How to Kick?

Introduction: A Bizarre Inquiry

Alex's first encounter with the phrase "how to kick" was not in a self-defense course or on a soccer pitch. Instead, he heard this phrase murmured by an elderly male, resting at the deserted bus shelter around midnight. Alex believed he did not hear what he thought he heard.

"Excuse me?" Alex asked, shifting the strap of his battered backpack.

The older man's eyes shone under the flicking streetlight. "How to kick," he remarked intentionally and almost ceremoniously, then turned, and walked away.

Alex stood there, unsure of himself. It did not feel like a sports query, rather it felt like a riddle. More like a challenge, or a warning.

The Burden of Muted Heartbreak

Alex was no stranger to enigmatic messages. There was already a lot that went unspoken in his life: a father who left without notice, a mother concerned with working two jobs and never smiled, and a best friend, Sam, who two months prior ceased communicating via text.

His days were predictable, attending school, a part-time gig at the diner, walking home alone, up under the flickering streetlights. And that night, those words followed him; how to kick?

Kick what? Kick an addiction? Kick someone? Kick free?

Upon his arrival at home, the apartment was dark except for the TV that flared with blue light. His mother was asleep on their couch. He tiptoed into his room, pulled out a sketchbook, and quickly wrote the phrase on the first blank page:

HOW TO KICK?

The mysterious encounter

The next day, Alex was convinced that someone was watching him. He was utterly distracted in maths class. At lunch, he overheard a table of kids gossiping about Sam and trouble he had been in. He wanted to stick up for him but remained quiet.

On his way to work, he saw the stranger again but this time he was standing in front of a boarded up bookstore.

“You're thinking about it,” the man said without looking up.

“Thinking about what?” Alex asked.

“About what to kick.” The man looked Alex in the eyes. “You shouldn't be thinking about your feet, what you need is courage.”

Before Alex had a chance to respond, a bus raced by, and the stranger vanished into thin air.

Hints in the Darkness

Later that evening in the diner, Alex thought about everything he heard. He thought about Sam, a friend he used to dream about leaving town with, moving to a bigger city, and following their passions. But Sam had started drinking, quitting school, and running with a rougher crowd. The last thing Sam had said to him was, "I can't do this anymore," and he hadn't seen Sam again since then.

Could it be that "how to kick" referred to Sam? Kick bad habits and break free from their loser lives?Final despair.

Alex made up his mind to see if it was Sam.

The Old Warehouse

The next night, Alex followed whispers of where Sam could be, an old warehouse near the train tracks. Alex stepped carefully, trying to be quiet; the air was heavy with dust and despair. He walked through glass on the ground that crunched underfoot as he navigated the shadows.

Alex found Sam sitting on a crate, a bottle hanging from his fingers, his eyes empty.

"You shouldn't be here," Sam said.

"You shouldn't be here," replied Alex. "What are you doing to yourself?"

Sam laughed meanly. "Why bother? This place, this life, it's not going to get any better."

Alex is impressed by the power of words and pushes him up: How can you attack?Suddenly, the question did not appear to be about technique; it was about the choice you have to make. Are you going to allow your best friend to sink lower, or are you going to kick against the current trying to push you both down?

A Hard Truth

“Sam, just listen," Alex said, feeling the tremor in his voice. "You’re not alone, even if it feels that way. We don’t have to be stuck here. But, you have to fight. You have to kick free of this.”

Sam looked at him for a long moment, tears glistening in the dim light. “You make it sound so easy.”

“It’s not easy,” Alex said. “This is the hardest thing you’ll ever do. But I’ll be here. We can do this together.”

The Turning Point

Week by week, Alex kept coming back. Sometimes Sam was angry. Sometimes he was quiet. But, bit by bit, the bottle was gone. Sam began to draw again—something he hadn’t done in years. Alex felt a different kind of flickering sparkle of hope.

One day, Sam elbowed him as they sat on the train tracks watching the sun go down. Sam said, with a slight little grin on his face, "You know, you're kind of annoying. But, ... thank you for not giving up."

Alex smiled. "I guess I just found out how to kick."

A Deeper Meaning

Some months later, Alex returned to the bus stop. The older man was not there. Maybe he wasn't even real in the moments before. But Alex didn't think that was true. He muttered the phrase under his breath one last time, testing it out for weight: "How to kick."

It wasn't a question now; now it was a prompt: kick against despair, kick against expectations, kick against the concept of silence with pain. Kick for something better.

Themes and Lessons

How to Kick? is not only about physical action; it is about fighting the invisible battle, often the battles we are never vocal about, addiction, hopelessness, self-doubt. To exhibit the courage to step forward, when staying still was safer.

The tale implies that a single act of kindness, a single conversation, or one stubborn buddy can change a life. Kicking doesn't always symbolize leaving; it can mean remaining, persisting, and unyielding in the face of darkness.

Final Thought

We all experience days when the world feels totally against us. In times like these, "How to kick?'" becomes a call to action. Kick the fear. Kick the lies that tell you there is nothing you can do. Kick to the light, even if it seems so far away.

As Alex chose to reach out instead of walking away, you, too, can choose to kick toward. Because sometimes the bravest thing you can do is not run; it is to stand ground and fight for what matters.