CHAPTER 3
The karate school was in a little mall. It was near the bus station.
“This is it?” Kenny asked as his dad parked out front. “This place looks gross.”
“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” Dad replied. “I’ll pick you up in an hour.”
Kenny sighed as he climbed out of the car. He slammed the car door behind him and headed for the karate school.
“Welcome,” a small man said as Kenny walked in. “Please stand along the wall with the other students.”
“Okay,” Kenny replied. He looked to his right. About ten other guys were already there, dressed in robes and white belts just like him. They were standing against the wall, staring straight ahead.
The small man wore a black belt with his white robes. Kenny had heard enough about karate from his dad to know that a black belt meant the man was a karate master.
Kenny walked over to an empty spot near the middle of the group. “What is this, the army?” he joked to the kid next to him.
The kid smiled, but didn’t look at him or reply. Kenny shrugged.
“Students,” said the small man at the front of the room, “thank you for joining our karate class.”
The man bowed. Kenny watched as the other students bowed back at him. Quickly, he followed their lead and bowed as well.
“We will begin today with how to tie your belt,” the teacher said. “I can see that some of your belts are a little sloppy. Please remove them and I will show you the correct way to tie them.”
The other students all undid their belts. Kenny chuckled. “Next he’s going to show us how to tie our shoes!” he said to the guy next to him.
“If your shoes are as sloppy as your belt,” the teacher said, “then, yes, I will help you with your shoes.”
Kenny rolled his eyes. “My robe is closed,” Kenny replied. “I guess my belt is doing its job.”
“The belt does not only close the robe,” the teacher answered. “It shows others what kind of student you are.”
“Then I guess I’m a sloppy student, sir,” Kenny said. His voice was tense and angry.
“Sensei,” the teacher replied sternly. “In karate, we use the Japanese word sensei, not sir.”
Kenny felt his face getting hot. He yanked off his belt.
“And we reply, ‘Yes, Sensei,’” the man added.
Kenny looked down at the floor. “Yes, Sensei,” he said quietly.