1 comments/ 12902 views/ 0 favorites Luna's Love Life Ch. 01 By: Sarastro Luna's Love Life Ch. 01: Changes *Author's note [for ch. 01 only]: Luna Anderson, 18-year-old national champion of freestyle Kung Fu for women, is a bisexual brunette unhappily in love with the girl she's grown up with almost as a sister in Kalispell, Montana: blond and busty Tina Olsen. The story as presented here begins in 1999 and will chronicle the next many years of Luna's life and her male and (mostly) female lovers. There is a lot of build-up before things get explicit, in order to make the erotic content feel all the more meaningful and heart-felt. I hope it works as well for you as it does for me! And please send me feedback if you have any comments. And please vote if you like what you read!* =========== Friday, month of June. Just before noon the phone in my room rings. I don't hear it, since I'm going through a number of Kung Fu waza (freestyle kata; personalized techniques) in the garden, polishing my jeet kune do. Mom gets the phone and yells at me, "Phone, dear! It's Tina!" I power down, letting my muscles relax and the adrenaline subside. It takes all of three seconds. I turn around and leap onto the porch and up the stairs to my room. As I grab the phone, I hear my best friend Tina scream in my ear, "Eeeeee, *Luuuna*, I did it!! I won the National Merit Scholarship!!! I'm going to UCLA!!!" This is great news! I enthusiastically join in. "Eeeee, Teeena, that's so *great*!! I can't believe it! Your I.Q. must be off the scale, girlfriend!" "Betcha! Hey, you coming over to celebrate tonight? My dad is pulling out all the stops for *this* party!" "Of course! Yeah! You can't keep me away! When should I show?" "The others will arrive about five - we're having the greatest barbecue garden party you ever saw! You come over a bit sooner, okay? Like, around four." "Okay, I will. And Tina - congratulations! I can't *believe* it!!" "I know!! It's so amazing! But, I gotta go - we'll talk soon! See ya!" "Yeah, bye!" Hoo-boy... So she actually did it! To be entirely honest, I didn't think she would. Granted, she's a member of Mensa - as am I -, but... the National Merit Scholarship! That's the most prestigious scholarship in the country! It pays not only for the education, but for lodging and books, and allowance money on top of that! Nope, I did *not* expect Tina to win that. Especially since I always considered myself more intelligent than her, even if I'm not very interested in subjects like math and physics (which mean a lot in the NMS test). Oh, well. While I didn't expect it to happen to her, it sure couldn't have happened to a more deserving person! God, I'm so happy for her! I wonder why I never realized she was such a genius! I guess the intellectual level of the people we associate with (each other especially!) must simply be that much higher than the average! And now Tina has earned the fullest opportunity to put those mental skills of her to use. She's going to UCLA. California. Whereas I, who never could discipline myself enough to attain any *really* great test scores, stand before nothing but common college in Helena, Montana. Ugh. Helena is the single most boring city in the world - except possibly Bozeman! Yuck. And, if Tina and I get separated like this, I really fear for the future of our friendship. Hmmm. I've gotta do something. Something independent. I've been longing to move away from home for more than a year now. I ought to put thought into action, I really ought. Four o'clock slowly rolls around, and I find myself at Tina's place. I walk around the house straight to the garden, where Tina's mother and a couple of her cousins are setting up the barbecue gear. They say hello, and smile like they just won a million dollars in the lottery. I smile back and go inside the house to find Tina. She's up in her first-floor room. "Oh, Luna!" she exclaims as soon as she sees me, and throws her arms around my neck. We hug forcefully and kiss each other on the cheek. Tina is still so moved by her fantastic NMS test result she received in the mail this morning, and the as yet unspoken implication that it will probably spirit us a couple of thousand miles away from each other once college begins, that she doesn't let go of me for several minutes. As we stand there hugging, pressing our soft bodies close to each other, I involuntarily feel a slight jolt in my clitoris. I have reacted like this to Tina's well-curved body for years (especially during the numerous showers we've taken together, both in the gym and at home), but although I feel a certain arousal, I never act on it. I may be bisexual, but I don't think Tina is, and I hate to think of what it could do to our friendship if