It had been almost three months since I last watched Angela walk up her sidewalk to her house and begin her recovery from her weeklong stay at her mother-n-law’s beach house. And I had finally gotten to the point where I had to contact her. I had to know if she had recovered, if she was still speaking to me, and if she had other plans. So, I did the safest thing I thought of, and emailed her. She responded an hour later inviting me to join her at a high school Karate Competition. Surprised, but pleased to hear from her, I agreed.

I found her in the bleachers, and looking back to her normal, hot self. She smiled when she saw me and motioned me to sit beside her.

“Why here?” I asked.

“To watch.”

“To watch what?” I asked again.

“My cousin’s daughter, Jenny. She’s in this tournament.”

“Oh, cool.” Turns out I had met Jenny’s mother, Barb, the cousin of my wife and Angela. And Barb was almost as hot as Angela. But she was even more dark-skinned than Angela or my wife, she had more of the Native-American blood in her.

Once I learned which team Jenny was on, I picked out the family resemblance immediately. She could have been Angela’s daughter. Tanned skin, long dark hair in a ponytail, and a blessed form for a sixteen year old. Angela smiled at me when she saw me staring at Jenny.

“Notice the family bloodline huh?”

“Yeah, she could be yours.” I responded.

Angela smiled at the comment. It was nice to see her smile again. One hour and ten minutes later, Jenny was up on the mat and stretching for her heat. Once she entered the circle, I looked at her opponent and noticed the size difference. Jenny was 5’4”, and maybe weighed 110 on a wet day. Her opponent stood 5’8”, and weighed at least 140.

“Why is she facing someone so much bigger?” I asked.

“Just watch.” Was all Angela said.

The match started and after about seven seconds, I watched, and saw why this fifteen year old was facing eighteen-year-old seniors in high school. Jenny’s opponent was on her back giving Jenny the first fall.

Once she was on her feet, Jenny engaged her again and two kicks to her side and one to her stomach and Jenny’s opponent was on her back a second time. If she hit the mat a third, it would be over. Sixteen seconds later, after Jenny got the girl to stop running away, she was on her belly, and declared the loser and Jenny the winner. After shaking her opponents hand, Jenny caught Angela’s eye and waved with a smile. Angela returned the happy look.

Angela then went on to explain that Jenny had been training since she was 8, and had developed rapidly through the years. Obviously, more rapidly than others her age. She was now competing at the highest level in high school, and winning. I asked if Barb was there, and she said no, she was out of town, Jenny was staying with Angela, and fortunately James was out of town again as well.

Jenny’s next match was 35 minutes later, and ended with the same result. Three falls to zero, Jenny declared the winner after 52 total seconds. Another smile and wave, and another victory. Jenny was now three wins from being the champion of her school district.

A half hour later, Jenny faced another tall girl. This one stood 5’9”, and weighed close to 155. She had dark hair and a pale complexion. She was also endowed in the chest area like Jenny, but wore a scowl, most likely an attempt to intimidate Jenny.

35 seconds into the first fall and Jenny’s opponent, Tina, was on her back. Tina slammed her fists on the mat and jumped quickly to her feet. The next time they tied up, they had secured each other’s hands and were in a strength standoff. But suddenly, Jenny jumped into the air and planted her right foot into Tina’s belly and knocked her backwards to the mat. Jenny led, 2-0. Tina looked to the stands for encouragement and got it from a loud woman who we couldn’t see. The third round started and the girls once again locked up. But this time, before they could bring their strength into the test, as the referee stepped behind Tina, Tina released Jenny’s right hand, reached around her head, and yanked back on Jenny’s ponytail. At the same time, Tina lunged her frame at Jenny and muscled her down to the mat for a point. But when Tina fell on top of Jenny, she brought a knee up and planted it in Jenny’s belly as they hit the mat. Jenny rolled onto her side, holding her stomach. Tina got up and cheered herself as she was awarded the point making it 2-1 Jenny.

The next round began once Jenny got back to her feet and stepped onto the mat. But Jenny’s face was now masked in anger. She wanted to knock this girl down and out. Tina swung a chop first at Jenny who blocked it and planted one of her own against Tina’s chest. Tina stumbled backwards, but caught herself before falling. Tina lunged again and started with a kick, but Jenny side stepped it and landed a kick of her own. Tina stumbled back again, but used her hands to keep herself from falling to the mat. When she got back up, Jenny charged again and aimed her foot for Tina’s chest again. But this time Tina side stepped her smaller opponent, wrapped her right arm around Jenny’s extended knee and planted an elbow right where Jenny’s thigh meets her waist, very close to an illegal hit. Jenny didn’t fall, but Tina soon reached out, placed her hand on Jenny’s face and pushed her backwards as she tripped Jenny’s one leg that was holding her up. And once again, Tina took advantage of her position and fell atop Jenny as they went to the mat. Jenny fell first giving Tina a second point. While on the mat, Tina sat up in a straddling position with Jenny under her and raised her arms to cheer herself again as a stunned and weakened Jenny lay beneath her.

