9. Tokyo

9 Tokyo The next morning, everyone got up very early. "I'm afraid we must leave on this evening's plane, as the boys have school on Monday," Mrs. Lambchop told Oda Nobu. "But it would be lovely to spend the day sightseeing." "Very well," said Oda Nobu. "You must allow me to be your personal tour guide of Tokyo, at your service." In that one day, he took the Lambchops everywhere.

On a private tour of the Imperial Palace. To an aquarium, where they stood in a glass tunnel to watch electric eels and piranhas and sea horses challenge each other above them. To the zoo, where they saw giant pandas and king penguins. To a sumo match, where Stanley saw the roundest men he'd ever seen. Arthur couldn't help himself. "Be careful, Stanley," he joked. "Those guys could flatten you!" And then, of course, to the movie studio, where Oda Nobu introduced the Lambchops all around.

At dusk, the limousine drew up in front of Oda Nobu's home again. Inside, the Lambchops were delighted to find four handsome kimonos waiting for them. Stanley knew what this meant. He led his family down the hall to the tearoom, where Oda Nobu was already seated on the straw mat. He sat down again as he had learned, and gestured for his family to follow his example. Oda Nobu bowed to him and passed him the bowl of tea. Stanley bowed to Oda Nobu and took a sip. Then Oda Nobu caught his eye and nodded to Mrs. Lambchop. Stanley bowed to his mother and passed her the tea. Then he did the same for his father and his brother.

Oda Nobu gave Stanley a proud smile. "Wow," Arthur said, making a face after his sip of tea. "This tastes kind of—" "Interesting!" Stanley said quickly. "I agree, Arthur!" Mrs. Lambchop gave Stanley a proud smile, too. And then it was time to go to the airport. At the gate, as the Lambchops' flight was announced, Oda Nobu bowed deeply to Stanley. "Stanley-san, you have given me a great gift," he said. "You have reminded me of who I am again. Not just what I am." Stanley smiled and shook Oda Nobu's hand. "And you'll come to the Cherry Blossom Festival next year? In Washington, D.C.?"

"Oh, yes, you may count on it. You will always be my personal ninja, and I will always be your most humble friend." The Lambchops waved good-bye to Oda Nobu and marched down the Jetway to their plane. As they boarded, the flight attendant took their tickets and looked puzzled. "Only three tickets?" she asked. "But there are four of you." "But only three of us need seats," Mr. Lambchop said. He sat down and then tucked Stanley neatly into the seat pocket in front of him. Everyone had a hearty chuckle about the handiness of Stanley's shape before buckling up for the safe flight home. "Mariko made this one!" Arthur pinned an origami owl to the bulletin board in his bedroom. "And Cho made this one!" An origami turtle. "And Taki!" A paper rabbit. "And Hana!" Arthur tacked a paper… something to the bulletin board. "What about you, Stanley? Did you bring home any souvenirs?" Stanley sat on his bed, looking glumly at a photograph. "Oh, I have this, I guess," he said. It

was a picture of Oda Nobu, looking fierce in his samurai robes, holding his hands menacingly above his head. To Stanley, Fight strong, Oda Nobu was written across the photo. Stanley looked away. He felt sad for some reason. "Stanley Lambchop!" Mr. Lambchop called up the stairs. "Express mail for Stanley Lambchop!" Stanley jumped up and raced down the stairs. Moments later he returned, holding an envelope. The stamps in the corner were Japanese. "Open it up!" Arthur cried. Stanley did. He pulled out a photograph and a letter, which he read aloud. "Dear Stanley-san, here is the real me. I can never thank you enough for showing me who I am, rather than what I am. I will see you soon. And when I do, I promise I will be at least a green belt!"