ASHLEY ADAMS



It was Saturday and it was Community Day in the township that Ashley Adams lived in. In the municipal park in the township, local organizations, including the martial arts school where Ashley studied, took their turns on stage.

James Rielly, Ashley's boyfriend, was a little excited and a little nervous. He was not a karateka and he had only once participated in dojo activities. Today, he would help Ashley in the program that she and the others would put on.

After they drove to the business district, Ashley parked her 4X4 in the municipally owned parking lot. She and James picked up their gear and walked to the table that members of the dojo had set up.

"Good morning Sensei," smiled Ashley as she and James gave a polite rei.

"Good morning, Miss Adams. Good morning, Mr. Rielly," replied Sensei Robinson. "Mr. Rielly, Miss Adams told me you will be participating in part of today's demonstration."

"I'll do my best, sir," replied James.

James stood on the stage as Ashley prepared to begin her part of the demonstration. He held up a single board. He held it steady as Ashley drew back her fist.

"HAIA!!" shrieked Ashley. The wood yielded to her fist. Those in front of the stage cheered.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced, "we will break wood at the rate of twenty dollars per inch. All proceeds go to the poor." He pointed to a coffee can that would be used to hold the donations.

"Every twenty dollars, another board bites the dust," he smiled. "Miss Adams will now give another demonstration. Ready, Miss Adams?"

"Yes, Sensei," she smiled. She stepped up to the two cinder blocks with the board placed between them.

"HAIA!!" she shrieked. Her fist exploded downward.

The board yielded to Ashley's fist. The sections of it fell to the floor as the crowd cheered. Ashley then took a well-deserved break.

After lunch, Ashley was again on stage. She smashed another board.

Standing in front of the stage was John Vinci, owner of a Ford dealership and a sponsor of a Little League team. The children watched as Ashley smashed the board.

John Vinci thought about that. He saw an opportunity to do something for the poor of the community.

"Kids- wait here. I'll speak to the karate people."

John Vinci then walked over to Ashley, who was standing by the stage.

"Miss?" he began.

"Yes?" smiled Ashley.

"I understand you break boards at the rate of twenty dollars per inch," said John.

"That's one way we do it," she smiled.

"You made an impression on the kids on my Little League team," he said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a hundred-dollar bill.

"Do something spectacular and I'll throw it in the pot," John said.

"Hmmm," said Ashley. "How spectacular?"

"You'll think of something," smiled John Vinci.

Ashley turned to James and Sensei. There was a way to do something for those who were less fortunate than they were.

James and Sensei used several narrow sections of wood as spacers between five unbroken boards.

"Can you do it, Ashley?" asked James.

"I think so," she replied. "With the spacing, they'll each break one at a time. I've never tried it before, but I can do it."

He looked into her eyes and then he kissed her. "Do it, honey," he said.

"HAIA!!" screamed Ashley as her right fist plunged downward.

The five boards shattered. Ashley clenched her fists as she tilted her head back.

"YES!!" she shrieked, "I DID IT!!"

She opened her eyes and took a deep breath. She saw John drop the hundred-dollar bill into can.

It was late in the afternoon as Community Day ended. The sun was sinking in the west, tinting the sky red and orange.

The crowds were gone. Those organizations that had appeared in Community Day were packing up their displays.

Ashley was tired. She had demonstrated her martial arts techniques many times during the day. She was also a little concerned. Would James feel intimidated or lessened by her? It could not be easy for him, having almost no experience in the martial arts. It could not have been easy for him to watch her, his steady girlfriend, as she flawlessly performed her breaking techniques.

It had been one of life's triumphs when she had smashed her fist through the five boards. It had been kind for Mr. Vinci to be so generous. But would James understand and accept all of this?

"Do you want me to drive now?" James asked.

"Yes," she replied as they reached the vehicle. James opened the door on the right side of the vehicle. As Ashley began to step into the vehicle, James placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Ashley-" he began as he looked into her eyes. He was struck by how naturally pretty she was.

"Yes?" she began hesitantly.

"I'm so proud of you, honey," he said as he put his arms around her. "My beautiful, strong, wonderful Ashley, performing like that, who worked so hard today to raise money for people less fortunate than she is," he said. He kissed her.

"Thank you," she whispered. "James- I wasn't sure if you'd feel intimidated by it all- I mean, my karate, the performance-"

He looked into her eyes.

"Know what, Ashley? I think you are one super lady, especially for helping other people the way you did," he said.

"Now," he continued, "I think it's time that I took my beautiful blonde amazon to dinner." He kissed her again.

Ashley stepped up into the Jimmy and sat down in the passenger seat. James went to the driver's side of the vehicle. He seated himself closed the door. He cranked the engine over.

James put the transmission in drive and drove to the township's main street as he and Ashley headed out for dinner at the restaurant.