Once both girls were standing again, the final round began. Tina saw what she thought was a weakened Jenny, but was quickly surprised to find a possum in waiting. As Tina approached, Jenny leapt into the air and landed a sweet heel to Tina’s chin, knocking her flat on her back. Whoever was in the stands for her, was now screaming her head off that Jenny had done an illegal kick. And she was right; you are not allowed to strike an opponent above the neck. The referee gave Jenny a warning and called for the match to resume, once Tina got up.

Several minutes later, Tina was standing and sneering at Jenny, who was now smiling. When the referee signaled the match to resume, it was Jenny who charged at Tina and landed several chops and kicks before Tina finally got her hands up to defend and grabbed a hold of Jenny’s uniform top. Jenny broke Tina’s hands away and thrust her palm into Tina’s chest. But when Tina fell from the hit, she reached towards Jenny again and pulled her belt, it came lose and her white karate jacket came open.

Once Tina hit the mat, Jenny’s teammates cheered for her victory. Jenny stood at Tina’s feet, staring down at the girl who had tried, illegally as well, to beat her, but had lost. And the fact that Jenny’s uniform top was partially pulled down her left shoulder revealing a tanned upper body and tight belly, covered only by a black sports bra, made Tina even more upset. Because the extended cheering came from the male section of the spectators on hand. In her loss, Tina kicked out in frustration and connected her heel against Jenny’s ankle. Jenny fell in a heap as it cracked from the blow. Jenny’s coach ran out onto the mat and immediately called for Tina’s disqualification from future matches. But Tina’s pleading that it was an accident, and her team’s status as the reigning champions persuaded the judges to call it an accident and continue with the event.

With no other family present, Angela went to the locker room to tend to Jenny and see if she needed anything. 30 minutes later, Angela came out and informed me that she thinks it’s broken, but their team medic says it could be a severe sprain or crack. But either way, Jenny was not done. They taped her ankle several times and she was now elevating it to keep down any swelling. Her next match would be in another 20 minutes.

The way this tournament worked, the four top girls in their class would face off for the title. It would be Jenny as the number one seed against Katie at Number four, and Jessica as the number two seed against Tina who fell to number 3 after her loss to Jenny. If Jenny and her teammate Jessica both won their next matches, both Katie and Tina would be eliminated and Jenny and Jessica would face for the Regional title. But as luck would have it, the match before Jenny and Katie was Tina and Jessica. And Tina used more illegal moves, unseen by the referee somehow, and defeated Jessica 3-1. Hair pulls and uniform jerks, and high kicks. One kick from Tina landed on Jessica’s ear. She was not awarded a point when Jessica fell, but just given a warning. Jessica never fully recovered and Tina advanced as Jessica was helped off the mat.

Jenny’s match with Katie was more of a struggle. Katie spoke to Jenny before the match and assured her that she would not strike at Jenny’s ankle. Jenny won the match 3-1 and Katie was true to her word. Jenny used her arm strength and quickness to out maneuver Katie and trip her down each time. The only time Jenny fell was when they had locked up and Katie struck the back of Jenny’s good foot and brought her down as well.

What worried Angela for Jenny’s final was that she needed her feet to beat Tina the first time. And the fact that Tina was bigger than all the other girls Jenny had faced, and had easily defeated Jessica, who had struggled against Katie, who had given Jenny a good match, worried Angela even more. Angela even went to Jenny and asked her to forfeit for her health. Jenny admitted that if she was facing Jessica or Katie, she might consider it, but she wanted to knock that trashy bitch out! Her words.

Angela came back to the stands and whispered to me, “This ought to be good.”

When Tina and Jenny stepped on to the mat to have the final, Jenny looked like a child compared to her opponent across the ring. Tina stood tall and arrogant. Jenny hobbled up on her bad ankle and took her place on the mat opposite Tina. Both girls raised their arms and waited the referee’s signal to start.

