The Feiyue Shoes

RAT DIV-A was thinking about her next project, and what it would be.

What will it be? she thought. It has to be random.

That morning she'd received in the mail a pair of new Feiyue shoes which she'd purchased on eBay. They were a half size too large, but she'd decided to keep them, and lace them up tight. Feiyue shoes are the preferred shoes of Shaolin Monks and Masters. RAT DIV-A was not one of those.

Nevertheless, years ago she had joined in some judo classes, so she knew how to do judo moves. She remembered one move in particular. The move was OSOTO-GARI.

RAT DIV-A was pleased she remembered Osoto-gari. It was funny how she only remembered that one. Perhaps it was the only one she had successfully learned how to do. You grabbed your opponent's clothing, and jerked them off balance, at the same time tripping them up with a swift kick behind their nearest leg, sending them sprawling to the floor. You got points for doing it too.

What I shall do, thought RAT DIV-A, is practice Osoto-gari in my new Feiyue shoes. When I have it right, I'll video my foot moves in the garden.

She practised in front of a mirror. She made the sounds shhht, shhht, so that the moves would seem crisper. She became expert at the moves.

She went out into the garden, and stood on the grass in the shade of a pencil pine.

Shhht, shhht, she tripped up the invisible opponent. It was all over in two seconds flat.

RAT DIV-A went back inside and watched her new video. It was short alright, but she was worried that it seemed too professional and slick. And she seemed to have learned how to control
the record button.

I must watch that next time, she said.

Then she brightened. At least her feet hadn't looked all that big.