Tag

Copyright© 2024 by A Well Traveled Man

Chapter 1

Thomas Andrew Gallo “Tag” was born in Pacific Palisades, California, on August 20th 2004. His parents are John & Dee Gallo, and their work is the most important thing to them. They want nothing to do with him except showcase him on Facebook. He has no other family except his dad’s father, who lives on his ranch in Montana. Tag’s story started when he was 4 years old. That was the first memory of his life.

His first memories of our family are of his mother and father going to work or some social gathering and leaving him with the hired help. We had a maid, cook, and nanny. Tag saw his parents once or twice a week for dinner. Otherwise, the help took care of raising him. He was enrolled in a private school because you couldn’t have a Gallo going to public school.

Tag’s parents and Grandfather never got along. Grandfather never agreed with the way his parents were raising him. Somehow, he got them to agree to let him spend the summers at his ranch. Let me tell you, he loved getting away from his parents and spending time with Gramps. Now, for the rest of the story

He started reading before preschool and can remember most, if not all, of what he reads. Tag looked up it’s called photographic memory, but he has total recall. School is a drag because he must listen to the teacher quote what he has read in the book. So, he drifts off during class and gets called out during class by the teacher. She reported his inattention to the office and his parents.

Well, that created a huge problem. Getting Tag’s parents together for a conference is next to impossible. Father is a bigwig in international banking, and Mother is a marketing guru. Needless to say, shit hit the fan when they were bothered with counseling sessions at school. He was grilled about why they had to interrupt their busy day to meet with the school. Tag, of course, had no idea what the school wanted. Like he said, they were pissed.

The meeting occurred with the vice principal, school counselor, and a few of his teachers. They sat down with Tag and his parents and reported his inattention during class and the likely cause. They wanted Tag tested to see if he belonged in a higher grade and to give him a basic (preschool) IQ test. The teachers also reported that because of his inattention in class, Tag was picked on by his classmates. Of course, his parents agreed and requested that future correspondence be written first and by phone otherwise. They had busy schedules and could not be taking time off for such trivial matters. That went over like a loud, smelly fart in church with the school, but they agreed. It was a quiet ride home.

Dinner that night was unpleasant, and they called all our staff for an after-dinner meeting. Father told the staff about the school issues and requested their input in solving the problems. His nanny, Kim Lee, was Asian and said her uncle could help with the bullying and help with his condition at school. Then Kim requested she field calls from school first to free Tag’s parents from being interrupted during the day. If an issue came up that needed their attention, she would address it when they got home. His parents were happy to farm off these non-important issues to Kim. Problem solved.

The following Monday, Tag reported to the office for testing. They had him in a conference room with a counselor and the testing proctor. The tests ran all day, and they requested that he return the next day to follow up on today’s testing. Tag gave the office a letter from his parents requesting Kim Lee to be the contact person regarding all school issues.

Kim picked Tag up in front of the school, and we drove to her uncle’s dojo. She explained to Tag the customs and procedures we would see at the dojo. If he had any questions, he should wait until the adult’s conversation ended or the Sensi, her uncle, addressed him. It sounded really strange to him, and it was the first time he had been outside the home for anything other than school and controlled social gatherings.

We entered the dojo, and Kim led Tag to the edge of a really large mat/workout area to watch the kids practicing. She explained what they were doing in a low voice, saying we should stand quietly and wait until the practice ends. Tag was amazed at how quickly some kids moved and their smooth, fluid motions. It was something he had never seen before. Tag could hardly wait until he could join.

When their training was over, the kids lined up, bowed to the Sensi, and left the practice area. The Sensi came over to us and bowed. We returned it, and Kim and the Sensei spoke in Japanese for a few minutes. Then, Sensi switched to English and addressed Tag. He said my niece informs me you want to join the dojo and learn the art of aikido. If you wish to learn, we will only accept you if you give 100% effort and follow all our rules without fail. Tag acknowledged the Sensi and assured him he wanted to join. Sensi spoke to Kim again in Japanese for a few minutes, hugged her, and we left. On the way home, Kim explained we would be training every day, starting with exercises in the morning and afternoons at the dojo. Tag was so excited he could hardly sit still in the car on the way home.

Kim woke me up at 6 a.m. to practice tai chi. Now, that was an eye-opener and fun, too. Afterward, he did sit-ups, push-ups, and pull-ups. After breakfast, Tag went to school and reported to the office. They reviewed his tests and called Kim Lee. When Kim arrived, we were directed to the conference room. The vice principal and school counselor sat across from us and reported that Tag tested out above the 4th-grade level on all subjects. They recommended that he stay in school for social interaction. The teachers would personally give him advanced materials above his grade level but stay with his age group. They asked for him to move to first-grade class, and they would adjust this semester, and we would see how he adjusts to the upper class. We will have another conference at the end of the school year.

On the way home, Tag told Kim that they really wanted his parents’ money to develop this program. She agreed and said social interaction was important for his growth (social), and one semester would hurt. They offered us copies of the testing and a list of qualified advanced tutors if we wanted advanced training on a subject they didn’t cover. Kim thanked them, and we walked out the door. A phone call to the dojo, and we headed that way. Sensi outfitted Tag with a Gi, and his training began. Forms were the subject of the first hour, then punching and kicking in the second hour. Tag was tired and could hardly move by the time he got home.

Kim recommended a hot bath followed by stretching. By dinner time (no parents), he was beaten and ready for bed.

Tuesday was a repeat of tai chi and exercises, followed by breakfast and off to school. After school, we went to the dojo (2 hrs.) and returned for language study with Maria, our cook (Spanish), while eating dinner. This was repeated for Wednesday through Friday. The parents showed up for dinner, and Kim told them about the school problems and our recommendations for the semester. They thanked Kim for handling it without their input.

The weekend was restful and relaxing. Kim and Tag did tai chi every morning, and then he had breakfast and went to school. After school, they went to the dojo and went home. Maria would only communicate with Tag in Spanish, so he was learning at an accelerated rate. He still had problems pronouncing words, but she would go over the word slowly, speed up again, and have him repeat it until Tag pronounced it properly.

It was really fun to talk back and forth in Spanish. Of course, we could only do this when the parents were not around and couldn’t have a Gallo speaking with the help in their native language. When the parents were around, we (the help and I) acted prim and proper as they thought we should. He didn’t want the edict police to arrive or have him sent away so he could learn how to act in polite company.

Kim would bring Tag stacks of books from the library for him to read weekly. Math, Science, History, and English. She also included novels from famous authors. Kim thought his teachers tried to give him advanced studies. They had over twenty other students to teach. So, she encouraged Tad to check out upper-grade textbooks from the school library.

Monday arrived, and after tai chi and exercises, breakfast, and Spanish lessons, we headed to school. Then, after school, they went to the dojo. Tag did forms first, then punched and kicked the heavy bag. When his workout ended, Sensi sat Tag down to discuss chi. He said it was like meditation to relax and join the body, mind, and soul. Sensi explained that chi is based on the core of the body and how to focus and relax to find his chi. He said to try to find and hold his chi as long as possible, whenever or whatever he was doing. It would come like second nature eventually, and he would not even know or be aware he was trying during his normal activities during the day.

We sat in a lotus position, and he spoke softly, giving directions on accessing his chi. He’ll tell you it was a feeling out of this world. Tag has never felt this way and wanted to explore and refine this process to the max. It was like flying but never leaving the ground while being aware of all his body and surroundings. Tag lost track of time when Sensi spoke very gently to bring him back to the present. Tag opened his eyes and looked around, confused, having lost track of how much time we had spent. When he asked, Sensi explained it was about 15 minutes. Sensi explained the difference between obtaining chi in the lotus position and trying to obtain chi during daily activities. We would work on this daily after our workout/sparing sessions to perfectly align the mind and body. Needless to say, Tag was jazzed. Again, it was a quiet ride home with Kim. We arrived home, had dinner and Spanish lessons, and went to bed. Tag sat in lotus and practiced centering, then slept.

And so, it went on for the next four years. The only major change was Tag’s birthday last week. Happy 9th Birthday to me! We had a cake and ice cream with everyone who was important to him. Kim, Maria, Tina, Yolanda (our maid), and I celebrated. His parents had more important business to attend to. One really strange thing happened. Well, actually, there were two things.

9th Birthday August 15, 2013

First, his Grandfather called to wish him a happy birthday. He spoke to Kim first and then to Tag. To say he was surprised would be an understatement. His parents told Tag we had no living relatives, so we talked for over 45 minutes. Grandfather said to expect a package from him any day now. Tag was to keep our conversations private until Grandfather could figure out how to get his father on board. They fought and have not spoken in over 5 years. Tag was really excited and looking forward to his package.

Second was the discovery while in the lotus position doing chi at home. While centering, it felt odd that there was no pressure on my rear or legs. It felt like he was floating, and there was no way for him to check it out. He’d have to ask Kim to observe him while he was centering. Also, Tag found it easier to find and hold center/chi during the day. He needs to talk to Sensi about this, too.

Another development was that his school had reached the limit of teaching me. They said he had progressed past high school, and we would need to seek tutors for him now. Kim had kept the list, and we interviewed the tutors and chose Tina, who was working on her doctorate at the local college. She read the reports from the school and was impressed with the progress he had made. She was planning on taking him to the university soon.

Spanish lessons with Maria are over, and we speak fluent Spanish during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Tag asked Kim to teach him Japanese next. Languages seem easy for him, and it would be a real honor to address and speak the native language of Kim and Sensi.

Back to the grindstone with tai chi and exercises this morning. Tag asked Kim to observe him in the lotus position this morning. It’s getting him worked up to find out why he feels no pressure sitting lotus and practicing chi. Tag still doesn’t have his answer, and Kim is dancing around speaking Japanese so fast that he thinks she is having a breakdown. Maria and Junita are trying to settle her down, but she will not have it. She informed everyone over breakfast that we were going to the dojo early. We can’t get her to say what got her so worked up, but she said he will know after seeing the Sensi.

