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16B - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 7, 2004

FICTION
Continued from page 15B
"Thank you." She spoke to his
back. "Thank you," she repeated.
He turned to her not knowing
what to say to such misplaced
gratitude. "Well, you're wel-
come," he said cordially. The two
were fixed on each other separat-
ed by the display. Caroline knew
she had been wrong - he would
care for her watch. For a long
time she stared with sorry eyes.

He made a gesture to leave, and
she held tightly to her wrinkled
sweater.
He paused and said, "It's
late. Would you like to go for a
drink?"
Immediately the words, as if
prepared, sprung out. "No, no
thank you. I can't leave. I'm sorry.
Forgive me." Caroline continued
pulling at her sweater.
"Come. Please."
She wanted to go so badly, but
couldn't bring herself to accept.
She thought of the watch and

imagined him neglecting it, but
the thought of his shirttail scrub-
bing the glass counter clean rang
in her mind so loudly not even the
ticking would win her over. "He
will take care of that watch," she
concluded.
"Yes, okay. I'll come," she
said, letting go of her sweater. It
unfolded onto her thighs, and she
walked around the counter. She
locked the door behind them, and
together they left the shop while
the ticking watches remained
behind the closed door.

1

ALI OLSEN/Daily
Instructor Wasentha Young practices Tai Chi at the Peaceful Dragon School.
TAI CHI
Continued from page 4B

journey, something you can do
throughout the aging and matur-
ing process."
The Peaceful Dragon School
offers a complete introduction to
the martial art through a three-
course process. After students
have completed those courses,
they may elect to join advanced
courses that specialize in Push-
Hand Tai Chi, Tai Chi with weap-
ons, and an Applications course
that examines the practice of Tai
Chi as a form of self-defense in
everyday life.
Young gives Tai Chi demonstra-
tions to elementary schools and
high schools in the Ann Arbor
area. She said that Tai Chi will be
a required course for students in
seventh, eighth and ninth grade at
the Rudolph Steiner School begin-
ning in January.
Another advantage of this
type of workout is that it doesn't
demand special equipment. Tai
Chi can be done at home, out-
doors, or anywhere else that is
essentially quiet to avoid distrac-
tion.
Although it was brought to the
United States in the early 1960s,
it has been considered a martial
art for over 300 years. In the

last half-century, more and more
people have started to practice
the ancient technique as it has
been given more attention by the
media.
The thought of exercising is
often associated with time-con-
suming, strenuous cardiovascular
workouts aimed at losing weight.
But an exercise like Tai Chi can be
a more exciting way to physically
and spiritually work out, both
relieving stress and maintaining
a healthy equilibrium within the
body.
Because let's face it; students
need to make more time for them-
selves. Between making it to lec-
ture and turning in papers, they
rarely consider their physical and
mental well-being, as even that
takes time. But what's 15 minutes
or a half hour out of the day?
Whether it be Tai Chi, Yoga, or
even a trip to the gym, your work-
out of choice should be something
you enjoy. The more pleasure you
get, the more inclined you'll be
to continue working out. So the
next time you figure you'll take
a study-break, skip that Friends
rerun, say no to cat naps, and
reward yourself with the methods
of Tai Chi.

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