voice calls back through the door that is only slightly ajar, so people can’t see in to their privacy.
    “I’ve got Benjamin Reynolds standing in front of me asking if he can start up a mixed martial arts class!” she shouts back with a huge grin.  Then she lowers her tone, “Hi Ben, I’m Kathy. I think you better get ready for a big reunion... he’s your biggest fan!”
    Obviously her day just got better, because she’s smiling an enormous smile.
    Cliff Redmond flies out the door of the internal office and reefs open the door to the admin section, before barrelling out into the foyer area to grip my hand and clap me hard on the shoulder.
    “God damn boy!”  He enthuses, shaking his head and grinning from ear to ear.
    I thought he was old when I was younger , and one would expect him to look even older still!  But he looks precisely the same... as wrinkly as an old leather boot.
    “Cliff .” I say, returning his handshake and grinning at my male role model from when I was a teen.
    “How’s your Mum?” he asks, leading me to the gym where his boxing ring a nd equipment is situated.
    “Not so good!”  I reply.
    “Yeah, I heard you didn’t sign on for this year’s UFC; they reported family reasons, so I guessed it would be your Mum.” He explains.
    “Yeah... she’s got t he Cancer!” I clarify.  “I’m here to help her through the end stages... she’s a fighter, so she wants to extend her visa here in this world!”  I say light-heartedly, but I feel the pinch.
    “Damn shame... she’s a fine woman!” he says.
    “She is!” I agree, looking around my surrounds.  I came here as a troubled teen without direction.  My Mum was beside herself with what to do with me, so between Cliff, Mark and Troy; I got my three disciplines of training, which lead me to fighting professionally.  I owed it to those guys, and to my Mum!
    “Troy gone?” I ask.
    “Yeah... he moved away.  Mark’s still here though, putting some lads through their paces; we’ve got some particularly talented ones, some of them may be as good as you were!” he chuckles.
    “Do you think there’s room for a class I can teach?”  I ask.
    “It won’t be a big class... but yeah, I can think of three young fellas that could be interested in you teaching an MMA class.  One of them will blow even you away.  He’s rough cut, but he’s skilled... he’s got something going on behind those eyes; when he’s in the zone, he’s scary!”  Cliff explains.  I give the man a look of wonderment. I’m surprised he would offer so much praise.  He was always a hardarse!
    “Going soft Cliff?” I ask , chuckling.
    “No!” he huffs... “I used to say the same for you... just not when you were around!” he smiles.
    We’re sitting on some chairs looking at the boxing ring.
    “When’s a good time?  I’ll need three days a week.” I explain.
    “Well as you know I do Boxing every afternoon, Monday to Friday, and on Saturday mornings.  But the boys you’re interested in take the same classes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  The most talented of the trio, Silas... he also does Muay Thai with Mark on Monday’s and Thursday’s.  The other two do Karate with a guy name Tony on Tuesday’s and Friday’s.  You’d be looking at a later slot, but these guys won’t fartarse you around!” he explains.
    I think about it for a bit ; Mum’s in bed by 8:00pm every night... she’s tired, her afternoon rest is really only a slumber, so by then she’s crashing hard.  I could say goodnight to her and be here by 8:30pm.  I’d like an hour and a half session, so at least I can warm up, even if the guys are already!  It should be good!
    “Do you think you can arrange something for me?  See if they’re interested,