We arrive, and Kim runs into the dojo so fast Tag can hardly keep up. Kim addresses the Sensi in Japanese, and they have a 15-minute conversation. Tag gave up waiting and went to change into his Gi. When Tag returned, Kim and Sensi looked at him like he was a steak dinner and they hadn’t eaten in weeks. Now he was really nervous and asked what was going on. Sensi asked him calmly and quietly how his chi practice was going. Tag responded about not feeling any pressure on his butt or legs in the lotus position. He’s also been able to hold his chi longer during the day, usually about 15 to 20 minutes, without losing it.

Sensi asked Tag to follow him to a room in the back of the dojo that he had never seen before. He asks Tag to assume the lotus position and center himself/chi. After about 15 minutes, the Sensi taps his shoulder and asks him to follow him for our training. We are learning a new set of forms and practicing higher speed. We finish with work on the heavy bag and return to the room in the back. Tag sees a video camera and a 40-inch TV, which are all set up for viewing. He looks questionably at Sensi and motions him to sit on the floor facing the TV. Kim and the Sensi sit beside Tag and hit the camera’s play button.

Tag looks at the screen and can’t believe what he is seeing. He levitated six inches or more above the ground while practicing chi in the lotus position. Tag looked at the screen, then at Kim and Sensi, and then back to the screen, trying to figure out what was happening and why. Then Sensi asked Tag what he felt when he centered himself and the thoughts going through his mind while in chi.

Tag thought for a few minutes then thought some more, looked at the Sensi, and responded. Tag said his mind was focusing on centering to achieve chi. While that took place, he felt like his body was floating, almost like a boat floating on the water. He was tranquil and could practically feel the energy flowing through his body. It was hard to describe, and looking back at the TV, it was scaring the crap out of him. Sensi sensed this and, in a calm voice, assured Tag we would explore this together and answer whatever questions came about.

Sensi looked at Kim and Tag and said we could not tell anyone about this and that practicing chi in the lotus position must be done behind a closed locked door. Sensi said he would quietly research this and that we would try new exercises to test how strong his chi is. He stressed how careful we must be because great harm could become him if someone outside our small group learned about his unique ability. If he were right, Tag’s ability would grow as he got older. The first test he thought of was to put Tag on the scale. He weighed 106 lbs. Then he asked Tag to center himself. The scale adjusted 90 lbs. Sensei said this gives a baseline for future testing ideas.

Once again, our drive was quiet. Kim and Tag were deeply thinking about what the Sensi had said and the open-ended statement about what we could expect soon. We arrived home for lunch and hit the books when Tina arrived. After 4 hours of study, Tina left, and we came back to the kitchen for a break and to work on his Japanese with Kim. She had developed a plan, and we worked on it for 2 hours daily. She thinks we are progressing greatly, but Tag feels it’s going slower than Spanish. We ate dinner (without the parents) and headed to bed.

Up at 6 a.m. for tai chi and exercises, followed by breakfast. We had just finished when the doorbell rang. Maria answered and signed for the package. It was his birthday present from Grampa, and we gathered around the table to see what it was. Inside was a Canon camera with three different lenses, a soft-sided case to hold all the attachments, and a large, thick book, “Beginning Photography.” Also included was a credit card, cell phone, and a leather 8 ½ x 11 3-ring personal binder holding stationery and envelopes along with a shit load of stamps.

The birthday card was interesting. Grampa wanted Tag to take pictures of himself, the house, the surrounding area, and anything that interested him. After reading the book and the instruction manual, he told Tag to explore and experiment with the digital camera. He recommended setting up a pre-arranged time twice a month to call him. The credit card was for expenses that could come up, but he did not have to beg his parents. The leather binder was for writing letters. It was his personal stationery. He also told Tag to keep all the items out of sight of the parents. This way, we could communicate without the prying eyes.

What a great birthday. Tag ran upstairs to his room, stashed his gifts so no one could find them, and returned downstairs.

Kim was ready, so we headed to the dojo. Sensi met us with a welcome bow, and we started training. He introduced Tag to the sweep and the spin kick. After practicing for over an hour, we headed to the back room. There, Sensi sat him down at a table with four books on one side. He explained the art of pressure points in defense of an attack. No matter the size of the attacker, the right amount of pressure in the right spot will render the attacker helpless, unconscious, or dead. Lethal force should not be used unless lives are at risk.

He stressed that point very strongly. The time of the pressure on the body part also affects the severity of the injury. Sensei used Tag as an example, which is on his hand. He applied pressure, and the pain was unbearable. When he released it, the pain was gone, but he was still sore. He explained that if he held that pressure point longer, it would take days, weeks, or months to recover. Removing blood flow to certain parts of the body can have dire effects. Two of the books on the table were for a pressure point study.

Now, we need to cover chi and its effects. Sensei explained how chi can heal the body and increase awareness of threats before the attacker strikes. When used correctly, it can also add power and speed to the strike or throw of an opponent. That is why maintaining chi is so important. He stressed that even the most highly skilled Aikido masters can only maintain chi for short periods. It takes great consternation and skill, which even the masters struggle with. The last two books cover known facts and rumors of chi and its effects. Sensi then moved us to a corner with pulleys, hooks, and measuring devices. We went through 30 min. of tests he had planned. Sensi marked all the results in a notebook using the testing method. To be truthful, he didn’t understand the tests. He was sure Sensi would explain it to Kim and him at some point.

The trip home was quite chatty. Kim seemed excited about all the new testing and what it might mean. Tag just acknowledged her when she looked for a reply. We arrived home, and Tina had planned a field trip to the university for tomorrow afternoon. We ate lunch and dove into the lesson plan. Kim would come in occasionally and ask him a question in Japanese to see if she could throw him off or distract him from Tina’s lesson plan. It didn’t work.

Dinner was interesting, with the parents showing up for the first time in two weeks. They asked how tutoring was going, and Tag said it was great. That was the extent of our conversation. Tag retired to his room to study pressure points and chi. He finished the four books and looked forward to practicing everything he learned. If half of what they claim in the books is true, it will be fun.

Tai chi, exercises, breakfast, and then studying the books again before heading to the dojo. Sensi was ready for us and put him through the forms at full speed, and then we spared practicing offense and defense. Sensi would stop and give Tag pointers (should have performed leg sweep), then return to full speed. After a short break, then on to throws. Tag was ready for it to end. He hasn’t given his height yet, but he’s 5’2” and growing. His weight is 106 lbs. Fighting someone 8 inches taller and weighing 70 lbs. heavier can wear you out.

We retired to the backroom for some more testing. Tag thinks Sensi stays awake at night thinking up new tests. Today, he tested Tag to see if he knew the people behind him. It was covered in the book, and practicing was fun. Sensi blindfolded Tag, and he had to identify when and who was behind, beside, or in front of him. They made noises and moved around, trying to confuse him. Tag was able to identify people on all sides, but not who. His range was not disclosed during the test. Finally, the blindfold was removed, and Sensi went over the results. His range was 5 to 6 ft., and Sensi had all kinds of new testing ideas planned. We left the dojo for our trip to Uni to meet Tina.

Tina met us at the campus café for lunch. She informed us we would meet her friends in the science lab first, then move to the math building, and finish with a visit to the computer lab. It sounded like a full day. We were walking out when a guy blocked our exit and was trying to make a move on Kim and Tina. He looked like a sports jock over one foot taller than me and 100lbs. heavier. He was loud, and when he touched Tina, Tag knew it was time to end it.

Tag grabbed his hand and applied pressure. He was surprised and began to yell. Tag increased the pressure, and the jock fell to his knees, so he backed off a little and asked if he liked his hand. The jock begged him to let off, but he kept the pressure on and made him apologize to Tina and Kim for his rude behavior. Then Tag advised him that if he ever touched Tina again, he would lose the use of that hand for good. Tag asked him if he understood, and he shook his head.

Tears running down his cheeks, Tag let the jock go, and we walked out the door for a quick exit. Tina and Kim looked at him with surprise and asked what happened or what he did to the jock. Tag explained how a simple pressure point can have dramatic results in a pinch. They just looked at him, shocked as we continued. We had a fun time, and Tina’s friends were a hoot.

Tag told them he was looking for older women to gain experience if they wanted to apply. They were laughing so hard he thought they might have hyperventilated. As we headed home, Kim asked Tag if the jock would have any lasting effects from his pressure point. He told Kim he would be sore for a few days and return to normal.

We ate dinner, and Tag retired to his room to review the books on chi. The part he read about healing your own body through chi interested him. After skimming over both books, he sat in the lotus position and visualized his body. Tag started with his head and worked my way down, looking at how everything looked and what, if anything, could be tried or corrected. He was amazed by what he saw. Brilliant colors and shapes, and he wondered if he needed to get a book on anatomy so he could compare and understand what he was seeing.

Moving back up to my head, Tag started looking for blood flow and followed it through its process. He was looking for any restrictions or limitations that could cause problems in the future. Tag saw one area that looked to be a dormmate or closed off. He concentrated on that area, and it opened up. Tag saw a change in coloring with the increased flow. Wow, that was something, and he hoped nothing was screwed up by opening the restricted area.

He will have Kim stop by the college bookstore after the dojo and check out what books they have. Tag was tired and fell asleep easily. For the first time that he could remember, he had a dream. He was listening to other people’s thoughts as they walked by. Tag couldn’t remember where it happened or anything about the dream other than reading people. Weird!

