Sun Wu-K'ung (trustoldmonkey) wrote in forgotten_gods, @ 2008-08-04 15:02:00 |
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Current mood: | accomplished |
Who: Sun Wu-K’ung and OPEN
Where: The sidewalk in front of Li’s Laundry and Drycleaning
When: Late Sunday afternoon
Rating/Warnings: PG for manhandling of punk kids.
The door marked ‘Employees Only’ flew open with the bang of hollow metal receiving a blow, and banged again when it bounced hard against the concrete brick. “Of all the stupid targets,” a man’s voice said over the clamor, “You pick a laundry?”
“Hey – ” a younger, still masculine voice protested, “Oof!” And a teenage boy was neatly flung through the open door onto the sidewalk.
“Uncle! Uncle, wait – ” a second young voice said, but it’s owner, a second teenager, earned himself no mercy by his pleading, and shortly landed on his butt beside his compatriot.
The older man who’d thrown them stepped through the door and leaned against its frame, shaking his head. “Honestly,” he said, “What an idiotic thing to do! And so disrespectful. Mrs. Li is your elder, you pathetic young pups, and you’d do better to remember it! Robbing a laundry! What will your parents say? They will say, ‘Oh Mike, oh Jake, how could you embarrass us in such a fashion! Whatever will the neighbors think? They will think we did not raise you to be pious and decent! Where did we go wrong? What have we done to endure such a disgrace?’ That is what they will say!”
“Aw, Uncle,” the first kid said from his spot on the pavement, not daring to move, “You won’t tell them?”
“That’s ‘Father’ to you!” the man said, “I’m an ordained priest! And who knows what I’ll do or what I won’t? You count yourself lucky I’m letting you go with just those bruises.” He snorted. “You can explain them to your parents yourself.”
“Thank you, Father!” said the second kid, trying to bow politely. This was not particularly effective, since he was already half sprawled on the ground.
“You’d do best to tell them the truth!” the priest said, “You don’t know what I know and what I don’t! Go now!”
By this time the startled passers by had begun to form themselves into a ring to watch the show, and the kids glanced nervously at them before taking their chance for freedom. They scrambled to their feet, and ran.
“Hmm,” Sun Wu-K’ung said to himself, as he watched them go, “And they interrupted my nap. Perhaps I should have mentioned that, too. No! It’s enough lessons for one day: Respect your elders, don’t steal, and remember that kung fu movies are always right about the dangers of ticking off little old monks!”