Sumo No Mo P14

Once Cole and his father left Dr. Borge's lab, they hopped back on the bus to make there way back to the old family hut. Cole spent the night there until the next day. After a nice breakfast together, Cole and his father said their goodbyes and parted ways.

Cole was taking a long slow walk on a dirt pathway, he had a lot on his mind. Suddenly he heard a sound of someone struggling. It sounded like a kid in trouble, Cole raced out of the path to follow the sound.  As Cole got closer, the sound of struggles grew louder along with sounds of banging and punching. Cole ran even faster but was stopped when he saw a huge punching bag flying over his head. It made a loud thud when finally hit the ground.

Cole saw that the punching bag flew over from a tall brown wooden fence. As he climbed up and peaked over the fence,  he saw a short yet very rotun boy hitting another punching bag. The boy kept punching the bag so hard that it, too went flying over the fence. A loud thud was made over the distant.  "URRRRGGH! NOT AGAIN" !!! The boy yelled angrily, stomping around the ground until he sat down with his arms folded.

The boy sighed in frustration, a single tear was leaking from one side if his eye. Until *THUD!* his punching bag fell right in front of him. The boy looked around to see where it came from. "Hey, Kid!" The boy looked up and saw Cole carrying the other punching bag on his left shoulder. "I think you lost these." He smirked.

The boy was a little confused, but he still picked up his punching bag off the ground and went to shake Cole's hand. "Uh, thanks mister."

Cole was amazed by how strong this young kid was lifting the punching bag like it was nothing. "Say kid, you know, you're really strong for  someone your age." "Uh, thanks." Said the boy.

 He didn't really talk much, but there was something about this small and hefty young boy that made Cole very curious. "Say, uh, you think you need help carrying that back?" Before the boy could answer the bag quickly ripped from behind him, leaving nothing but sand spilling out. The young boy tossed out what was left of the now ruined punching bag. "Sure, whatever." He answered lacking enthusiasm.

As they made their was to the backyard Cole was amazed by what he saw. The backyard had two miniature stuffed dummies,  and a few small obstacles courses. But what really caught Cole's eyes was a medium sized sumo wrestler ring. It was like a outside medium sized version of the monastery.

"Whoa! All this is yours?!" Cole asked still amazed by the outdoor setting.  "Well, kinda...my dad made this for me." The boy answered. "Well, no wonder you're so super strong!"This place is amazing!" Cole said enthusiastically. The boy scratched the back of his head. It was just his backyard with some homemade sports equipment. "M-my name's Mike." The boy said finally introducing himself. "So, wanna watch my train?" "Sure!" Cole said excitedly.

Cole watched little Mike push and punch one of the stuffed dummies, bulldozing his way through the obstacles course. Then finally Mike asked Cole to be his first sparing partner in his sumo wrestling ring. Even though Cole was thin now, he happily agreed.

When Cole stepped into the ring, it almost felt nostalgia to him. Mike started spreading salt around the rings then his stomped on the ground side to side to ware off evil spirits. Cole looked into the boy's eyes and he could tell that Mike is very serious about this. Than without warning, Mike leaped right towards Cole, grabbing him by his sides, lifting him off the ground then slamming Cole right back down.

Mike stopped for a minute to see if Cole was okay. Cole shuck his head and laugh leaving the boy confused. "Are you okay, Mister?!" Cole turned to mike with a smile on his face "Never felt better. Best two out of three?" With that, Mike finally smiled back at Cole and they both continued their sumo training.

After three losses and multiple bruises Cole finally called it quites and just sat by and watched Mike train. "Boy, you're really something, kid. It's a wonder no one messes with you." Cole said jokingly. By Mike's face quickly turned to a frown. "Yeah, you would think that. But at school, kids pick on me all the time. " Cole was surprised to hear this."Really? Why? " Mike stopped training and turned to Cole. "Well, look at me! I'm so huge that none of the other kids would play with me! They all make fun and call me names like fatty Mcgee and stuff. Then when I get mad and start to lash out, they all run screaming and call me monster!" This broke Cole's heart.He knew exactly how this little boy felt. Being ridiculed because of your size and weight. "That's why my dad build me these obstacles course. He said that if I needed to punch something, then punch these dummies, not the dummies at school."

Cole chuckled at the last response "You're dad sounds pretty wise." "I guess." Said Mike. Cole then asked "So, your dad made you this sumo wrestling ring too? Mike chuckled and said "No. Actually I made that.  Cuz, I wanna grow up to be just like the great Earth Sumo Warrior, Cole." Cole eyes widen when he heard this. Mike then continued "Cole is super strong, and super brave, and really really really huge! I'll bet he never gets pick on for his size." Mike sighed. "Someday, I hope to be a great sumo warrior like him, then everyone would like me and not call me names."

Cole covered his eyes so young Mike wouldn't see the tears. Cole quickly wiped his eyes then walked up to Mike. He got on one knee. "Mike, I think you'd make a great sumo warrior.  But...you shouldn't try to be one only to get people to like you. What's important is that you like yourself first. When people see how confident you are in yourself soon they'll see it too. And as long as you remain humble, kinds, and fair, soon others will like you too." Didn’t take long for Mike to give Cole a great big hug.

After helping Mike clean up the backyard they heard a voice calling "Mike, I'm hooome!" "It's my dad!" Said Mike excitedly. Cole dusted himself off "Well, guess it's time for me to leave." Before Cole made it out the door he heard Mike saying "Thanks Mister, for every." Cole looked back with a smile and said "No kid, thank you." Then finally left. After everything that has happened Cole knew exactly what he had to do and where to start.