Tag was up for tai chi, exercise, breakfast, and language training at dawn. The dream was still on his mind when we left for the dojo. Sensi met us and directed us to the back right away. He wanted to take readings while Tag was centered in the lotus position. While he was centered, Tag checked on the area he had repaired last night, which seemed like a good idea. The area looked vibrant, and he checked other areas of his mind to compare them. All looked well, and he transferred his focus to the muscles in his arms and legs. He was just getting into them when a voice brought him back out. Sensi and Kim were looking at him funny, so Tag asked what first came to mind. WHAT! They told him he had a kind of glow while centered. Tag asked what happened with the measurement, and Sensi told Tag that he had a reading of 10 inches. It represented a positive increase, and we went to the scale. He now weighed 108 lbs. When centered, he weighed 90 lbs. Tag told Sensi that his feet were not making solid contact with the floor when his chi was centered. It was like he was skating across instead of walking.

Tag wanted to try one more test with the scale. He pushed as hard down on the scale with one arm. We took the reading, and we tried the other arm. Both were close. Now, with his chi centered, we measured both arms. Just as he thought, the weight increased by 7 to 10 lbs. Sensei looked like his head was spinning, thinking of new measuring methods. Tag asked if we could hook measuring devices to the heavy bag to judge the strike’s power. He smiled, and you could see the wheels turning. There was no doubt another sleepless night for Sensi. We did our forms and had a quick sparing session to close out the hour.

Kim drove Tag over to the University bookstore so he could check out what books were available on anatomy. We asked an employee stocking the shelf and were directed to the medical section. After reviewing dozens of books, he finally found two with the information needed for his research. We checked out and headed home. After lunch and a language lesson with Kim, we waited for Tina. She showed up a little late, a bit upset and shaking. We asked what was wrong, and Tina told us about another run-in with the jock.

After settling down, we got to our lesson. Everything was going great until it was time to leave. Tag told her to stay with us tonight and get a good night’s rest. He started reading his anatomy books, looking for information on blood flow to the brain and what causes or affects muscle growth. We’re not in Kansas anymore.

Kim woke Tag up, and he had her get Tina up, too. Tina showed up in a pair of Kim’s sweats, confused. Tag explained that we would get her in shape to defend herself. We did our tai chi and his exercises, then broke for Kim’s language lesson and breakfast. Afterward, we all went to the dojo. Sensi looked at us with a confused expression, and we relayed Tina’s problem with the jock. Sensi asked Tina a few questions, held his hand, and told us to wait.

He came back with a can of pepper spray and taser. Tina was instructed on the proper use and how to carry it so it could be ready immediately. He also told her never to show it to an attacker to dissuade, scare, or threaten them. These items stop the attacker and render him harmless until you can escape. We asked Tina what her schedule was today, and she had one late morning class. We told her to go ahead and that we would come by after training. She was not to walk alone or stay in the classroom until we arrived.

Sensei had more tests planned, but first, forms and sparing. Tag felt he could almost predict Sensi’s moves, allowing him to counter more effectively. We finished and moved to the backroom. Sensi had rigged up a measuring device to the heavy bag so we could check his power centered. We found out quite a bit. First, Sensi showed Tag how to direct his punch for maximum effect. He explained it was a flow of energy that started in his core and extended through his arms and legs. Proper form was important to get the maximum energy striking the target. We spent quite a while moving in slow motion to get the form right. He pointed out this was a bit different because we were directing maximum energy to one area for the maximum effect. Unlike sparing, where you are striking and blocking at high speed, this was trying to direct the core power through your arms for a maximum strike.

Finally, we were ready, and boy, we were surprised. The gauges didn’t lie. It was shocking to Tag that he could generate such power. He had never moved the bag that far. He could see Sensi’s wheels turning, thinking of new testing methods. We finally finished, and we left for Uni to meet Tina.

We arrived on campus and walked to Tina’s class. She was just finishing up, so we waited and left together. He must have been stalking her because he jumped out of the bushes and knocked her to the ground. People around were stunned, but Tag reacted quickly and with no mercy. When it was over, he was lying on the ground, not moving. The professor from the class we had just left had seen the attack and called campus security. Tag ran to Tina to see if she was all right. Tina was a little shaken up, but it was okay. Mr. Jock didn’t look so good. His arm and leg were bent at weird angles, and the side of his jaw looked deformed. Campus Police arrived and took witness statements, and arrested Mr. Jock for assault and battery. He will be spending a lot of time in rehab. We followed Tina to our house, had a late lunch, and hit the books. Upon finishing, Tina felt secure going back to her campus apartment.

We had dinner without parental influence, and Tag informed Kim that he would play with his new camera. She was welcome to come along as he wouldn’t stray far from the house. After his photography venture outside, Tag headed to his bedroom and studied anatomy. Following the book’s direction, it indicated that the area he activated was normally dormant. It said very few people have some activity there, but it is a dormant area of the brain. Mine has full access to the area and looks to be very active.

Chapter 2

There were no classes or dojo on weekends, but he did his tai chi and exercises. After breakfast, Tag read the photography book. He pulled the camera out and checked it out with the different lenses and functions. Tag loaded up the camera battery and left out the back door. After going through 2 memory cards, he felt at home with the camera and was looking for his next shot. Tag headed back to the house and put away the camera. With the parents missing and the help off for the weekend, he spent time with anatomy books looking for clues to help muscle growth.

Tag called Tina and asked if she could add computer skills training to our program. Maybe an hour or two per week with one of her hot female friends. She laughed and said, “ You’re too young for that, but she would check it out.” Tag asked how she was doing and if there were any other problems with the idiot jock situation. Tina told him her friends have been stopping by and giving support. But overall, she was fine and said she would see him on Monday. She warned Tag to stay away from the older woman, laughing as she hung up.

He spent the rest of Saturday studying. Sunday started with tai chi, exercises, and then breakfast. Tag wanted to call Grampa and looked at the phone manual for the information on calling. He thought it wouldn’t be a good idea to call from the house, and with nothing but time on my hands, Tag ran to the corner store. We have a nice upscale stop-and-go store with a separate coffee shop for all the commuters. He purchased a large sports drink, found a nice quiet area, and, following the directions, made the call.

Grampa was surprised to hear from him, and we talked about his week. He was really interested in the attack at the University with Tina, but seemed to relax when he finished the story. Tag told him about visiting the different departments with Tina’s friends and about his request for assistance. He was laughing so hard that he had to move the phone away from his ear. After he settled down, Tag asked about the ranch. His questions were many, and we talked for over 30 minutes. Ultimately, we agreed to make Sunday mornings our time every two weeks and said goodbye.

Tag headed back to the house to study more and wondered if we could arrange to sit in a class or two at the University sometime. After ordering pizza for dinner and reviewing the books on chi again, he fell asleep. The dream returned, and he walked around the University, selecting various people from the crowd and reading their thoughts. He was invisible to everyone; they didn’t know or care about him.

Monday started with tai chi and exercises. Then we had our language lesson, followed by breakfast. Tag heard short bursts of voices when he looked at Kim and Maria. Tag kept it to himself and tried to buffer or shield the noise. He remembered reading a sci-fi novel; the boy in the story could read minds, but the noise was so great he had agonizing headaches. He developed a shield to block the noise so he could go to school. Like in the book, Tag envisioned a dome over my head, which worked. He was amazed.

We arrived at the dojo and started training. After an hour and a half, we moved to the backroom. Sensei had a new set of tests and wanted to review the progress by repeating the hand, feet, and heavy bag tests. He felt once every other week would be enough unless no changes were noted. Then, we would check monthly. His strength improved by a pound, and his lift was less. We agreed to check it again in two weeks. The other tests checked how long he could maintain his chi while sparing or with different distractions. It was hard to get a hard read, but it looked like it was 30 minutes long.

He gave Tag some new exercises to do, as well as stretching. We sat down and discussed the program with him, and he felt Tag was making great progress and should step up his training. Sensi felt Tag’s ability to maintain chi would help him grasp the new material. Kim and I drove home and had lunch with a language lesson. Tina arrived, and we discussed his request. Tina said her friend initially agreed to meet with him twice a week. Then, we could reduce it when he had grasped the main/core of the subject. Her friend Pam requested that we purchase a computer and be sure to have the internet connected. She had a list of what we needed, and lessons would start when everything was set up.

Tina left before dinner, and we discussed where to put the computer while eating dinner. The best place was in his room, and tomorrow, we would call to connect to the internet and pick up the computer after the dojo. Tag was thrilled it was moving along so quickly. He also looked forward to having the computer to research without going to the library or bookstore. Tag went to bed and removed his shield to see if he could pick up any voices. He could hear some, but they were weak, so he centered himself and concentrated. The voices were a little clearer. He heard Maria and Kim in the kitchen. Tag wasn’t sure if he was reading minds or hearing conversations, but he needed to verify and keep practicing. Sleep came hard because his mind just wouldn’t shut down.

The next thing he remembered was Kim knocking on his door. He was rushed to get ready and was pissed he overslept. When he reached for his shoe, it moved into his hand. Needless to say, he was freaked out. It took a minute to calm down, and he rushed to meet Kim for tai chi and exercises. When we finished, it was a language lesson, and we had breakfast. Kim called to schedule internet for his room, and we were off to the dojo.

Sensei had us go to the back room, where he said our new training would occur. He explained the new exercises, and we started slowly. It was like learning a whole new martial art. Ultimately, he explained that this new program would allow him to grow and adapt faster to the new challenges he would be facing. We thanked Sensi and headed off to purchase the computer and parts listed on Pam’s sheet.

Kim called Maria to let her know we would be late. After spending 30 minutes with a salesperson, we had everything and drove home. We ate a quick lunch and moved the computer and boxes to his room. We had just finished when Tina arrived with a box of books that ended up in his room. She helped us set up the computer to be ready for the internet connection. The box of books was unpacked, and she set them up in order for Tag to read them. Kim told Tina the internet would be connected on Friday. Tina said Pam wanted him to read all seven books before starting our lessons. Tag figured a week from Monday would give me enough time to inform Tina.

