Read Online Knockout Games by G. Neri - Free Book Online Page A

life and in the ring! Do you doubt me?”
    â€œNo, Teacher Man!”
    â€œDo you believe you have the will to succeed?
    â€œYes, Teacher Man!”
    And on and on he went. While he had them doing laps around the gym, he spotted us and wandered over.
    â€œMy Million Dollar Baby!” he said to Destiny. “Where you been hiding yourself? I’ve been waiting for you to get in the ring again and show these boys what it takes!”
    She checked her nails. “Nah, I’m retired. Once you KO a cop, you can’t go nowhere but down. I just like to watch now.”
    He nodded. “You and me both.” He noticed me and gave me the once-over. “Fresh meat?”
    â€œHer? Nah, she ain’t the punching type. More like a wrestler.” She winked at me.
    â€œYou never know . . .” He checked my arm muscles. “You could use some work, but you got heft.” He slapped me on the thigh. “Solid. I like it.”
    I gave him the evil eye. “Do that again and you’ll see how much heft I got.”
    â€œThat’s the spirit, ladies!” Teacher Man boomed. “Use that attitude in the ring! Join us anytime, darling!”
    Destiny shook her head. “We ain’t here to box, old man.”
    â€œNo, she’s here to see the champ,” interrupted the Knockout King, who was standing there covered in sweat . . . and yeah, looking more than a little hot.
    â€œGirls are not good for a boxer, Mr. Barnes,” said Teacher Man as he headed back to his guys.
    Kalvin shook his head. “Don’t pay him no mind, Fish. Teacher Man is a funny guy. But he watches out for us. Keeps me out of trouble . . . at least as much as he can.”
    â€œWatch out for that one, ladies!” Teacher Man shouted. “He’ll sucker punch you every time.”
    Kalvin rolled his eyes. “So, you came to see the King do his thing.”
    â€œYou going to get in the ring?” I asked.
    â€œShoulda been here an hour ago. I flattened one of these clowns like Ali. Float like a butterfly . . .” he danced around, shadowboxing.
    â€œRight,” said Destiny. “You said you had plans for us this afternoon?”
    â€œYeah, just give me twenty minutes. Wait over in the video room . . . and make sure them shorties ain’t playing no video games.”
    The video room was some kind of training spot for screening fight videos. It was clear they didn’t know Kalvin’s instructions because the room had been taken over by six or seven Tokers all playing this game called Splatterhouse. It was the goriest video game I ever saw, filled with blood and ripping people in half and all kinds of unimaginable things. Seeing all these boys playing was a trip. Giggles filled the room whenever someone’s head exploded.
    They made room for me to play. Kalvin wasn’t going to be there for awhile, so I sat down with them. I had to admit, it was kind of fun. If anyone tried something on me, that’s what I’d do to them—rip out their spine or cut them in two. But after a few rounds, it became too much. There’s only so much spine ripping I can take.
    Instead, I just talked to them while they played, taking out my camera without them noticing (which wasn’t too hard since their eyes were glued to the screen). I felt it might be good material to sprinkle into the videos. “So how’s it feel to rip someone’s spine out?” I asked.
    I got all kinds of answers. “Like a badass!” “Like I’m immortal.” “Like I can do no wrong!” Things like that.
    I asked them if Knockout was like playing videos, but for real. Most of them liked that comparison. But really, they did it because they liked proving themselves to Kalvin.
    â€œWhat’s playing Knockout mean to you?” I asked.
    They didn’t really have an answer. “I dunno. It’s a game. We play it when we bored.”
    I asked Tyreese if