Once the female referee signaled the start, Tina put her hands down and began circling the mat, laughing at Jenny. Jenny moved to the center of the mat and kept her hands up in a defensive stance. But her injury made her hobble and look defenseless. Tina lunged at Jenny, but pulled back just as quick, just testing Jenny’s responses. Tina continued circling and lunged at Jenny again. She pulled back again and laughed at the way Jenny had jumped back. Tina circled again and lunged at Jenny a third time, but this time Jenny jumped back and loaded her energy. She lunged at Tina just before Tina pulled back and leaped into the air landing an uninjured foot into Tina’s chest just as she was leaning back. The force of the kick and Tina’s own movements backwards took her back and caused her to trip over her own feet and onto the mat. Jenny was up 1-0.

Tina pounded the mat as Jenny backed away, not wanting to be struck “accidentally” again. Tina got up and raised her arms at Jenny who resumed her defensive stance. Tina charged at Jenny who sidestepped the taller girl and struck her across the back. But Tina stayed on her feet. Tina came back at Jenny and led with a right foot at Jenny’s chest, but the quicker Jenny blocked that and thrust her right palm into Tina’s exposed thigh. Jenny held onto Tina’s right leg wither left hand and struck Tina in the chest and prepared to kick her vertical leg out from under her when Tina suddenly straightened up, reached up and grabbed Jenny’s jacket again and pulled them both backwards onto the mat. When Tina’s back hit first Jenny thought she had another point, but Tina used her free leg, and the grip Jenny had on her right leg to hoist Jenny up and over herself causing Jenny to flop over Tina and crash to the mat as well landing head to head with Tina.

Jenny caught her breath and tried to roll up but found her hair held to the mat. Suddenly Tina was upon her, holding Jenny’s hair down with one hand and bringing the rest of herself along side Jenny. Tina’s fist dove into Jenny’s belly as Tina yelled her attack. The referee immediately signaled a point for Tina and went to the scorer’s table to explain that Tina had used the mat as a tool and that since they were both down, she waited for the next strike. Since it came form Tina, she awarded her the point.

But while the referee was explaining her decision, Tina took advantage of her position and continued to hold Jenny’s hair to the mat as she positioned herself beside Jenny and trapped Jenny’s right arm under her body. She then “fell” over Jenny as her left knee pressed against Jenny’s right cheek, smashing her face against the mat, and her right knee came up and replaced her fist into Jenny’s belly. Tina used her weight to press into her smaller opponent, knocking the wind from her and causing great pain to her face as it was smashed against the mat with a knee pressing into her cheekbone. Once the referee finally turned back to the mat, Tina crawled cross the stunned Jenny and stood up on the other side. Fans and teammates were crying foul but the referee took it as cheering and booing. Tina stood and took in the little applause that came from her section as Jenny rolled away from her and crawled to the other side of the mat. The match was tied, 1-1.

Angela was fuming beside me.

The referee approached Jenny and asked if she wanted to continue, and Jenny nodded her head yes. As soon as Jenny stood, the referee signaled the match to resume. Tina quickly charged at Jenny and threw two sidekicks at her shoulder. Jenny blocked the first but not the quick second. Jenny stumbled sideways with her hurt ankle and tried to catch herself before she fell. But Tina continued her attack and lunged at the bent over Jenny, locked her arm around the back of Jenny’s neck and slammed her forearm across Jenny’s back. It appeared to us that Jenny’s legs gave out at that point, but Tina held her up in this reverse headlock. I was surprised it was legal. Tina slammed her forearm across Jenny’s back two more times, then she raised her knee into Jenny’s side three hard times before finally releasing Jenny to crumble to the mat. Tina was up 2-1.

As the referee awarded the point, Tina spoke to Jenny as she lay on the mat.

“Don’t get up or I’ll make you wish you were never born.”

“Screw you.” Jenny mumbled threw the pain in her side and back.

“You wish bitch. But get up and I’ll fuck you but good.” Tina finished before the referee turned around and gave Jenny a quick jab with her heel to Jenny’s side just as she was trying to roll over and get up. Once Jenny had finally gotten up, the referee called for the next round to begin.

Jenny seemed to barely get her arms up just as Tina made her final charge. Tina leapt into the air and flew at Jenny feet first, drop kick style. At the last second, Jenny went down face first, causing Tina to fly past her and tumble to the mat. With Tina so stunned that she fell and that she missed, Jenny turned back and quickly pounced on Tina with a flying chop to her chest and quickly, and shockingly gained a point to tie the match at 2-2.

