American Lession

Another day another several hours of working a job she could care less about. Though Laika could have gotten a worse job, working for an old geazer at a dying at a convenience at least gave her the benefit of not having to deal with too many people.
Ding Dong
Except for those who knew she worked there.
"Hey there, are you Laika?" Laika unfocused her attention from nothing to a short woman standing on the other side of her counter.
"Yes. Is something you need?" She repeated the same line she had said a dozen times before.
"Yeah actually do they still sell pork grinds here?" The woman seemed fine, rather energetic, her track suit gave that away, it was unlikely to turn a Karn situation.
"In the back, next to dill chips." She memorized all the shelving, had to do something to kill time.
"Thanks kid." Laika supressed a small laugh, thinking how the woman looked no bigger then Laika was, probably stood about a good foot above her. But when the woman came back Laika switched from bored to cashier mode. Even though she knew the price by heart, still had to scan it.
"5.99 please." She watched the woman pull out a bunch of ones and the exchanged. But when the woman got her bag, she simply opened it in front of Laika and ate one.
"About as good as I remember, knowing Flip this has probably sitting on the shelf since I was kid." Laika nodded, she wasn't into small talk. "You go to school? Royal Woods Academy."
"Is only big school in town."
"Yeah suppose that was dumb question." She had another pork grind. "You sound Russian, Siberia?" For the first time Laika was actually suprised by a customer.
"Yes. I lived there for awhile." Thats all she was willing to confirm at least.
"Yeah I knew some folks from there, Russian  always make a good sparring partners. Cold really does a good job making them some tough stuff." Laika appreciated the compliment to her home and people but found it odd the woman was still here.
"Do you need something else?" The woman stopped.
"Yeah Actually."
She put down the bag and Looked Laika in the eye. The same way a bear looks at a hunter.
"I wanted to know why you threw my daughter in a trash can?"
During Laika's training in camp back when she was a child the best method of deal with a dangerous creature is to look as intimidating as you can. Which is why she stood up from her chair and now over the woman. Despite that, her gaze didn't change.
"I fear I no not what you mean Mam'."
"The names Lynn. Lynn Loud." Oh no, Laika took a breath. The last thing she wanted to deal with someones parent's. Especially Lacy's.
"Yes. I did do that." Her babushka and mother taught her it was impolite to lie to an adult especially when they knew what you did. "But only because daughter would not respect private space." She was also told to be honestly blunt when you believe you aren't in the wrong.(edited)
"Hmm yeah." Lynn posture slumped a bit. "She can be a handful, So I get that. Still though, a bit harsh for someone trying to get to know you." Laika groaned, in hindsight it did a bit extreme but she reasoned that someone as energetic as the The Very loud girl would only listen to an energetic response.
"You daughter seems obsessed with me." Laika tried to explain. "I tell her I have no interest in friendship or being the busom buddies." Lynn laughed at that last line.
"Did she actually say that or is that your broken English?" That sounded like mockery but came as more of genuine question.
"Yes and Yes." And Laika gave a genuine answer.
Lynn kept laughing, Laika started to feel a bit uncomfortable where this was going or what was happening?
"Oh Sunshine, she's too precious. And I get it. You want your space, but the thing about my girl is. She's drawn to people like you." Laika was now even more confused by that statement. "I kinda am too, those folks who seem to have those bottle up emotions. I see a lot as a couch and even more as a trainer. And let me to you something Red, you got a lot of it."
The woman was clearly not a fool, only now Laika saw that her being her was no accident. The only thing she couldn't quite see was the endgame?
"Feel free to say no to this, but could you come out from behind the counter real quick." Was this a challenge, a threat? Maybe she wanted to get a good look at her for later. Despite her instincts telling her to stay, Laika's ego took control as she put down her flip hat and walked to meet Lynn without anything standing between them.
Lynn looked her over again, studying her like a animal. Laika almost felt the need to cover herself because it seemed like the woman was staring through her clothes.
"So tense, relax kid. I'm not going to hurt you. I just wanted to see what you look like and man are you built." Lynn reached and grabbed Laika's arm giving it a squeeze? Whistling a bit.