I got "fresh" with her. We've known each other since grade school, and, both of us being an only child, Tina's the sister I never had, and vice versa. She's hands down the best friend I've ever had, and one of the only really close ones, too. If I were to lose her, I don't know what I'd do. Tina presently takes me back down the stairs and out into the garden, holding my hand. In the far side of it, we can sit on the garden hammock and talk undisturbed. First we simply gaze compassionately into each other's eyes. Ordinarily, we would start a serious conversation with some small talk, and joke around a bit, but this is beyond that. Tina says, with a lump in her throat and messy strands of blond hair obscuring my view of her face, "If... If I could have anything I wanted right now, I would wish for the scholarship to include both of us." "Oh, Tina!" I say, and we hug again for a long while, tears in our eyes. It feels so much like love. I make my final decision then and there. In a low voice, I speak into her ear, my chin resting on her shoulder, our hands stroking each other's backs. "Listen, Tina... I won't be going to Helena." She stops moving her hands, lifts her face and looks straight into my brown eyes. Her expression is one of caution and disbelief - Am I joking? "What? What do you mean...?" I answer her in a clear and resolute voice. She knows I'm serious. "I've decided to take a premature sabbatical year. College will still be there next year, or the year after. Also, I'm moving away from home. I need to get out on my own. I'm thinking about taking up residence in... California?" I say the last bit with a casual air, concluding with a knowing smile. Tina's face lits up for a second, then gets serious again. "Luna!! Do you really think you should?!" she says in a very low voice. "Yep." Tina isn't as convinced that this is the right thing for me to do as I am, though. She says in a harsh, motherly voice that is almost a whisper, "Aren't you worried you'll be throwing away an opportunity?!" "Look, girl, the college in Helena is nothing special. In fact it's so ordinary and average that I get nauseous just thinking about it! I'll do at least as well trying to get into better and more prestigious colleges elsewhere. There is a world outside Montana, and I want to be a part of it! My mind is made up. I'm going to California!" Tina still isn't convinced. She says, "Well, I don't want to talk you *out* of it - but I just want to be sure you know what you're doing. I think sometimes you can be a little rash..." "That's because I'm usually totally *unrash*!" I nearly yell. "Sometimes you just gotta pull yourself together and take the steps that'll make a difference in your life! I am, frankly, sick and tired of Montana!" She calms me down a bit by holding both my hands. I look tenderly into her blue eyes. "And - you know, I'd just hate to be two thousand miles away from *you*." At this, we once again hug and let out our tears. How can two people love each other this much...? Tina makes a decision of her own. "We need to talk this through, girlfriend. Wait a minute." She gets up and goes into the house, and comes back out with her father in tow. "Dad, Luna and I need some time alone to talk. Would you mind if we took the Bronco and drove up to Columbia Falls for the weekend? We could leave after the party tonight..." "What! You mean, two young girls camping alone for a whole weekend?! Why, you could meet all kinds of madmen up there!" "Daddy, I know you want to protect me from any harm, but I'll have Luna. She's the national Kung Fu champ, remember? She'll keep us safe, won't you, Luna?" "Uh, yeah! I'm not gonna let any crooks near Tina, sir! She'll be as safe as the federal reserve!" My Kung Fu, although I really only use it at tournaments and to keep in shape, does come in handy sometimes. My father was always a martial arts nut of the sofa variety, meaning that he never got around to actually practice it himself, so he and mom made me take Kung Fu lessons ever since I was five, and I must say it was a great idea. I've been a black-belt since I was 12, and the physical benefits of the training have been amazing. Strength, speed, dexterity, focus, self-confidence, self-reliance; I've made these concepts part of my personality, and fused the capabilities of my body with those of my spirit - in a zen sort of way. Most people don't understand what that means, of course. I've been practising jeet kune do for the past three years, developing my own personal fighting style. I've won no end of tournaments and competitions; they say I'm the best female Kung Fu practitioner outside Asia (and I guess they're right, since no non-Asian woman has beaten me since I was 16). Many