They knew Alexander loved an audience.
He looked at me.
“You ready?”
“For what?”
“To spar.”
I shook my head.
“I didn’t come here to fight.”
Alexander smiled.
“That’s exactly why you should.”
The students laughed.
They thought it was funny.
An older man refusing to spar with a young champion.
Alexander stepped closer.
“You don’t have to win.”
“I know.”
“Just show me what you have.”
I looked at him.
The confidence.
The attitude.
The need to prove himself.
It reminded me of many young people I had met before.
People who believed strength was about showing others they were powerful.
“I’ll give you one round.”
Alexander smiled.
“Good.”
I nodded.
“Rules?”
“Anything controlled.”
I looked at him.
“Controlled?”
“Yes.”
I almost smiled.
Because that word meant different things to different people.
The timer started.