"Damn girl, how much you bench? That is some solid for a kid your age."
"I do not work out." Laika said nervously. Shaking herself a bit to focus again.
"All natural? Well that'll work for now but unless you get a good regiment thats is going to get pretty imbalanced when you grow up... well more." Lynn looked at her again, Laika wondered why she was presenting herself like this for a woman she only just met. Maybe it was some kind of respect, the woman was clearly strong herself, despite her size. She didn't want to poke the bear.
"So, are we done here?" Laika heard herself almost sound meek, what the hell was wrong with her?
"Almost, I just got one last thing to ask." Lynn took off the top of her track suit revealing her sports bra and exposed abs. She was built, dangerously built. "Punch me."
"I'm-I'm sorry?"
"I know you cant speak english that well but you can understand just fine. I said punch, anywhere you want." Okay now this was getting ridiculous. But she was already here and presented less of an offer and more of a demand.
"I do wish to be fired Mam'" Laika managed to say but Lynn just scoffed.
"Kid, this wouldn't be the first I've been punched in Flips. Knowing him, the guys likely asleep and those cameras have never worked. Now would you please punch me, and don't hold back either, I want the full force, closed fist, whole weight into it. Can you do that?... or are you scared of the little lady?" Lynn grinned knowing that got to Laika.
Closing her first, Laika felt something building, no idea what but it was like a rush of water had been plugged and this little lady had uncorked it. Before she even realized it she was reeling back, and threw her first straight into Lynn's stomach. It had to have been the strongest punch she had ever delivered.
Lynn didn't move an inch.
"Good. Now again." This woman was crazy. But Laika couldn't find reason so she took action and delivered another just as strong.
Laika didn't feel the first one, but she did this time. Those abs were as strong as they looked. Just by weight along it didn't seem possible that Laika hadn't made any kind of impact. Just scrapping her fist against a rock.
"C'mon give me another!" Lynn laughed almost daring her. And Laika felt her rage building, trying harder to hit but with each hit it her first grew whiter and weaker.
By the 10th try Laika was out of breath. Dazed and confused she her mind buzzing with questions that had no answers.
"Done already? Thats sad, I expected a bit more from you. Honestly your lucky my girl likes you, because if she was angrier kid. She'd crack the pavement with your. Or, are you still holding back." Lynn leaned down to the crouching Laika. "Kid you are looking real pathetic right now, I want to see that motherland pride. I want see you go full red rage on me. Show me exactly how much you hate my guts, or is this it? If it is, well then your babushka would be ashamed."
All the water that had built up was gone, that frustation, that hesitance she had whenever someone challenged her. The echo of her mothers words telling her to be good and to not cause trouble. It was gone and now all that was left was a cold rage. The memory of seeing her grandmother one last time before she passed, thats all she needed to think off to find that second wind.
Laika went blind for a moment, she was standing above the woman now, her first making contact with her. Anger dissapearing as soon as it appeared. And she looked down to see her first inches away from Lynn's head.
The only thing stopping it, was the shaking palm the had caught her rage.
"очень хорошо" Lynn said to her with a smile.
She let go of Laika's fist. Laika still felt the the grip as if she had dug claws into her hand.(edited)
"Thats what I wanted to see. But your going to need help venting the rest of that anger out." Lynn picked up her track shirt and pulled out a card. "My gym, its open most of the week, you probably got some time before work or school, so come by well work a set or two and we'll pump out the rest of that aggression" She patted Laika on the shoulder as she grabbed her pork grinds and put some extra money on the counter too.
Laika looked at the card a little dumb bell with a bright letter one in the middle. She felt almost like crushing it but instead just put it in her pocket.
"I won't come." She said to Lynn.
"Yeah you will. And if you don't I can always just get Lacy to bug you until you do. She might be annoying, but she is very convincing." Lynn said as she walked out. "See you there Red."(edited)
Laika watched as she left and went back to her post. She hated to admit it, but she did feel a bit better.
Though she wasn't quite sure why she left the extra money?
Meanwhile outside Lynn had taken a bag of ice from the cooler and was laying it on her stomach to quell the pain
"Damn that kid hit like a train."
fin