We started his lessons and finished before dinner. We were graced with an appearance by his parents, who thanked Kim for handling everything. Tag went to his room, sat in the lotus position to gain his center, and looked at the dormant area of his brain. He could see vibrant colors as if a lot of activity was happening. Looking at the other areas, it seemed less vibrant, almost like they were not as active at the moment. Tag looked at muscles and bones and wished they would grow. Then, he picked up the first computer book and read it until he fell asleep.

Tag woke up early (5 a.m.) and reached for his shoes. Nothing happened. He concentrated hard and held his hands open, and the shoes moved. It will be something that will require a lot more testing. Tag decided to keep the mind and moving of articles private because he was afraid someone would spill the goods, and he would be in real trouble. He felt the centering and chi issues that Sensi and Kim knew about were enough of a risk. There was no need to expose himself more. He dressed and met Kim for tai chi and exercises, followed by language training and breakfast.

We left for the dojo, met Sensi in the back room, and went through the new forms faster. When they finished sparring, he could barely lift his arms. Tag’s legs felt like cement, and Sensi said the more we practiced, the less soreness would be felt. Tag managed to make it to the car, and we headed home. After lunch and language lessons, Tina arrived, and tutoring began. We finished eating dinner and went to bed. Tag was wiped out, but he had to finish the computer book before sleeping.

Tag awoke early (5 a.m.) again and centered myself. He checked his muscles for damage and wished for quick healing. He took a hot shower and got dressed. Kim arrived, we did our normal routine, had breakfast, and left for the dojo. Sensei asked how he felt, and we proceeded to speed up our sparring. We stopped early so we could talk. Sensi wanted to check the lotus chi measurement again.

There was very little difference, so we headed home for lunch and language lessons. Kim told him we had reached a finishing point on the Japanese lessons, so we spoke in Japanese through lunch until Tina arrived. Tutoring lasted until dinner, and we ate and retired to bed. Tag started the second computer book and almost finished it before he fell asleep. His dream returned; this time, he was moving things in his room at will, no matter the weight. Just when he started to reach out for another item, he woke up.

Our routine stayed the same through Friday. When the weekend arrived, he was excited. The internet was hooked up, and he had two free days to play with his new skills. Tad started Saturday off by finishing book two and started book three on computers. He took a break, ate lunch, and played in his room while moving items around. Tad started with small objects like pencils and balled-up socks. The socks worked out to be the safe bet. He could call or direct the ball anywhere in the room. Tag tried to direct it faster against the wall, like throwing a ball against the wall and catching the return. It moved real fast towards the wall and fell after impact.

Tad looked up on the internet to find out what moving items with the mind was called. It’s called Telekinesis, so now he knows it. He remembered what he read in the first book and deleted his internet search history. Then Tad powered the computer down and rebooted it. He checked the history and emptied the trash. He could not afford to have this get out. After double-checking everything again, Tag looked for private search engines that did not share search histories. He found one, downloaded it, and powered down the computer.

Tag spent the rest of the day reading and moving the balled-up sock around the room. Towards dinner time, he ran to the stop and rob to see if they had anything he could use to practice with them. He found a Nerf ball and a bag of marbles. He purchased them with a sub sandwich and a sports drink and headed home. The marbles were definitely an outside play toy for tomorrow. The Nerf ball was fun, with a basketball hoop to hook up over a closet door. He played basketball while eating dinner, finished book three, and started book four. The subjects in the books were really interesting, and he could hardly wait to try them out. Tag finally got tired enough to fall asleep.

He woke up, exercised, ate breakfast, and continued reading book four. Tag finished it and went outside to see if there was an area to test with the marbles. It looks like a good spot around the back side of the garage. No neighbors backed up to the area, and he looked beyond the fence to see a heavily wooded area. It was perfect for what he wanted to test. Tag grabbed the bag of marbles and went around the fence to check if anyone could see him. To be sure, Tag reached out with his mind and found no one nearby. He held one marble and sent it as hard as possible toward a tree 25 yards away. Tag heard a loud crack and looked around to see if anyone came looking. He waited for 15 minutes before walking to the tree. The marble was inside the trunk about ¾ of an inch. That concluded his testing for the day.

Tag needed to find a remote area where he could practice without notice. He will definitely be carrying a few marbles with me at all times. He returned to the stop-and-rob, picked up two more bags and a spare Nerf ball, and returned home. He grabbed a knife and a screwdriver from the workbench and returned to the tree to remove the marble. I didn’t want someone to find it and ask questions. Tag returned home, started on book 5, and completed it within an hour. He started book six and got halfway through before breaking for dinner. Tag order Chinese and played Nerf basketball until dinner arrived.

After finishing dinner, Tag went to the computer to practice some of the things he learned. He went into the start menu and checked the programs installed on the computer. It was loaded with a bunch of crap programs that was slowing it down. He looked at the computer manual, went online to the forums, and asked if someone could guide him on the necessary programs. Al answered me and said to give him the list. Tag copied and sent it to him with the computer’s name. He answered right back by listing all the programs that were crap and some tips to speed up the startup.

Tag thanked him and said he was studying at the university, and listed the books he had finished and to be read. Al was impressed and gave Tag his email address to contact him if he had any problems. Tag thanked him and said he would forward his email when he finished setting up the computer. Tag logged off, started deleting the programs, and went to the startup to change those settings. When he finished, Tag rebooted the computer, and it was fast. It booted up right away.

He powered it down and finished off book six. He picked up book seven and fell asleep before starting it. The dreams continued with him sitting across the table from some people in suits, and they looked really mean. Tag tried to read their minds, but I hit a stone wall. Then the pain started, and he remembered his shield. Tag raised it, opened his pocket, and directed marbles as hard as I could at them. The look on their faces was funny until they passed away. He looked at the carnage to see if he could locate where we were. Tag checked their pockets and all the cabinets and drawers in the room.

He awoke and had their driver’s license and some paperwork from the office. Tag quickly scanned over the paperwork, put all the information in his desk drawer, and hit the shower.

Kim and I went through our exercises and had breakfast. We talked with Maria for a while before heading to the dojo. Sensi met us in the rear room, and we started with forms in slow motion, then increased our speed until he was going as fast as he could. We stopped and took a rest. Then we started sparing at half speed and progressed to full speed. Tag about passing out from exhaustion.

Kim and I made it home for lunch and conversed in Japanese while we waited. Maria came and sat down, and he changed to Spanish. Tina came in with someone, and Maria, Kim, and I waited to be introduced. Tina looked at us and remembered to introduce Pam, who had come to check the computer. We went upstairs to my room and powered up the computer. Pam was surprised it came up so fast and started to check hardware and software.

She turned to Tina and asked who worked on the computer. Tina said she didn’t know and looked at Tag. He smiled and waited for a few minutes, then said he did. Pam did a double-take and asked what he did. Tag explained that computers come with bloatware, which slows them down. Also, he fixed the startup file. She just stared at him and asked if anyone else had assisted. Tag told her that he had gone to a forum and met Al. He told him what files to delete and recommended changes to the startup file.

Pam looked at it for a long time, then asked what forum it was, and he told her. She was surprised and said Al was one of the best programmers. Then she asked how many books he had read, and Tag told her all but one. She looked at Tina, shook her head, and said I have already gone through what was required for a computer science degree and a good deal of the master’s program.

The books are for programming and game theory. Networking and mainframe are different degrees. Pam said she would work with me but felt we would pass her experience level within a few months. Tina started our tutoring, and we finished it just before dinner. Tag asked Tina if he could sit in on a few classes at Uni. She asked what classes, and he said computer and engineering. Tina thought that he could audit a few courses without any problems. She would get him a schedule and class list to see what’s available. She also said we need to do some testing to see how far we’ve gone and to plan our next phase.

We will need to meet her at the university tomorrow to do the testing. We headed for dinner, and after, he went to his bedroom. Tag pulled out the paperwork and wallets. It was getting stranger when he looked at the dates on the driver’s licenses and paperwork. It was 10 years in the future. He still can’t figure out how his dreams became so real. Tag knows he will always have marbles in his pockets wherever he goes. He took all the paperwork and hid it so no one would find it by accident.

He sat in the lotus position, centered himself, and did a body check. It seemed that his muscles and bones were beefing up. He must have Sensi take height and weight measurements tomorrow. He feels taller and heavier. Tag checked his brain activity, and it hasn’t changed. He picked up book seven and pushed to finish it. He wanted to get through this startup. Finally, sleep came.

Tag woke up at 4:30, relaxed, and rested. Wondering why he needed less sleep, he headed to the shower. When he returned, Tag noticed his pants were too short and his shirts were tight. A shopping trip was needed soon. He powered up the computer and checked some of the things listed in the last book. Tag thought something could be done to speed up communication with websites, and needed to talk to some professors or teaching students what’s available. He went through the new forms Sensi gave him at ¾ speed and then played basketball until Kim arrived.

We exercised and ate breakfast, and Tag mentioned his clothes didn’t fit. Kim said that after university, we could go shopping. When we arrived at the dojo, Sensi looked at Tag and directed him to the scale. He weighed 115 lbs. and had grown to 5’4” tall. No wonder his clothes don’t fit. It’s good that he was wearing sweats today, or it would look like he was expecting high water. Sensi had to remeasure the weight under chi, and then the hits on the heavy bag. Afterward, we sparred at ½ speed as he introduced new forms. We continued until he had it down without any mistakes. Tag promised to practice forms and stretch every morning. Sensi also gave him a new GI, as the old one was too small.

