The Lesson: A Wooden Whack A Short Story The day was hot and dusty, and the orange sun beat down upon our sweaty heads. Hair whirled, limbs twirled, and swords clashed as the fighters danced at each other, some wielding their weapons expertly, knowing exactly where to strike while being blocked again and again by those who also knew exactly where the sword was going. Others... Well they would just vaguely and shakily wave their wooden training weapons and hope to hit something important. I was standing in my own personal ring with another youngling, around five years younger than me. Bethany was a larger girl, tall and thinly muscled, and she looked like she could beat me into the ground with one of her big fists. I had been trying to caution her about leaving her left side open, but with me being smaller and less bulky, she assumed that naturally since she was bigger, she was always right and absolutely refused to heed my warning. We went at it again, and she came at me, waving her heavy oak sword like a toothpick. There it was again! She had left her ribcage wide open. Acting on a whim, I slammed her side with the flat of my blade. I could hear the breath whoosh out of her lungs as she tumbled to the side, sending up little clouds of dust as she fell. Once she sucked in some air she screeched, "You're supposed to be teaching me, not breaking my bones!" The rings around us went silent as everyone stopped to stare at me. As I heard the jangle of spurs, I froze. They weren't staring AT me, they were staring BEHIND me! I heard the light footsteps and jangle of spurs as women walked into my line of vision. She wore a crisp red blouse covered by an intricate breast plate, and a chain link skirt. Her dark crimson leggings were tucked neatly into dark leather riding boots with shining spurs. It was General Irin Roe-Mel. I managed a shaky bow as she nodded at the two of us, and as Bethany opened her mouth to began yelling, Roe-Mel began to laugh. "Sometimes those kids need a little boot up the ass from reality eh?" she said as she smiled and amused understanding shined in her eyes. "Well what are you all starin' at?" She growled glaring around at the rest of the frozen fighters. "Git to practicing!"