Shakespeare's Trollop Read Online Free PDF

the largest and darkest man in the class, said, “She should’ve drawn her kick back quicker.” I let go of Janet, though Marshall hadn’t told me to, because she was beginning to have trouble keeping her balance. Janet looked relieved to have both feet on the floor, and she nodded to me by way of saying thanks.
    â€œShe shouldn’t have kicked at all,” Becca Whitley rebutted.
    â€œWhat should Janet have done instead?” Marshall asked her, a sweep of his hand inviting Becca to show us. She got up in one fluid movement. Becca often braided her hair for class—and she’d done so tonight—but she didn’t lay off the makeup. Her toenails were bright scarlet, which for some reason struck me as improper for karate…though scarlet toenails didn’t seem to bother Marshall, and it was his class.
    Marshall Sedaka, our sensei , was also the owner of Body Time, where we were holding the class in the big aerobics room. I’d known Marshall for years. At one time, he’d been more to me than a friend. Now he straightened and moved closer to get a better view.
    Janet moved away and Becca took her place, lifting and cocking her leg slowly so everyone could see what she meant to do.
    â€œSo,” she said, her narrow face intent, “I kick, like so….” Her foot began moving toward my abdomen, as Janet’s had. “Then Lily takes a little hop back and her hand reaches for my ankle. That’s what she did with Janet.”
    I obliged, imitating my movements of moments ago.
    â€œBut,” continued Becca cheerfully, “that was a feint. I snap it back and aim it higher this time.” Her leg floated back toward her, bent double at the knee, and lashed out again at my head. Becca was one of the few people in the class who could even attempt a head kick with any hope of success. “See,” Becca pointed out, “she’s leaning to reach my ankle, so her head’s a little lower than usual.”
    I held still, with some effort, while Becca’s foot with its bright nails flashed toward my face. Becca pulled the kick about an inch from my nose. I exhaled, I hoped silently. Becca winked at me.
    â€œGood move, Becca,” Marshall said. “But not an option open to many of the people in this class. Carlton, what would you do?”
    Carlton was my next-door neighbor. He owned a little house almost identical to mine on Track Street, so if I stood facing my house, his would be on the right, and the Shakespeare Garden Apartments slightly uphill to my left. With his thick dark hair and large brown eyes, Carlton, single and self-supporting, was a real honeypot to Shakespeare’s buzzing little hive of single women. Carlton went from one to the other, dating one for a month or two, then another; he wasn’t as reckless as Deedra by a long shot, but he wasn’t as careful as I was, either. In karate, Carlton was too slow and cautious, to his detriment. Maybe that caution, that deliberation, came from his being an accountant.
    â€œI wouldn’t kick at Lily at all,” Carlton said frankly, and Janet and Raphael laughed. “I’m heavier than she is, and that’s my only advantage with her. I’d try to strike her harder and hope that would take her out of the fight.”
    â€œCome try.” Marshall returned to his spot against the wall.
    With a marked reluctance, my neighbor scrambled to his feet and approached me slowly, while Becca folded gracefully to the floor with the rest of the students. I dropped into my fighting stance, knees slightly bent, one side turned toward Carlton.
    â€œI’m supposed to stand and let him try to hit me?” I asked Marshall.
    â€œNo, give him some trouble,” Marshall directed, so Carlton and I began circling each other. I moved in a sort of smooth, sideways glide that kept me evenly balanced. My hands were up, fisted and ready. Carlton was a lot taller and heavier than