Kim and Tag left to meet Tina at the university. Tina directed us to a building near the admin offices and walked us to a small conference room. A large desk is on one end, and several student desks are scattered around the room. Tina told us we were waiting for the tester. She felt better having someone removed doing the testing. An older lady entered and looked at him, then at Tina and Kim with a questioning look. Tina assured her he was the one testing. Mrs. Brown was her name, and we had five exams to complete. She would inform him of the time allowed for each test, and after completing the test, he was allowed a 15-minute break. If he left before the test was complete, then the test would be graded as incomplete.

She asked if he needed to use the bathroom or was thirsty. Tag said no, and we started. He was given two hours to complete the math test. He finished in an hour and 30 minutes and took a break. English was the next 90 minutes, and he finished it in 1 hour. He stayed and started the science exam and finished it in 1 hour and 15 minutes. Tag took a break, started history, finished in 1 hour, jumped to social studies, and wrapped it up in 45 minutes. She would grade the exams and forward them to Tina.

As we left the building, we saw Tina with some of her friends, and then we stopped to talk. Tag recognized several and asked if they reconsidered his offer, which caused them to bust out laughing. One leaned forward and said Never give up and winked at him.

Kim drove us to the mall, and shopping started. Tag ensured his shield was in place because of the number of people. Two hours later, we finally left for home. We ate dinner, and he headed to bed. He was beaten during the testing.

Tag woke at 4 a.m. and started his forms at ½ speed, following up with stretching. He took a hot shower and returned to his room. He centered and checked everything and found no problems. Then he powered up the computer, started programming his idea, and played until Kim arrived. We exercised and ate, then headed to the dojo.

Sensei introduced him to armed combat. Starting with knives. He explained the movements and counters to defeat the attack. We used fake knives that mark you with blue chalk when hit, and I had dozens. He explained we would spend several days on each weapon. He needed to know how to avoid and counterattack.

As we were leaving, Kim received a call from Tina asking us to meet her at the same building as yesterday. Kim and I were walking in, speaking Japanese, when Mrs. Brown saw us and directed us to an office. Tina sat at a small conference table and asked us to join her. Mrs. Brown sat down and asked him how many languages he spoke. Tag told her Spanish and Japanese. Just then, three more people entered the office and sat down. We were introduced to the Vice President of Student Affairs, Smith, Professors James and Sanders. Kim and I were looking at Tina when Mrs. Brown started the meeting with the test scores.

She informed us that the tests given to him were graded, and he was at the college entry level. She informed us that the tests given to him were designed to rate foreign or homeschooled students who wanted to enter the university. Then, VP Smith said that after viewing the tests and meeting us, the University would like to offer me a scholarship to their school. He placed paperwork in front of Kim and Tag, telling them to review the packet and let him know as soon as possible so the school could enroll Tag for the next semester.

Kim finally came out of her stunned state to thank everyone and said the family would review the offer and get back to her as soon as possible. Looking at Smith and the professors, Tag could tell they were like wolves who hadn’t eaten in a week. He briefly scanned their thoughts and had no pleasant thoughts of what to do with him. Professors James and Sanders were psychiatry doctors from the behavioral sciences area of the school. Not good. They wanted to study him. Before we left, he asked for business cards from all three low-life sons of a bitch. We left, and he signaled that Tina and Kim would follow me to the campus café.

Tina followed Kim and Tag into the café and found it almost empty. He moved to a table in the corner, away from the students. When seated, he asked Tina what she thought about the offer. She said it was a great offer for free education, and he should take it. Tag asked her if she had discussed this with Mrs. Brown or the university facility before our meeting, and she said no. Tag briefly read her to confirm that she was telling the truth.

He asked Tina and Kim why two Drs of Behavioral Sciences would attend our meeting. Tag let that sit while he went to get a drink. When he returned, the looks on their faces were of concern. He held up his hand to stop any discussion and said we needed to find a quiet place to talk in the open, like a park or study area. Tag also recommended that we get some food and drink to make it look like a picnic. We picked up the food and traveled to an open area with trees scattered around. It looked like a gathering area for students taking a break from being indoors too long.

He took charge of the meeting. We or I have a major problem. He’s flown under the radar to this point, but now we have hungry vultures circling, waiting for the kill. As you know, once they get a rejection from him, they will attempt to approach his parents directly. What do you think his loving mommy and daddy would do if presented with a proposal to house, feed, and educate him free of charge? Have all parental responsibility removed, and they are free to do what they like, while removing the cost of my care and upkeep.

Both Kim and Tina looked shocked and concerned. We need to get some advice from some people who are removed from the university while doing a deep background check on the good doctors and administrators. Something smells rotten, and this proposal is just the beginning. Tag stressed that we needed to keep quiet about this and speak to no one about our suspicions. Not friends and certainly not anyone outside of the three of us. If word leaks out, he could be put in danger.

We left the University and headed home. Tina thought we would cancel tutoring today and brainstorm in his room. Tag looked at Tina and Kim and said he needed to call Grampa first. He can give a good, level-headed view of what we are facing and might have great ideas on how to proceed. They both agreed, and he called Grampa from the cell and put it on speaker.

When he answered, he asked if Tag was ok. Tag said he was okay for now but needed his help and advice. Did he have some free time to discuss his problem? He asked me to call back in 15 minutes. We called again 20 minutes later and told him the story about testing and the request to meet the following day (today). Tag gave him the people in the meeting, his take on what was offered, and their reactions if rejected. There was silence for a few minutes, and he responded. He acknowledged my concerns and said to give him 24 hours to make some calls. He also asked us to go to an office supply store and have the proposal scanned and emailed to him, along with copies of the business cards. He also wanted Tag to go to the mall and pick up some items, so he had to get a pen and paper.

Large gym (go bag) with shoulder strap, earth tone color

Purchase 2 days of clothes in basic earth tone colors. No bright or white colors

Purchase sundries, a floppy foldable fishing hat, a baseball cap, a pair of tennis shoes, and hiking boots. He said a sporting goods store should have a good amount of the items needed.

Also, a good compact flashlight and a hunting knife of good quality.

He was to pack all items in the bag along with his cell phone and credit card. Whenever he traveled outside the house, he always kept the bag close. He was going to overnight me a package to include in the bag. He would call him tomorrow at the same time and stressed to tell no one about him or our conversation. Needless to say, we were a bit freaked out but headed to the mall. The sporting goods store had everything but some clothes and sundries. We told them we were camping, and they recommended a few other things we purchased. We finished shopping and headed to the food court. Tag told Tina that if anyone from the University asks about him and their offer, say, we haven’t had time to review the material or discuss the offer.

Keep it vague but positive. Grampa has the same feeling he does about this, so we never spoke to anyone. As far as you know, he has no extended family. He must remain a ghost for safety, so let’s hope he has some good ideas for tomorrow. Tina headed back to Uni while Kim and Tag headed home. He went to his room, powered up the computer, and thought about who might know something about the professors. He thought of Al. Tag checked the chat room, but he wasn’t on, so he emailed him.

Al responded and invited Tag to access a private room. Tag clicked on the link, and we were in a restricted private chat room. Al asked what he needed, and he relayed the university’s offer and the names of those in the meeting. Tag asked if he knew anything about them because he had never met them before, and the proposal was surprising and generous.

Al typed a link to download it, and he would install it first. Tag clicked on the link, and encryption software promised no one could break it. He downloaded the software, read how to use it with different programs, and revisited our chat after activating encryption. Al said the Vice President and Doctors came to the university this year with vanilla backgrounds. Nothing stood out, and no major achievements were listed when their hire was announced. Al told him to be really careful, and if it seems too good to be true, it surely is. He gave me a link for the dark web if things turned to shit. The screen went blank before I could reply. Tag downloaded the link and put it in an encrypted, hidden folder.

Kim and Tag scanned the proposal and business cards at the local office store. We saved it to a USB drive and drove to the local library. We got a Hotmail address and sent the info to Grampa. Tag enclosed a link to the encryption software and the chat room. We ate dinner and headed to bed. His mind was going 100 mph, and drifting off to sleep took him a while. Dreams came again, and Tag was in a room, not a conference room, with a large table in the center and a dozen chairs around it. He had a bird’s eye view, almost like I was looking down on from the ceiling.

Suddenly, the door opened, and four people walked into the room. Tag recognized all of them. The good doctors, VP Smith, along with Mrs. Brown. The meeting started with the status of his recruitment and then changed to options should he refuse their offer. Smith stressed that threats or violence should be the last resort. They discussed bribing Tina to lean on him to accept. There was no agreement on that one, as it could blow their cover. Questions were raised about the background check status of his parents and Kim. Ideas were thrown around, including kidnapping, mugging, and making everyone disappear in an accident. I searched all the minds, and they were evil people. Tag made a choice and restricted the blood flow to Smith’s brain.

Dr. James was going to have a heart attack on his way home. He instructed Mrs. Brown and Dr. Sanders to accept a ride home with him tonight. They were to use the carpool lane. Dr. James developed a lead foot. While looking around their minds, he searched for the locations of his file, both written and digital. The only copy was in Smith’s safe at home. He gladly gave me the combination. The meeting broke up, and Smith stayed while the others left to go home.

Chapter 3

Smith never left the meeting room. Tag followed the group to Dr. James’s car and convinced them that safety belts were uncomfortable. They ended up crashing into an overpass when Dr James collapsed. Tag woke in a sweat and ran to the bathroom, losing whatever was in my stomach. He checked the time, and it was 3 a.m. Tag showered and looked up Smith’s address. It was three miles from his house, so he dressed in dark clothes and ran to his home. Tag broke the back door and headed to his office. The safe was behind a picture and opened easily. He removed all the contents, closed and locked the safe, and left.