of my U.S. competitors jokingly refer to me as "Miss Lee"... Of the men who beat me, three became boyfriends of mine for a while (well, not at the same time, obviously). When they taught me enough to beat them, however, they suddenly didn't like me anymore. Funny; I wouldn't have pegged zen guys like those to be control freaks. On the other hand, in a way I guess I *was* just using them... "Well..." says Tina's father reluctantly, "I suppose it's all right then... *If* you sleep in the car and not in a tent, okay?" "Of course, dad." "Right. You girls go have yourselves a good time, then - *after* the party!" He smiles and kisses Tina on the cheek. She smiles back, "Thanks, dad!" She turns to me. "So - we're going camping tonight!" "Great!" I say, and mean it. A couple of days alone with Tina will do me a world of good. Soon after, the guests start arriving. Tina has obviously invited most of her high school friends, plus every one of her cousins, uncles and aunts living in Kalispell. We have a good time, some great laughs and some amazing barbecued venison, but we don't really get another chance to talk much until around 11:30 PM when the last guests leave. We take a quick shower since we won't be getting another for the next 48 hours, and then start packing food and blankets and other necessities into the Bronco, under Tina's dad's supervision. "Are you sure you aren't too tired to make the trip tonight?" he asks a little nervously. Tina reassures him, "It's only a 90 minute drive, dad! We'll manage!" Tina's dad is very prone to worry, and Tina is his only child. If he wasn't even more prone to spoiling her, he probably wouldn't let her go. I reassure him time and time again that anybody who tries to harm a hair on Tina's head won't get away with it without a couple of broken bones to consider. And, we make sure to have a cellular phone handy so we can call if there's any trouble. He seems convinced at last, and sends us on our way. Continued in ch. 02... Luna's Love Life Ch. 02 Luna's Love Life, Ch. 02: Making Plans We arrive safely at Columbia Falls and drive up to a vantage point with a good view (and near a public toilet). Of course, it's about 1 AM and pretty dark right now, but it'll look great in the morning. We retract the seats in the Bronco, roll out an underlay and unpack our sleeping bags. We slide the sunroof open a bit, so we can watch the stars. We decide to zip our sleeping bags together and share the double-sized result. Dressed only in t-shirts and panties, we creep into the bag and snuggle up to each other, enjoying each other's body heat. Completely without shyness or modesty, Tina embraces me and presses her body against mine. It feels fantastic, and I reciprocate. How often I have wanted us to lie like this, naked thighs entwined, arms around each other's necks... When Tina quietly speaks to me, she does so with greater tenderness than I've ever received from her before. "So, Luna, luv, - what's all this about going to California? Do you have a cunning plan to keep me company at UCLA?" She runs a hand up my side, her thumb brushing the side of my left breast. "Yes - actually, I do," I say. We nuzzle our faces in each other's hair. "I'm all ears, darlin'." Tina just whispers; we're so close that nothing more is necessary. "Well - California has always beckoned to me. I want some more excitement in my life, you know? I want to be out on my own for a while, taking care of myself, having a life of my own - which of course you'll always be part of." My hands climb down Tina's back and briefly caress one of her buttocks. "M-hm?" "You know you will." I lovingly stroke Tina's hair. "Anyway - what I have in mind is to rent a place in Santa Monica, near Venice Beach, and stay there for a while. I can always get a job as a local Kung Fu instructor, you know. I'd like to get to know some people, get a taste of the beach life - And I'd be within driving distance of you. I also plan to do a tour of Californian universities and offer myself to them. Hopefully, I can make a sufficiently good impression for one of them to accept me." "Yes," said Tina, "I think you probably can. That's not such a bad idea, Luna. I like it. You think it'll work out?" "If I want it to, it will. Synchronicity, you know!" We both smile. "What about your parents? They expect you to attend the college in Helena." "I'll just have to tell them I've changed my mind. I'm not going to let them govern my life anymore; if they're unhappy with my decision, it's all the more reason for me to get away from them. I'm not their little girl anymore." "Guess I can't argue with that!" says Tina and nests her head in the hollow of my neck. We lie like that for a while, then I say, with a wicked