I kneeled to take off my shoes and then, after taking out my cape and putting it in the cart, I ran to the shallows of the river. The kid looked at me from the shore, expecting an order from me.
-What you waiting for, kid?!
-Is the water part of the lesson?!-she yelled at me from where she was.
I gave her a mean look, asking her if she was being serious about it. "Just do what I tell you!" I yelled from the river.
The kid stared at me from afar, considering if she should get in the water or not. While she was thinking whether to get in or not, I started splashing water in her direction.
She started to insult me as I throwed water to her, but the moment some water hit her, she switched her insult for a high pitched scream.
I laughed as I heard her screaming. In response to my "water attack", the kid took a couple of steps back, giving me an angry look.
-Can you stop?! It's too cold!
-Huh?-I laughed as I launched another attack at her-What's the matter?
-I just told you it's too cold!
-Just come here for the lesson, will you?-I said-Oh, also, bring those 2 spears.
-Nope-she responded pouting.
-Please?
-Ugh, fine…-the kid told me with an annoyed face-. She looked at the spears and gave them a disgusted stare. She held them in the air and shouted at me-You call these spears?
-Do you want to eat or not?
She rolled her eyes at my question, taking off her shoes as she mumbled in a low voice.
After taking off her shoes, the kid stood up and pulled her pants up slightly. Then, she picked up the "spears" that I made and walked slowly towards me.
The kid found herself in front of the water after walking a few steps. She looked at me and blew a raspberry. After that, while holding her breath, she ran in my direction.
-You sure took your time.
-I'm okay, thank you for asking-she said sarcastically, her voice and body shivering because of the cold.
I snatched the spear that had my knife attached to it from her hand, and then began with the actual lesson. As I began talking, I put the wooden part of the spear against the floor of the river and stood like a caveman.
-Ok, so, first lesson…
-Right…-she encouraged me to keep going.
-Yeah, first lesson, the use of knives…
The words started to come out of my mouth as the lesson began. I explained to her that the lesson had to be divided in three parts if she wanted to fully understand it, so after she confirmed that she understood, I spoke again.
-Look, what do you think the three parts of the lesson might be?
-I don't know…-she said while moving both of her shoulders up.
As I heard her response, I held the spear by its shaft and hit the kid's head with the spear's heel. She fell down in the water due to the knockback of my attack, but after feeling the water on her clothes, she got back up quickly complaining about the cold.
-What… did you… do that… for?-she asked, shivering.
-I did that so you'd start using your head.-I threatened to hit her with the spear's heel again-Now, let me ask again, what do you think the three parts of the lesson might be.
-Ummm… -she stuttered and thought about the question before speaking, but as soon as she looked at my spear menacingly being held above her, she rushed to tell me an answer-Could they be the differences of each knife, what they do and… ummm… what they're made of?
I put down the spear and nodded with a smile. The kid's eyes shined as she saw me nodding, but after a few seconds, she felt my finger flicking her forehead.
-Wow, that was almost perfect.
-Was that flick really important?
-Yes,-I put my hand up, threatening to hit her again-and I suggest you don't doubt me anymore if you don't want another.
She shook her head while rolling her eyes back. I ignored her and kept going with the lesson.
-The lesson is divided in the basics, the use of knives and the importance of peace of mind.
-What does my mind have to do with me using a knife?
The kid saw as my spear's heel traveled back at her head as she finished making her question. A clear "Ouch" came out of her mouth as she tried not to lose balance. "Keep asking stuff like that and you won't have a mind for that lesson", I told her as I put the spear back where it was.
I kept going with the lesson, explaining each point carefully. There were some occasions where the kid wanted to add something to the lesson, but after watching my spear, she backed down each time.
-You got it?
-Yeah…
-Ok, then tell me, what are the basics for?
-The basics are… the basics to understand what knives are!-she answered with enthusiasm.
-Ok, good…(I think)-I said to myself as I spoke with her-So what are knives then?
-They're… Weapons? -she closed her eyes, expecting another attack on her head.
-Chill kid, I ain't gonna attack you… Not this time at least…
She sighed in relief, looking at me to ask what the real answer was.
-Well, knives are tools.
-Tools? Oh, yeah, now I remember-the kid said as soon as she recalled my explanation.
-Yeah, just like hammers or screwdrivers.
-Do people count as tools too?
I blinked twice as I heard the question she asked. My mind tried to look for the source of her question and after thinking for a brief moment, I remembered what I said: "A tool is something or someone you use to help you achieve your goal. Whether it is building a chair or surviving, if they help you achieve it, then they're tools."
"Well, that kinda depends" I answered to her as I realised that what I said could be misinterpreted. Yes, I did believe that people could be used as tools to achieve something, but after listening carefully to that statement, I realised how bad it sounded.
-So am I a tool?-she asked with an innocent tone.
-Are you useful?
She looked down in embarrassment as she heard my harsh response. Perhaps I was a bit too rude, but I could not waste the chance to make a joke like that.
-Look, don't think about it too much, let's just keep going with the lesson, ok?
The kid looked at me and nodded with resolve.
I held my spear with both of my hands and ordered her to do the same. I looked at the water and smiled the moment I saw a bank of fishes.
I noticed the fish going by during the lesson earlier, but I didn't pay much attention to them. However, after finishing the theoretical lesson and going for the practical one, I had to see where they were.
-Look, kid-I caught her attention while holding the spear up. The kid copied my stance as I remained silent, waiting for my prey to come close. Then, in the blink of an eye, I plunged the spear into the water, waiting for a few seconds before getting it out-Consider this the end of lesson 1.
The spear rose from the water, showing a blood stained fish in the tip. The kid let out a big "Woah" when she saw what I caught.
-Your turn kid…-I said while throwing the fish on the shore near our stuff.
-My turn?
-Yep-I said calmly while impaling another fish on my spear and walking towards the shore.
-But you already caught two…-she said as she started walking behind me-plus, what does this have to do with the lesson?
I threw the spear with the fish next to the one I caught before and then talked to the kid. Before saying anything to her, I flicked her forehead.
-Kid, the point of these lessons is teaching you how to be by yourself out there, right?
-I guess so?-she rubbed her forehead while talking to me.
-Then go back there and catch your food…-I told her before going back to the shore-Oh, and, just think of this as achieving your goal or something…
-What goal? Catching fish?
-Yeah! Just make catching your prey your goal!-I said while bowing, a condescending tone escaping my mouth as I walked towards our stuff.
My body plopped into the grass as soon as I got close enough to the shopping cart. The kid yelled to check if I was okay, so I turned around and gave her a thumb up with my left hand, which plopped into the floor too after giving that signal to the kid.
After moving around in the grass for a bit and finding a comfortable position, I put my hands under my head and started watching the kid. I looked at her trembling figure making many mistakes, but instead of correcting her, I remained silent and kept watching her.
A few minutes passed and she was still there without moving a muscle. There was a complete silence, only interrupted by the sound of the river and some birds.
Just as the silence started to bore me, I tried to yell at her in an attempt to make her move. However, just as I was about to do so, the kid moved her arm with strength, plunging her spear into the water and taking it out quickly, showing what she caught…