Tag arrived home at 4:45 and took another shower. When he returned to his room, Tag checked the contents of the safe. He had $10,000 cash, several files on people at the university (including him), and a little black book with bank accounts and passwords listed. The last items were several passports with different names. Tag checked the time, and he had about 45 minutes before Kim arrived, so he logged into VP Smith’s bank accounts (4) and changed the logins and passwords.

Tag then researched the banks and found he could open an online account. He opened bank accounts and transferred everything, but left $1000 in each account. Tag wanted to keep the accounts open to see if he had regular funding coming in. He logged out and did his forms. When he finished, Tag ran downstairs for a drink of water and waited for Kim. We exercised, ate breakfast, and then drove to the dojo.

Sensi started with forms at full speed, then switched to ½ speed to check his form. Then we went to sparring. We finished with weapons training and more blue marks on him. Kim and Tag headed home to wait for Grampa’s call. After eating lunch, Tina showed up looking really sad. She said Vice President Smith died sometime last night. He was found in a meeting room off campus. The university issued a statement saying it appears he had a stroke or seizure, but would wait for the medical examiner’s ruling on the cause of death.

Tag wondered why we hadn’t heard about the other three. Oh well, on to tutoring with Tina. We broke for dinner and asked Maria if he had received a package. She said yes, and it was on his bed. As he descended the stairs, he thought about what had happened last night and today. Walking into his room, Tag debated whether or not he should feel bad for killing four bad people. The result was them or me.

Now, I wondered what happened to Grampa. He was supposed to call around 4 p.m. and was over two hours late. Sitting on the bed, he opened the package and found $1500 cash and a .38 revolver snub nose inside the pants holster. It was designed for concealment and carry. A note also told Tag he wouldn’t call him this afternoon, but he should be ready to chat at 9 p.m. tonight. Checking the time, he had 90 minutes to kill.

He checked some of the files in Smith’s safe, and they were blackmailing several high-ranking university staff. He plugged in the thumb drive, and there were over one hundred photos depicting all sorts of sexual intercourse. Tag removed the thumb drive and hid it with the other files. He needed a hidden storage room for this stuff. He was looking around for spots where he could easily remove and replace. The closet was the obvious choice, and I looked real hard, trying to see where he could build a stash closet. It had a shelf system in the middle that went about ¾ of the way to the ceiling. He checked to see what was backing up to the closet shelving and found a linen closet in the bath.

He needed to check this further. It was getting close to the timed meeting, so Tag powered up the computer and opened the chat room, waiting for Grampa. He logged in at nine and invited him to a private room. Tag activated the encryption software, and we went live. Tag asked what he found, and Grampa gave me a rundown. Smith was CIA. Drs. James and Sanders were employed as researchers by a company owned by Mrs. Brown and Smith. They move frequently and have so many names that no one knows who they are.

Grampa asked if he’d heard any news on the group today, and Tag said Tina came for tutoring and that VP Smith died last night in a conference room by himself. Officials are saying stroke or seizure. The university said the medical examiner will find the cause. That’s all he’s heard. Gramps said the other three were traveling at a high rate of speed in the carpool lane when they had to swerve to avoid a stalled car and ran into a bridge support. All were killed on impact.

Tag asked why the university didn’t report it with Smith’s death, and he said because they were not employees of the university. Tag asked Grampa what he thought about our situation now, and he said to lie low and be aware of your surroundings. Also, he advised me to stay away from the university because that is where my problems started. Tag thanked Gramps and said he would follow his advice. Tag did his forms and fell asleep.

Tag woke up at 4 a.m. again. He needs less sleep from now on. He did his forms at full speed and hit the shower. Then Tag went into the closet and studied the shelving. It was free-standing and could be the answer if I could figure out how to make it swing or slide outward. Tag ran to the garage and picked up a tape measure. He measured the distance to the hall from the shelf, then went to the bathroom and took the same measurements. It landed perfectly behind the linen closet. Then, he did an in-depth reading of the linen closet inside and outside. There was a 2-foot difference. Tag had his stash closet, so if he could rig the shelving,

He went to his computer, accessed the private browser, and searched for how to build it. The first set of plans looked like it would work. Tag needed hardware, trim, and paint. Now, how to get it without anyone knowing? I looked up home centers and hardware stores in the area closest to my house. A true-value hardware was 2.5 miles away, so that was on the schedule for Saturday. Wait a minute, tomorrow is Saturday. He has lost track of days because he has no school to remind him.

Kim and Tag finished our exercises, ate breakfast, and headed to the dojo. Sensei said it was time to measure our progress again. First, he weighed me, and he gained 2 lbs. Tag was up to 112 lbs. and gained 1”, so 5’5”. Now, on the scale again, centered and weighed 88lbs. The biggest improvement was the heavy bag. His striking power improved by 25%. He was really making the heavy bag move. Tag thinks that affected the measuring device Sensi set up, but that’s ok. We went through the forms at full speed and then spared to the end.

Tag noticed the hardware store on the way home, and it looked like it would have everything he needed. We had lunch, and Tina arrived in a better mood, so we dug into the lesson plan. Tina asked about going to University, and Tag said that was not being considered now because of our trouble. He asked her to continue her lesson plan and add others as we saw fit. Pam was coming on Monday, so that’s a plus. Kim, Maria, and I ate dinner and then went to his room.

With so much going on, he hasn’t focused on what’s going on with his body. He’s neglected practicing telekinesis. What’s with his dreams? He has no control over when he dreams. But it always happens when I am in danger. Is that the only connection? A lot of unanswered questions. Tag played BB for 30 minutes and then set up a testing plan to see how far he could start/stop moving things. He’d have to give some thought to testing lifting weights. Tag ran through his forms at full speed, then sat in lotus and centered to check his progress. The brain activity seems the same, but I wondered why the previously dormant area is thriving and the rest is operating at a lower level.

Tag followed the blood flow and noticed areas of restriction. He concentrated on that area, and the flow improved. So, he continued to do the same and found three other areas of restriction. With those areas fixed, the color of all areas matched the newly revised area. Then, he checked his muscles and bones and continued to see improvement. Tag wondered if he could toughen his skin to make it harder to cut or scrape. He’ll focus on that next time, and then he falls asleep.

Tag woke up at 3:30 a.m. What’s going on with my sleep? He started his forms at full speed, moved to tai chi and exercises, showered, and powered up the computer. He remembered Al sending me a link, so he activated encryption and activated the link. So, this is the dark web. One sign says the devil’s playground. Everything for a price leaves a lot to be desired. Tag copied the link to his hidden secure folder and checked the list needed for his cabinet. He printed the list and shut down the computer. Thinking he had forgotten something, Tag entered the closet and stared at the cabinet. That’s it. How would he match the paint?

Returning to the computer, he accessed the secure search and typed in the question. A handyman said to take a small piece to trim to match. He also advised him to purchase painter’s tape and a plastic drop cloth and ask the store what brushes to use. Don’t buy expensive paintbrushes if you are only doing this small job. Tag thanked him for his help and ran to the hardware store. He purchased everything needed and returned home. Following the directions, he was able to move the cabinet/shelving.

Tag cut a one-foot square hole in the wall and shined a flashlight in the hole. He had my stash area. With a yardstick, he marked the wall for the cutout. Taking a box cutter, he scored the cutout, extended the blade, and did it again. The piece of drywall dropped out. I cut it into small pieces for disposal, then looked at the area again. Now comes the hard part: installing the hardware and aligning it right, but the instructions were spot on. When the cabinet was against the wall, you could not see or expect it to move. Tag installed the two hidden latches and installed the trim. The last was the painting, but it was easy. He cleaned the area and vacuumed the closet, and it was done.

He needed shelving, but that could come later. Tag put all the items from Smith’s safe, his birthday gift from Grampa, and items from the boardroom (mean people), the buried cash next door, and closed the cabinet. He looked at it from all sides and could not tell whether the cabinet had moved. Tag put his clothes back on the shelves and was finished. Getting hungry, he ran to the stop, robbing for a sub, chips, and a sports drink. Tag also picked up another two bags of marbles (you can never have enough) and headed home.

Tag spent the rest of the day testing TK. He wanted to respond as quickly as he could with his forms. He knew it would take practice, which is what weekends are for. Tag ordered pizza and played BB until dinner arrived. After dinner, he went to his room and practiced forms and TK with the Nerf ball. He had an idea, so he powered up the computer and searched for Nerf balls. There were many sizes, but I wanted a golf ball size. They had them at the toy store at the mall. He can get Kim to take me on Monday after the dojo.

Sunday started early, at 3:30 a.m., with forms, tai chi, and exercises. After he showered, ate breakfast, and checked the hardware store hours. Tag went to his stash room, measured the enclosure, got some cash, and headed to the hardware store. He needed shelving and a battery closet light. Tag found the shelving, and they had the lighting he needed. He looked at all the items they carried and saw something very interesting. In the bargain bin were plastic knives. Tag checked them out, and they were made of hard plastic, about 6” long and 1 ½ wide. These would be great for self-defense with a little work. He picked up 20 at .50 cents each, got a box of black plastic disposable gloves, and headed to check out. It was a tough return trip, but he made it.

Tag made a sandwich and relaxed for 30 minutes. Then he carried all the items to his closet and opened his stash. The shelves worked perfectly; he organized everything and removed 12 plastic knives. Tag took the knives to the garage and grabbed a file. Putting the knife in the vice and working the edges until sharp. He held it, and it felt good. Then he centered the knife over a wooden dowel, and it tilted toward the handle. Tag shaved some of the handles away and balanced again. It’s just a small tilt, but not much. He did all 12 knives the same way and then sanded them with wet sandpaper. After checking them again, they were perfect.