smile, "You know, I always wanted to parade up and down Venice Beach in a bikini!" Tina lets out a small laugh. "You'd look great, too!" "Even if I don't fill out a bikini quite as well as you do...?" I say with a smile, and teasingly run the tips of three fingers across the firm flesh of Tina's right breast, avoiding contact with the nipple. She shows no sign of minding the touch. "Aw, I may have bigger breasts than you do, Luna, but your face is prettier than mine..." She gently runs a couple of fingers across my face. I smile, and kiss Tina on the cheek. Tina then says, "The stars are so clear. You can't see them properly, can you? C'm here..." She rearranges her position, moving from her side to lie on her back, spreading her legs and motioning for me to lie between them, with my back on her crotch and abdomen, my head resting between her firm breast mounds, giving me a better view through the sunroof. God, what a comfortable and pleasant way to lie, nestled between all Tina's softest curves and feeling the heat from her sex on my back. As we look towards the stars, Tina slides her hands underneath my t-shirt and caresses the skin of my stomach. My hands meanwhile run up and down the sides of her thighs and hips which are the only parts of her I can comfortably reach. We do this for many minutes, but let it stay at that. Although I'm hot and wet and sweaty and would like to go further, I dare not let this sensual situation become sexual, for fear that Tina might not approve. I'd rather preserve and cherish what we have now than risk a rejection, no matter how unlikely it might be. I’m that scared to lose her. When we've had our fill of stars, we once more move to lie next to each other, and shortly thereafter fall asleep. We spend the next day taking some lovely hiking walks along the trails and paths around the Falls. As I flesh out my plans to Tina, we also start making plans for what we're going to do together in California. Tina offers to stash my stuff in her apartment on UCLA campus until I find a place of my own. "What sort of place do you think you can get?" she asks me. "Well, I have a plan for that, too. I'm going to take advantage of being an attractive woman - I intend to drive up and down along Highway 1 and pick out some cool houses, and then I'll simply drop a note with an ingratiating photo and my cell phone number through their mail slots, and see if they'll rent out a room to a pretty girl!" "My *God*, Luna! Are you serious?!" "Yep!" "But what if it's a drug lord's house or something?!" "And what if it's a movie star's house? Couldn't you picture me living with Christian Slater?" I strike a pretentious pose and we both laugh out loud. I continue, "I know what you mean, but it's not like I can't defend myself, you know. I'll take my chances. If one place turns out to be bad, I can just take the next. Don't worry; it'll be a doozy!" "Yeah...! You better not tell your parents, though!" "About *that* part, no! They'll think I'm living in some nice small apartment somewhere. I'll have a post office redirect my mail." "You know, Luna, if you get to live in a huge mansion I'm gonna be *so* jealous!" I smile."You can come stay with me whenever you want." "Mmm. It's gonna be great, isn't it?" "Sure is - It's going to be the best thing that ever happened to us." We once again smile at each other. We reach a great panorama point, and we just stand there for a while, taking in the sight of the marvelous Columbia Falls. Continued in ch. 03... Luna's Love Life Ch. 03 Luna's Love Life, Ch. 03: The Arrival California, here we come! My parents didn't object to my plans at all, though they were a bit worried about my postponing college like that. But they accepted my decision and did their best to help out. Dad's loaning me his Dodge van to move my stuff to UCLA in - not that I have a lot of stuff; just the usual, really: a desk, my PC, a swivel chair, a bed, a bureau, a cupboard and my precious basket chair - and my clothes. Oh, and my stereo set, and my CDs and books, of course. And a few Kung Fu accessories. Almost enough to fill a van, actually. Tina has loaded her dad's spacy Ford Bronco with her things, and we're about ready to leave. Outside Tina's parents' house, our various relatives and high school friends have gathered to see us off. Amid much teary-eyed sentimentality, we get the good-byes over with and get into our cars. We wave a last good-bye to the people we leave behind, and swing out on the highway. We hit the speeder and kick into gear. And Kalispell diminishes behind us. Tina calls me up on the cellular. "So, girlfriend, this is it! We're finally on our own!" "Yeearh!! Our first taste of true freedom!" "Yes, well - it'll be a pretty short