Both girls got up for the fifth and final round. The winner would be the Regional Champion. Tina did not charge right away this time. But instead began circling again as she had before. Jenny stood her ground. Hobbling on one foot but both hands up in a defensive stance. Surprisingly it was Jenny who lashed out first. She threw a right-handed chop at Tina. But just as Tina went to deflect it, Jenny halted her chop midair and brought her left hand in the other side and connected with a side blow to Tina’s exposed ribs. Tina buckled to her side, but stayed on her feet. Jenny gave chase and sought to end this match but Tina kept backing away until she was off the mat and the referee paused the match. Both girls got back to the center of the mat and resumed. Now it was Jenny who was lunging at Tina and pulling back, judging Tina’s reflexes. The second time Jenny lunged, Tina lunged as well flailing about with chops and wild swings hoping to make contact with some part of Jenny’s body.

But Jenny had hoped for that and blocked each hit, and finally caught Tina’s fourth swing of her left hand with her own right, turned and yanked it over her shoulder in a body toss, hoping to bring Tina over her back and flipped onto the mat. But as Jenny was part way through the maneuver, Tina grabbed onto anything she could to keep herself from going over. Her nails dug into Jenny’s white jacket around her back and as she went over she pulled Jenny’s Karate Jacket up and onto her head. But the belt kept a hold and got snagged under Jenny’s chin. Her tanned upper body was now exposed, as well as her black sports bra, but her head and hair were lost on the inside of the jacket. Because the belt held taught, Jenny came tumbling to the mat with Tina and landed partially atop her and beside her with Jenny’s upper body landing near Tina’s waist. Before Jenny could break free of her jacket, Tina realized Jenny’s plight and immediately wrapped her legs around Jenny’s exposed stomach and squeezed with all she had. Since Jenny was unable to defend her body, Tina quickly rolled Jenny onto her stomach and planted her fist into Jenny’s kidney, receiving a cry of pain from the muffled mouth of Jenny. The referee blew the whistle and declared Tina the winner by the last fall and strike. As part of the crowd erupted and the other half cried out in protest, and while still sitting on Jenny’s back, Tina grabbed Jenny by the back of the head and slammed her face first into the mat and punched the back of her head twice as the crowd spilled onto the mat. We later learned, because our view was blocked, that while the coaches and trainers came onto the mat in protest and arguments, Tina maintained her dominant position on the trapped Jenny and reached around Jenny’s front and under her sports bra. Tina dug her nails into Jenny’s firm right breast and squeezed as Jenny’s cries went muffled by the jacket still wrapped around her head.

The mat was soon covered in teammates and fans. Unfortunately for Jenny, Tina’s supporters stood between Jenny’s teammates, and the spot on the mat where Jenny was still trapped under Tina. Seeing she had free reign, Tina rolled Jenny over and pushed her sports bra up to Jenny’s neck, made easy because her arms were up above her head still trapped in the jacket and belt. Tina dug her nails into both breasts and pulled and ripped at them as the crowd tussled amongst themselves no longer paying attention to the two girls involved in the match.

Angela realized that her cousin’s daughter was amid the riot, but on the wrong side. She pushed through the crowd but by the time she got there, Jenny and Tina were gone. Angela quickly scanned the gym and saw several of Tina’s teammates retreating into their locker room with smiles on their faces. Angela chased after them and found a pack of Tina’s teammates surrounding something in the locker room, yelling at the action. When Angela finally pushed through that crowd, she found Jenny being held by an older woman with long black hair, like Tina, and Tina standing in front of them raining punches into Jenny’s belly and topless chest. Jenny’s jacket had been discarded and she was now being held with her arms behind her back and her naked chest protruding forward as an easy target. Angela charged at Tina and pushed into the standing lockers, she turned and pulled the older woman’s hands from around Jenny and took Jenny into her arms. She looked at the older woman and her eyes went wide with shock.

It was Janice.

From Susan’s beach cottage. The last woman, with a man, that Angela had been forced to please before I came in. She had been the loud mouth we never saw because of the crowd. She had been the one screaming foul and protesting every time Jenny scored. And she was Tina’s mother.

Tina smiled when she saw Angela.

“I thought those little tits looked familiar. She your little whore daughter?” Janice asked with a sneer.

“No, she’s a cousin.” Angela growled.

“Still the same.” Janice rubbed her own crotch, smiled, and asked, “You want some more bitch?”

Angela’s eyes filled with tears as she grabbed Jenny securely, and pushed their way through the crowd that was gathering in the locker room.

Thirty minutes later we were heading out with Jenny in tow. Jenny looked as though she had been in a wreck, dazed and weak. Angela looked like her best friend had died. I looked about to see what in the world could have caused this. And then, across the parking lot I saw Tina, and her smiling Mother, Janice. And I knew.

Oh shit! And now they did too.