All he needed was some Velcro or lightweight cloth like a sweatband. A sweatband would work for the arms, but the legs needed something more. Tag went back to the hardware store. It’s becoming one of my favorite stores. He picked up another dozen knives and some elastic material that stretched and had its own fastening system. He was set and headed home. With all the supplies in his stash except his balanced knives, Tag headed to the backyard. Looking for a throwing dummy, he found a box of rags 2 ft x 2 ft. in the garage.

Tag practiced with the knives by putting the box on top of a trash can elevated 36” off the ground. First, throw them, then direct the knives using TK. TK definitely worked better; he had to open the box and fish out the knives. Tag checked the edge and point and held up so I could put everything back and return to the house. Tag stashed the knives around his room. He made leg braces for the knives and had to go to the sporting goods store for sweatbands. Tag ate a frozen dinner Maria prepared and started his forms. He spent the rest of the night moving items around his room until he crashed.

Dam, 3 a.m., and wide awake. Whatever happened with his body requires less sleep. Tag did his forms, practiced TK for speed, and hit the shower. After getting dressed and powering up the computer, I checked email and chat rooms. One girl caught his attention, and Tag asked her to meet me for a private chat. He asked if she had encrypted her chat, and she said no. Tag sent her the link and would wait. She came back 15 minutes later and thanked him. She didn’t know we could encrypt chats.

Tag told her about his experience and asked if there were any programs or books off the grid so he could get a handle on hacking. She was quiet for 5 minutes, then recommended four dark web books worth reading. She warned him not to have it sent to your home or business or any address tied to you. Tag thanked her and said he doesn’t work and is too young to own a home, but he will be super careful. Then Tag asked her the top five books she learned the most from. She listed them for him, and he thanked her.

He logged out and did a private search for her five books. Tag found them online and ordered them with express shipping. Now for the four books on the dark web. He accessed the dark web and searched. Surprisingly, one seller had all four books for a good price. Tag paid and had them shipped to Smith’s house with instructions to put the package in the bushes to the right of the front door. They should be here Wednesday late afternoon. Perfect, he’ll go first thing Thursday morning, and also added a black ski mask, black sweatshirt, and pants with shoes. Hopefully, Kim won’t be paying attention. Tag ran to the corner convenience store for a sub, chips, and a drink, then returned home.

Then, after lunch, he spent the afternoon checking his TK in the backyard. He can move things over 50 feet away. The item’s weight didn’t seem to be a problem, up to 50 lbs. That was his limit because he was being careful. Back in his bedroom, Tag was working on my speed with TK. He had taken a rolled-up sock and practiced drawing and firing at the closet door like a gunslinger. Tag practiced with both hands. It was funny but effective in increasing his reaction time. He went downstairs and heated some frozen Maria. Good stuff. Tag did his forms and fell asleep.

3 a.m. Monday and wide-awake dam. Tag started his forms at full speed, then slowed down and stopped. Then, he stretched and took a shower. After I dressed with so much time to kill, Tag brought the bathroom scale to his bedroom. He centered on the scale and checked the starting time. After 30 minutes, the scale was still at 89 lbs. He waited until one hour passed and stepped off the scale. Tag returned to the scale in the bathroom and checked the time. Fifteen minutes until Kim arrived, so he headed downstairs for a glass of water. Kim showed up, we exercised, ate breakfast, and headed to the dojo.

After stretching, we went full speed, and he held up until I hit the mat, exhausted. Kim handed him a glass of water, which he finished fast, and lay down for a few minutes. Then, stretching again and back to knife play. Tag was getting better at this, but Sensi only hit him twice. After leaving the dojo, Tag asked Kim to take him to the mall to make a quick stop. He ran into the sporting goods store, picked up what he needed, then went to the toy store and went back outside to meet Kim. We had lunch and waited for Pam. She showed up and put him through the paces. Pam said once a week should be good for his advancement. Any more would be a waste. She gave him exercises to do daily and some homework by email every day.

We were just ready to sit down, and the phone rang. Tag’s loving mother told him he had to attend a black-tie affair on Saturday, so he needed a tux and proper shoes. We ate dinner and left for the tailor. Well, that’s what he called the store because nothing fits unless it’s altered. Anyway, Tag thought since he had to attend and his parents were pricks, He ordered an expensive tux to be ready on Friday. Screw them and their social friends. What a waste of the air. Next stop, shoes. He wanted a soft, sure grip when walking. New leather shoes are slippery, like walking on ice if you don’t know. One false move, and you’re on your ass embarrassed, not even taking into account getting his ass chewed for embarrassing my parents. Oh, the things he does for his loving parents.

Tuesday and Wednesday were the same schedule. Thursday, Tag woke at 3 a.m., dressed in black, and ran three miles to Smith’s house. He stopped at the end of the block and listened to see if he could sense anyone up and moving. Sure enough, there was a watcher across the street in a van. Tag went down the alley, hugged the house, and entered the planter bed behind the bushes. The package was there, but it looked disturbed, so he unwrapped it and found a tracking device in the peanut packaging. Tag removed the books, repacked the package with dirt, and went home.

He stopped a block away and fanned the pages of each book to be sure there was not another device. They were clear, and he returned home. Tag put the books in his stash until he had a free day or weekend. He changed and did his forms, stretched, and took a shower. Tag had 90 minutes until Kim arrived, so he read one of the legal computer books his friend recommended. Then, he headed downstairs for a glass of water. Kim came, and we went through our program and had breakfast.

We left for the dojo, and Sensi met us at the door. He wanted to tell us something had come up, and he was closing for the day. We will resume on Thursday. So, we returned to the house, and he studied the new computer books. Tag finished one and started the second when Tina arrived. Tutoring lasted until five, and we had dinner. Tag retired to his room to do forms and stretching, read through the second book, and fell asleep.

He had another dream, and this time, Tag was in a van watching two men watching screens that showed the interior of the Smith’s house. They were talking about what Smith was working on, and Nelson was pissed he lost all the money he fronted Smith for this operation. One man asked if Nelson had ever discovered who gave Smith leads on some super student. The other man said he only heard Smith say once he was banging the married bitch, and all she did was complain about what a pain in her son was. She told him how smart he was while doing her a second time. It was costing them a lot, and they wished they could dump his ass on someone else. Did he say her name?

He just mumbled fucking Dee. If her ass weren’t so tight, he would have dropped her weeks ago. Well, that doesn’t give a lot to go on. What happened to the money? Nelson fronted five million to get the kid and turn him into a science experiment. Nelson hasn’t heard back from Smith in weeks, and the money and his crew are gone. Heads are going to roll on this one for sure. Tag searched their memories to find Nelson’s full name, position, and address.

Tag awoke in a sweat, wanting to kill his mother. The bitch tried to sell him for a science experiment. He’ll get the bitch the back a piece at a time. First, her money and then her pride. Maybe an implanted urge to quit her job and become a stripper. Yeah, that sounds like a job for his Mother. Let’s welcome our next dancer to the Pink Pussy with a big applause. Here’s DeeDee.

He did his forms with a new focus. After stretching and a long hot shower, Tag dressed and entered his parents’ room for the first time. He opened drawer after drawer carefully, not showing a search. Finally, in the closet, he found a safe. It was in his Mother’s closet, so Tag focused on the safe and saw the tumblers fall into place. He turned the handle and clicked the sound it opened. It was a good-sized safe, almost 5 feet high and 3 feet wide.

Inside, on the left, was a bunch of diamond and gold jewelry. The right side was filled with boxes. Tag opened one box, which had bank statements from the Cayman Islands. He copied the account number and opened the second box. It was filled with files about people and information that looked like it could be used for blackmail. The third box had more files on people and a file on him. Tag took that one and replaced the box. The final box had cash. It was all cash in stacks banded together. A lot of cash. He took the box and put all the other boxes back in place.

Tag took her cash and his file into my room. Checking the time, he had an hour before Kim showed up. Looking at the money, Tag figured out how to screw dear old Mom. He’ll have Kim stop at the office supply store on the way home from the dojo. A box of paper, a premium paper cutter, and a glue bottle. His file has his birth certificate, which lists his date of birth one year earlier than he was told. What is going on? Then he found an adoption contract, which they gave him away. Next in the file was a copy of a letter from a law firm stating that if they were childless past a certain date in their marriage, the estate of his Grandfather would go to his favorite charities. The whole thing comes into focus. What a Cunt. He’ll get even with both the Bastard and Cunt. Her first, then he will do the same to him, but a slow death.

Tag put everything in his stash and went downstairs for a glass of water. After Kim arrived, we did our thing and had breakfast. Then we went to the dojo and, on the way back, stopped to pick up office supplies and then went home. Tutoring went as usual, and Tag retired to his bedroom after dinner. He did his forms and stretching, then set up a card table and supplies. It took him three hours, but I finished it and returned the box to the bottom of the stack in Mom’s safe. Tag knew he would feel better when it was over, but right now, he just wanted to inflict pain. Death of a 1000 cuts. What a waste of air. Sleep sleep sleep

Friday came, and at 3 a.m., Tag was up doing forms and stretching. He took a long, hot shower and thought about Father dearest’s closet. Does he have a safe, and things could get interesting? So, Tag dressed and headed to his closet. Sure enough, the same safe. Tag was able to open it and found firearms along with a lot of cash and one file box. He opened the box, and it had pictures of people screwing, licking, and some had animals in them. They were for Blackmail, for sure. The file folder tab has the company name and the victim. Something is missing.

Where are the records to keep it all straight? Tag keeps looking and finds a stack of CDs. He goes to his computer, copies them to a portable drive, and replaces the CDs. Tag closed the safe to see what we have. Well, the CDs keep the records straight. Tag is glad he looks up to his Mother and Father. My god, what a bunch of twisted people. Tag needed to contact Grampa and let him know what he found. He encrypted the portable drive and put it into his stash.