freedom as far as I'm concerned; going to the university doesn't leave time for a whole lot of other activities... Or so I'm told!" "Right! But at least we have a few weeks to get settled before you start. Geez, I'm so excited about this! It's gonna be like another world, Tina." "Yes, I think you're right. The first day in the rest of our lives...! New territory, new people - new *guys*!!" "Yeah! L.A. attracts all kinds, both good and bad. We'll just have to find the good ones, eh?" "M-hm. That goes double for you and that crazy scheme of yours! Do you actually intend to do it?" "Absolutely. I've already made the notes with a photo and this phone number. I'm sure it'll work out great!" There is one thing I'm not telling Tina. When I get a room offered to me, as I'm confident I will, I'm going to suggest to the owner that I pay for it with sex (provided he's reasonably attractive and nice, of course). I know, I know; it's outrageous. But I feel like being outrageous. I'm not a china doll who'll break at the slightest squeeze. I like sex, and I haven't had too much of it lately. And when I did have it, it was never quite enough. I'm a very sensual person, and sexual urges are part of that sensuality. I've never really had the chance to really give myself over to the sexual act; to revel in it; to do it for the sake of pure pleasure - pleasure both to me and the guy, of course. Or girl. I *have* done that a few times, and it was great while it lasted, but what I really want, at least for a while, is to try it as a lifestyle. It would be like a fantasy: sex every day, and no need to masturbate. Bodies locked in physical intimacy, taking pleasure from each other's pleasure... Oooh, gets me all worked up just thinking about it... My right hand would be crawling down between my legs about now, if it wasn't because I'm holding the cellular, talking to Tina... "I *would* try to talk you out of it, girlie," says Tina, "but, damn, it's so outrageous that I can't help being excited about it! Visiting you in one of those huge beach mansions, sunbathing on the penthouse floor...! Wheeee!" "Ya! And it's gonna happen!" About 48 hours later, our cars swing onto the UCLA campus. God, it's big! And the university buildings themselves are all surrounded by on-campus apartment complexes filled with students. Tina calls me up again. "Awright, we're here! Now we just have to find my apartment in this maze... It's #3128... Should be up this way, somewhere - Oup! I think I see it! Follow me!" We drive onto the parking lot next to the small apartment complex, housing some 16 apartments. Rather small ones, of course, but pretty nice. Tina's is a second floor apartment. We go up to check it out. Tina's key fits. We go in. Ah - not bad. One room, well-sized, adjacent kitchen, well-equipped, and a separate bathroom, very nice-looking and not too small. Gilded faucets, no less! "This is great!" I say. "Yeah! It's bigger than the room I had back home! Which, granted, doesn't say much, but... I like this! This is okay!" "Is, too! And look, there's even a phone - we'd better call home to let the folks know we've arrived." Tina grabs the phone and dials her home number. As the phone in the other end rings, her lips form the words "It works!" to me. "Charlotte Olsen speaking." "Mom? It's me! I'm calling from the apartment on campus! We're here!" "Dearest! Thank goodness you've arrived safely! Did the trip go well? What's the apartment like? Are you settled yet? Oh, dearie, your father is just about to rip the phone out of my hands!!" Tina laughs. "Okay, okay, put him on!" "Honey?" "Dad! We're here, we're healthy, and everything's great!" "Oh, thank God! I miss you so much already, sweetie. You didn't have any problems during the drive there?" "Of course not, or we would have called! There's nothing to worry about!" "I'll be the judge of that, young lady! I'll worry if I want to!" "Yes, you will, won't you?" Tina says smilingly. "So, are you settled in yet...?" "No, we just got here five minutes ago. It's a great place, dad! This is a really neat apartment, and there's full of green grassy areas outside. And the climate is *amazing*! Hot, but so fresh and breezy that it doesn't get unpleasant." "Yes, I know! Your mom and I went there on a vacation a year or so before you were born." "Well, we have to unpack before it gets dark. I'll call again tomorrow, okay, dad? Give my love to mom." "Wait! Sweetheart... about the Bronco - You don't have to bring it back... Keep it." Tina's jaw drops an inch. She looks at me, eyes wide and face contorted in disbelief. She puts her hand on the mouthpiece and whispers to me, almost in shock, "He's giving me the Bronco!!" She removes her hand and says to her father, her