2 Chapter 2 “Knee How”

Chapter 2 "Knee How" Stanley led Doctor Dan to the dressing room backstage. The girl acrobat opened the door, and Doctor Dan rushed in and bent over the boy acrobat, who was stretched out on a table. Stanley tried to make himself invisible by pressing himself against the wall. It didn't work. The girl Chinese Wonder studied Stanley's face.

"You are like art," she marveled, "yet your eyes move!" "I'm flat," whispered Stanley. The girl looked impressed. "I would like to be flat! I am Yin," she continued. "That is my twin brother, Yang." "I'm Stanley and I'm sorry!" blurted Stanley. "I was hanging from the ceiling being the spotlight and I dropped the flashlight!" The girl's eyes widened. Yang sat up from the table. He blinked.

"Yin, do you see a turnip cake shaped like a boy?" "Yes, brother." "Good," Yang said and lay back down. "I thought the pain was tricking my mind." Doctor Dan cleared his throat. "Young man, I'm afraid you have a broken foot." "No!" Yin gasped. "Impossible," said Yang, sitting up again. "The Flying Chinese Wonders have never been injured." "I'm sorry," said Doctor Dan. "If it makes you feel better, Stanley here had never been flat before. But then one day he visited me and he was only half an inch thick. Your foot will take at least six weeks to heal." Yin's eyes welled with tears. "Doctor..." She gulped. "We are to perform in Beijing for the culmination of the Chinese New Year festivities in two weeks! It is to be our biggest and most important performance ever!"

"I'm sorry," said Doctor Dan. "I know it's disappointing, but you'll have to cancel. I'd better go get a splint for this foot." After Doctor Dan left, Yin went over to her brother, took his hand, and kneeled beside him. Neither of them looked at Stanley. "This is all my fault," Stanley said quietly. Then he folded himself to the ground and buried his face in his knees. After a moment, Yang spoke. "Confucius said, 'Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in getting up every time we do.' Get up, sister. Get up, Turnip Cake. The Flying Chinese Wonders have never missed a performance, and they will not now."

"But how, brother?" said Yin. "How can you perform with a broken foot?" "I will not," Yang said solemnly. "Turnip Cake will." "But, brother—!" "I'm not an acrobat," said Stanley. "Are you flexible?" said Yang. Stanley shrugged. "I once went down Niagara Falls wrapped around somebody like a barrel," he offered. "Are you strong?" "I did keep Abraham Lincoln's nose from breaking off Mount Rushmore." "Are you determined?" "I recently walked halfway across Mexico to get a recipe for my mom," said Stanley. "Then you will learn," said Yang. Stanley looked at Yin. She nodded in approval. Stanley imagined himself standing atop the Great Wall of China, and a smile spread across his face. "I'll do my best," he promised.

Four days later, Stanley was sorted and loaded for special delivery deep in the Shaanxi province of China. He could feel the wheels of a bicycle carrying his envelope along a craggy road. Eventually, the wheels came to a stop, and Stanley's envelope was torn open. Yin's face peeked inside. "Hello, Stanley," she said with a grin. "Welcome to China!" "Knee how!" cried Stanley. He hopped out and stretched his legs. "You hurt your knee?" she said in a panic.