Tag headed downstairs, and Kim arrived. We did our exercise, ate breakfast, and headed to the dojo. Sensi has changed to a handgun, and we spend two hours going over moves and counters to disarm or eliminate the threat. Sensi shows Tag the moves, and then Tag has to take it from him. It was easier than the knife. After the dojo, we headed to the tailor to get his final fitting. Tag looked sharp and was worth the price. We head home and have lunch, and then Tina does her thing until dinner.

After dinner, Tag heads up to his room and calls Grampa. He answers, and he says we or you have a problem. Tag asked him to let him speak and then ask questions when he finished. Grampa said he was okay with that, so Tag started. He can’t go into detail over the phone for reasons that should be obvious to you, but he can do certain things, and with all that’s happened, he did a little snooping on my loving mother and father. Mother dearest first. She has a safe in her closet, and he was able to open it.

A lot of stuff you normally put in a safe, but for one file he found very interesting, and so will you. Tag said he would start with the birth certificate. I was born on August 15. 2003. That is interesting; that would make him 10 years old. So, he was thinking, how did he gain a year, and he found an adoption form signed by my loving Mother and Father giving me away or selling it, but it doesn’t say. It lists the birth parents and the adoptive parents on the form. Ok, now I am interested in how my loving parents sold or gave me away, only to take me back a year later. Tag says he knows it’s difficult to follow, but we’re coming to the punchline.

It seems someone from a law firm (withdrawn) wrote to his loving parents about some conditions in your will that, if not met, you give your money away. Well, the Bastard and Bitch bought me back so they could have your money when you pass. I don’t know all the details about the will, but the letter left one giant hole. It says they must have a child but does not state he has to be alive to collect.

So, my loving mother sold me to Mr. Smith for medical research while he was banging her ass literally. Smith told his fellow workers her tight ass was the only reason to keep her around. So, I am guessing my loving parents paid off an employee of the law firm you hired to give them a heads-up on how to collect on your death. Now I know you have questions, so I will provide you with a list of documents I have. Birth certificate, Adoption papers with all the signatures, and the letter from your law firm. Questions? Oh, I forgot my parents are blackmailing their companies and the companies they work with. I’ve seen the photos, and they are not nice. I guess that’s how they have kept their jobs for so long, but who knows? Ok your turn

Grampa took a while to find his voice, and he said not to kill them in their sleep. He would meet personally with his attorney and have his will changed, but no one would have access to it within the office. Please forward the letter from the law firm to my email. Also, send a copy of the birth certificate and adoption paperwork. Are you sure Smith and your mom were having an affair? Tag said that he had just overheard two techs watching Smith’s house. A person named Nelson gave Smith 5 million for the operation. Smith and his crew are gone with all the money, and Nelson is left holding the bag.

The tech said he only heard Smith whisper what he thought was her name Fuckin Dee. He stated that the only reason he kept her around was she had a tight asshole, but she wouldn’t shut the fuck up, her smart son costing her a fortune. She wants someone to deal with him. Grampa asks for details that can’t be answered over the phone. Tag will tell him that face-to-face is best and safest for everyone involved. Oh, by the way, he’s going to a black-tie dinner tomorrow night. I am supposed to be on his best behavior. I even had to go and get a new tux and shoes because of his growth spurt. Wait until they get the bill for the tux. Grampa promises to call Sunday afternoon, and we say goodbye.

Chapter 4

Tag awoke at 3 a.m. on Saturday and did his forms and stretches. Then, take a hot shower and head downstairs for breakfast. After breakfast, he read the last computer book of the legal kind and finished it just before noon. Then Tag ran to the stop and rob for a deli sandwich, chips, and a sports drink, and headed home. After eating, he practiced placing his plastic knives to be ready quickly. Once the placement was finalized, Tag ate an early dinner. These rubber chicken dinners are a real bummer. His note says to be ready at 6 p.m. So here he waits, and no one shows up until 6:45.

On time as usual for a loving family. Not a word is said on the way. Tag wondered where they lived when not home. He first scans his loving Mother, and she has an apartment near work. Tag gets her access codes for the bank accounts and entry codes to the apartment. Now for his loving Father. He is living with his assistant in a company condo. He has two overseas accounts that I now have access to. He could give a flying shit about his bimbo. We arrive, and the fun begins. We enter, and Tag finds it at the Japanese Embassy. My day just turned from upside down back to right side up.

Tag waits for his parents to go through the reception line and drift off. When Tag approaches the ambassador, he bows and introduces himself in Japanese. He thanks the ambassador and his wife for inviting him. He looks shocked and responds in Japanese, he’s glad I came. He requested that Tag sit with his daughter, who speaks little English. Tag agrees, and he introduces him to Mi. We start a conversation and drift around the party. The ambassador proposes a toast, and then dinner is served. The food was great, and he complimented the ambassador for his choices, as we both know, rubber chicken is the standard fare.

That caused quite a bit of laughter from the guests at the table. Tag looked behind the ambassador and saw an Asian man with a machine pistol and heavy tattoos coming in close. As he raises the gun, a plastic knife enters through his right eye. Tag pointed this out and told the ambassador that more were here and coming. Another man comes running in but doesn’t make it far. There were two down and probably a few more. Security has arrived, and they have removed the two hoods. Tag, keep sweeping the crowd. Something isn’t right. Then, two waiters approached, and both received his knives as a welcome, ending the threat.

The ambassador thanked him, and Tag bowed and thanked him for the excellent meal. Tag did ask one favor to keep him out of the spotlight if possible. He said no problem, as we are on Japanese soil and the American government can’t enter without permission. Tag asked the ambassador if it was the yakuza because he saw the tattoos. He acknowledged that there is a war going on now in Japan. Tag looked around, but his parents disappeared and left him alone. He asked Mi if she could arrange for me to get home. His parents left me here alone. A security guard came to the table and returned his knives, which were cleaned and looked as good as new.

Mi’s dad called Tag into the private residence and asked about his training. Tag told him his nanny is Japanese and her uncle owns a dojo. He has been his Sensi for almost a year. He has learned at an accelerated rate due to his teachings. Kim also taught him Japanese over the past several months. The ambassador asked about the knives, and Tag told him he found them at True Value Hardware in the bargain bin for .50 cents each. He took them home and sharpened and balanced them. He’s been practicing with them for two weeks or so.

He just shook his head and said Unbelievable. On a gut feeling, he asked the ambassador to check the security tapes because his parents had left early and didn’t leave by the front door. Tag told him he had a bad feeling that they went through the kitchen and could have let someone in. He just gave me a nod. He told Tag the embassy would supply a car to take him home. Tag gave him his cell number if he needed him for anything and left the embassy by the side door. The driver dropped him off at the house, and he thanked him for the ride. Tag headed upstairs, undressed, climbed into bed, and crashed.

Sunday was the same: up at 3 a.m., forms, stretching, hot shower, get breakfast, and he decided to take one of the underground computer books for a spin. The book was very interesting and had great ideas. The network and server sections captured my interest. Moving around without anyone knowing was exciting and dangerous at the same time. He finished the book and practiced TK’s quick draw, but Tag saw that he was missing defensive movements. Sitting and thinking of ways to disrupt, delay, or cause retreat occupied the rest of the morning.

He didn’t realize how late it was until his stomach protested loudly. Tag ran to the stop and rob for food. He ate there and continued to the hardware store. After Saturday night, some protection was needed. Advanced warning, traps, and escape were his focus. He found a great wireless infrared detector that hooked up to a small receiver. It would start beeping when the detector was tripped. He picked up some clear 30lb test fishing line, a door bar that braces between the door and floor, and a fire escape ladder.

Walking around thinking what else he needed, he returned and picked up a second infrared and long-lasting batteries. Tag stopped by the bargain bin, grabbed another dozen plastic knives, and saw air horns on sale. He picked up three and checked out. Arriving home, he installed a door brace and surveyed for the best placement on infrareds. He put one pointing away from the garage down the driveway. The second one he placed covered the stairway hall and den. The stairway was the major concern. He added one air horn to his go bag and put another by his bed.

The last one in his stash. Tag checked the go bag and added cash for $10,000. He left the fishing line out for the time being. It was getting late, so he had a Maria-frozen dinner and retired. Tag called Grampa and told him what happened, along with his parents’ disappearance, and he said he would check it out. Tag did his forms and stretching and went to sleep.

3 a.m. dam! Upwards and getting onto his program. Nothing changed for the two weeks. His schedule was set and went like clockwork. The only major thing to note was that his parents had disappeared. Grampa found they were missing from work and had not visited the condo or apartment. Tag went into his Father’s safe and repeated the process he had done with his Mom. The only difference was that he left the top layer whole. Tag also went into his loving parents’ accounts online, withdrew all but 10K, and transferred the balance to his account but routed through 6 other banks. Those underground books had great ideas for hiding funds.

Let me see what else. Oh, we progressed to martial arts weapons re: bos, swords, nunchaku, staffs, and a few he forgot. Let’s not forget throwing stars. He had a lot of learning and a great deal of pain. Tutoring remained on schedule with Pam and Tina. Saving the best for last, he was invited to a black-tie affair at the Japanese Embassy on Saturday at 6 p.m. Tag called and ordered a town car for the night. Since this was Monday, we had plenty of time to get ready. After clearing it with the embassy, he invited Kim and Sensi, and they accepted. The excitement screwed up our schedule for training, but tutoring went on as scheduled. We had dinner, and he offered to take Kim shopping for a new outfit (my treat), and she accepted. What a mistake! We closed the mall, and they were pushing us out. At least she had what she wanted, which only cost his parents $1800. We somehow managed to get my tux to the cleaners on the way to the mall. So, we were all set and dead tired. Sleep