voice weak and almost sobbing, "But... dad... I can't - You *love* that car!" "Well, guess who I love even more, honey." "Oh dad! I don't know what to say..." "Don't say anything. Whatever happens, just remember that I couldn't be more proud of you. Okay? We'll talk again soon." "I love you, dad. Very much." "... Me, too, sweetheart. Me, too. Bye." They hang up. Tina turns to look at me, teary-eyed head cocked to one side. "You *lucky* bastard!" I say in mock-outrage, rolling my eyes. "No way *my* parents are gonna let *me* keep the *van*! Sheesh...!" Tina smiles and gives my shoulder a friendly push, saying, "Okay, okay! So he spoils me like nobody's business! Can *I* help that?!" "Nope. And you wouldn't if you could!" I grin at her, and we both burst out laughing. We spend the rest of the evening unpacking. Tina's apartment is big enough to hold most of our stuff, but not quite all of it. Fortunately, there is a storage facility on campus for leftover furniture and such, and we stash the rest of the stuff there. We have some canned food and a little bit of ice cream before we turn in. Sharing Tina's bed, we lie close together and enjoy each other's body heat. I imagine we are lovers. Those familiar little ecstatic jolts repeatedly travel through my body, reaching from my clitoris all the way out to my fingers and toes, causing tiny twitches that Tina doesn't notice. After a while, Tina rolls over, with her back to me, already half-asleep. I embrace her and spoon my body into hers, my knees against the hollows of Tina's knees, my crotch against her soft buttocks, and my chest closely against her warm back. This is quite a bit closer than we usually lie during sleep-overs, but Tina doesn't complain. She's sleeping now. As for me, lying like this, I can't fall asleep. Tina's body seems to get still hotter, and my crotch is getting still wetter. I fight the urge to finger myself right now and here; I force myself to just enjoy the semi-orgasmic haze caused by my body's sexual tension... God, this is nice. *So* nice. Oh Tina... It's a long while before I finally do fall asleep. Continued in ch. 04... Luna's Love Life Ch. 04 Luna's Love Life, Ch. 04: Venice Beach Roamin' California, Day One! God, did you ever see weather as great as this?! Tina and I are headed for Venice Beach, to make good on our threat to terrorize the place with our bikinis! We park the Bronco all the way up at Santa Monica Beach, and then make our way toward Venice Beach on foot. The pacific seaside is a beautiful sight. Palms adorn the paved pathways that zigzag through grassy and sandy areas. Aerobics teams are working out on the beach, rollerblade runners and mountain bike riders zip by all the time, and vendors and parlors sell everything from sunglasses to jewelry to clothes to posters - and more sunglasses. Tina and I do get our share of whistles and remarks/offers as we stroll along the beach, just as we had hoped! We smile, but don't encourage anybody. Voluptuous bikini-clad girls attract customers to pizza and hot dog places - and we finally reach Muscle Beach! Big guys pumping iron. I'm not really that attracted to huge-muscled guys, but I still have to say that there *is* something fascinating about large muscles. Followed by a hesitant Tina, I climb onto the work-out podium and shine my sexiest smile at the guys. It has quite an effect. Two of them come over, grabbing one of my outstretched arms each and lifting me over the fence. As they do so, I maintain my smile and slowly and sensually lick my lips, showing the guys a hint of erotic promise. I feel drenched in freedom right now. And as an attractive young woman, I have a lot of power over men. And I intend to use both to the fullest. Tina stays on the other side of the fence, watching, and wondering what I'm up to. I softly bite my lower lip, acting as if I'm extremely impressed, saying, "My, what big muscles you boys have!" One of the guys is clever enough to pick up on the "little Red Riding Hood talking to the wolf" strand. "All the better to protect young innocent girls from harm!" This guy is also the best-looking of the lot. "Ooh!" I say as I feel the guy's biceps. They *are* impressive, and I once again lick my lips, this time for my own pleasure. "What's your name, big boy?" I say. "Les," Les says. I lean up against his naked torso. "Say, Les, d'you think I could try one of those weight-thingies...?" Les smiles and says, "Sure! Why don't you start with this one - a twenty-pounder!" He hands me a twenty-pound weight. "Weeeell... I was thinking of something more along the lines of *this* one..." I put my hands on a much larger weight, resting on a weight rack behind Les. Les laughs. "Oh, you can't lift that one, baby! It's