that I could do the internship.”
“Hmmm… I had no idea about that. My uncle does stuff like that. What did it say, if you don’t mind me asking?”
It was my turn to give him a confused look. “Of course I don’t mind. It’s your business. It just said we couldn’t tell anyone I work for you. Like we have to keep your name confidential, and the hotel name, your uncle’s name, and any personal information I might learn… Basically, I can tell people I’m interning for someone in Vegas, but that’s about as far as it goes.”
“So your family doesn’t know you’re working for me?”
“Nope.”
“That’s crazy. I was wondering why you said you couldn’t tell your girlfriend what you were doing. I was like, what the fuck? Why would someone not be able to tell his girlfriend he got a new job? You care about someone, you don’t keep secrets. At least that’s how I feel about it.”
“Yeah,” I said awkwardly, wishing like hell he wouldn’t bring up the girlfriend I’d lied about.
He cocked his head to the side and bit his lip. “What if I tell people you’re working for me? Is that permitted?”
I thought about it for a second. “I don’t see why not. You didn’t sign anything, did you? I mean, the whole NDA is a safety measure to protect you, so that I don’t tell private things you don’t want me to. If you tell your own business, it’s not private anymore, right?”
“You want me to tell your girlfriend you’re working for me? We could call her right now, and I’ll tell her myself.”
Would he stop already with the girlfriend?
“Um… that’s not necessary. But thanks.” I tried to smile.
“How about your family? They should know where you are. Your mom is probably worried sick.”
“Actually, it would be nice if you could tell my mom. She’s really excited and positive, but I can tell she’s dying to know the details.”
“Yeah, okay,” he said. “You want to call her now?”
I laughed. “No. We can do it later.”
Kage nodded and removed his shoes and socks. I followed suit, and then we made our way to the center of the gym.
“This is Marco, my primary trainer.” He indicated a shorter, balding man who was readying some equipment. “Marco, this is my intern.”
Marco turned around and gave me a sharp looking-over. “Pleased to meet you, Jamie,” he said in a heavy Brazilian accent, clearly already familiar with who I was. “Kage and I are very excited about what you’re going to be doing for him. He says you’re the man when it comes to these things.”
“Uh…” I faltered, but Kage thoughtfully swooped in to save me from humiliation.
“Marco’s main area of expertise is in Muay Thai, but he’s very well-rounded, so he works with me on pretty much everything.” Kage’s voice was full of pride for his coach. “Sometimes I work on boxing down and Ed’s Boxing Club. Then my Jiu Jitsu coach comes in on some afternoons. Just depends on his schedule. Other than that, it’s pretty much just me and Marco.”
“Don’t forget the sparring partners I’ve been bringing in for you,” Marco said. “You make it sound like I keep you locked away in a dark cellar. Whether your uncle likes it or not, I do get you exposure. It’s good for you to work with people rather than alone all the time.”
“Well, I’ve added another person, as you can see,” Kage told him. “Jamie is going to be observing us some.”
“Oh.” Suddenly Marco didn’t seem quite as pleased to meet me.
I figured it must be because he didn’t like to be scrutinized. I probably wouldn’t like it if Kage’s uncle started sending in some high school student to observe my intern work, so why should I expect this high level MMA coach to be thrilled for some college guy to be watching over his shoulder.
Still, the first day of watching Kage train was a revelation. First of all, I’d never imagined how long and grueling it would be. I was thinking back to the few karate
“Hmmm… I had no idea about that. My uncle does stuff like that. What did it say, if you don’t mind me asking?”
It was my turn to give him a confused look. “Of course I don’t mind. It’s your business. It just said we couldn’t tell anyone I work for you. Like we have to keep your name confidential, and the hotel name, your uncle’s name, and any personal information I might learn… Basically, I can tell people I’m interning for someone in Vegas, but that’s about as far as it goes.”
“So your family doesn’t know you’re working for me?”
“Nope.”
“That’s crazy. I was wondering why you said you couldn’t tell your girlfriend what you were doing. I was like, what the fuck? Why would someone not be able to tell his girlfriend he got a new job? You care about someone, you don’t keep secrets. At least that’s how I feel about it.”
“Yeah,” I said awkwardly, wishing like hell he wouldn’t bring up the girlfriend I’d lied about.
He cocked his head to the side and bit his lip. “What if I tell people you’re working for me? Is that permitted?”
I thought about it for a second. “I don’t see why not. You didn’t sign anything, did you? I mean, the whole NDA is a safety measure to protect you, so that I don’t tell private things you don’t want me to. If you tell your own business, it’s not private anymore, right?”
“You want me to tell your girlfriend you’re working for me? We could call her right now, and I’ll tell her myself.”
Would he stop already with the girlfriend?
“Um… that’s not necessary. But thanks.” I tried to smile.
“How about your family? They should know where you are. Your mom is probably worried sick.”
“Actually, it would be nice if you could tell my mom. She’s really excited and positive, but I can tell she’s dying to know the details.”
“Yeah, okay,” he said. “You want to call her now?”
I laughed. “No. We can do it later.”
Kage nodded and removed his shoes and socks. I followed suit, and then we made our way to the center of the gym.
“This is Marco, my primary trainer.” He indicated a shorter, balding man who was readying some equipment. “Marco, this is my intern.”
Marco turned around and gave me a sharp looking-over. “Pleased to meet you, Jamie,” he said in a heavy Brazilian accent, clearly already familiar with who I was. “Kage and I are very excited about what you’re going to be doing for him. He says you’re the man when it comes to these things.”
“Uh…” I faltered, but Kage thoughtfully swooped in to save me from humiliation.
“Marco’s main area of expertise is in Muay Thai, but he’s very well-rounded, so he works with me on pretty much everything.” Kage’s voice was full of pride for his coach. “Sometimes I work on boxing down and Ed’s Boxing Club. Then my Jiu Jitsu coach comes in on some afternoons. Just depends on his schedule. Other than that, it’s pretty much just me and Marco.”
“Don’t forget the sparring partners I’ve been bringing in for you,” Marco said. “You make it sound like I keep you locked away in a dark cellar. Whether your uncle likes it or not, I do get you exposure. It’s good for you to work with people rather than alone all the time.”
“Well, I’ve added another person, as you can see,” Kage told him. “Jamie is going to be observing us some.”
“Oh.” Suddenly Marco didn’t seem quite as pleased to meet me.
I figured it must be because he didn’t like to be scrutinized. I probably wouldn’t like it if Kage’s uncle started sending in some high school student to observe my intern work, so why should I expect this high level MMA coach to be thrilled for some college guy to be watching over his shoulder.
Still, the first day of watching Kage train was a revelation. First of all, I’d never imagined how long and grueling it would be. I was thinking back to the few karate
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