[Dove]
“What the hell, Dove!”
His voice thundered through the forest air, shaking the spectator trees.
I slowly straightened and turned to him, furious. “Stop yelling at me!”
“I’ll stop yelling if you start doing it properly.” He stomped over with an exaggerated rage.
“I’ll do it properly if you start giving me clearer instructions, you ox!”
This was a bad idea, I thought. Isn't he mighty and skillful? Why can’t he give better instructions? Stamp here. Strike here. Punch here. How can anyone remember all that without explanations?
He closed his eyes and drew in a large deep breath. Exhaling, he opened his eyes and stepped behind me.
“Alright, listen.” His voice was calmer.
“I’m listening.”
“Stop talking back. Listen,” he warned.
I rolled my eyes at the tree I broke yesterday.
His hand came on my shoulder and he said, “If someone sneaked up on you from behind.” He paused to clear his throat and then continued, “First, you grab his hand.”