a hundred-and-sixty pounds! As much as a grown man!" Making no further comment, I gently push Les aside and place myself in front of the weight rack, my back to it, and my front turned out toward the iron-pumping guys. I put on my most sultry face as I watch their reactions to what I'm about to do. Breathing in, I muster my chi; releasing my full physical strength, and injecting my bloodstream with several gushes of adrenaline. I lower my body by bending my knees, and reach back for the weight without taking my eyes off the guys' faces. As I pick it up, and my legs and arms quite suddenly display a rippling set of distinctly well-toned muscles, covered only by the thinnest film of feminine fat, several of the guys gasp out loud, and they all drop their jaws in astonishment. Their eyes grow even wider as I straighten my body and virtually effortlessly lift the weight up higher, holding it steadily above my head for what seems like several minutes (but actually is just a few seconds), and then lower it and place it back on its rack - and I never even trembled. I flash a knowing "fooled ya!" smile at the guys. "Jesus!" says Les, "Uh, you're not entirely new at this, are you?" "Not entirely...!" I admit. "How long've you been working out, then?" "Oh... about eleven years." "I can believe *that*! That's quite some pecs you got there, now that you flex up!" "Thanks. Yours aren't half bad, either. Say, Les, can you tell me where there is a dojo near here? I'm thinking about taking on some Kung Fu classes..." "Dojos? Hmm, my man Leonard would know about that - Hey, Len! Over here!" A tall blond guy doing Tai Chi on the beach turns around and approaches us. His hair's in a pony-tail and he's wearing a gi - the traditional white martial arts outfit. Looks like a nice guy - moves with strength and confidence, too. "What's up, Les?" he says, and is obviously distracted by the smile I'm throwing at him. "See, this girl here wants to take Kung Fu lessons. Isn't there some place around here where she can do that?" Len looks at me. Then it hits him. "Kung Fu...? But... but you're... aren't you...?" I curtly nod, and smile. Len turns to Les, obviously shaken. "Les, my thick-skulled friend, this girl does not need *lessons*! If anything, she's the *teacher*! This is Luna Anderson, the national champion of freestyle Kung Fu! She's number... what...?" "Eight," I humbly volunteer, deftly pretending to be much more interested in checking out the top of the nearest palmtree. Len continues, "Number eight on the world rank list of top Kung Fu fighters, male *or* female!" "Oh." says Les. "How was I to know that?" Len turns to me again and stretches out his right hand. "It's an honor to meet you, Ms. Anderson! What are you doing around these parts?" "I've just moved here, actually. That's why I'd like to find a dojo near here, and see if I can take on some classes." "Oh, I can't imagine that would be a problem. Ah - There is a sho-kan dojo half a mile up the beach - It's only Karate, but I'm sure they'd be glad to have you drop by for a demonstration. If you do demonstrations...?" "Oh, sure! I don't mind." "Then, there's a brand new high-profile Wing Chun dojo back in Santa Monica -" "Ah, good old Wing Chun! Right in Santa Monica? Couldn't be more convenient!" "- I just know *they'd* be scrambling to hire someone of your caliber. There's a lot of competition and prestige race between the wing chun dojos in California. The one in San Fran is run by that guy, Fraser..." "Yes, Auberon Fraser. I know. We've met." "Yes, of course... Well, if the Santa Monica dojo gets *you* to direct its training program, that'll be a major feather in its hat! They'll want to arrange tournaments and all, to show you off to their competitors..." "Yeah - I'm used to that. It's pretty fun. What about yourself? What do you train, apart from Tai Chi?" "Oh, I'm into Aikido and Taekwon-Do. Not as fancy as Kung Fu, but I like it." "Black belt?" "Yeah." "In both? "Yeah." "That's pretty impressive!" "I... get by." "I'm sure you do. Look, thanks for the info, Len! You, too, Les! We'll move on now - See you guys soon, okay?" With that, I join Tina again. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Tee." "Oh, nothing to be sorry about. I was quite enjoying the show! You're really in your element when you're with martial arts guys." "I suppose. I like being with people who know what I can do, and respect me for it. It feeds my ego and strengthens my self-confidence at the same time!" "So you'll definitely be taking that teaching job at the Santa Monica dojo?" "Probably - very probably! And tomorrow... tomorrow I have some errands to run - on Highway 1!" We laugh and continue down the sunny lane. Continued in ch. 05...