Chapter 7 In Balance

Chapter 7 In Balance "Mom?" Stanley said into the phone. "Stanley, is that you?" Harriet Lambchop's voice nearly leaped through the receiver. "Oh, how we miss you! How's China?" Stanley couldn't speak. "What is it, dear? Is everything all right?" "I got hurt," Stanley blurted. All at once, he started to cry.

Mr. Lambchop picked up the other extension. "Now calm down, Stanley. I'm sure you're all right. What happened?" "I bot born by a banda bear," blubbered Stanley. "A panda bear?" gasped his mother. "Uh huh," replied Stanley. "But they're so adorable!" said Harriet Lambchop. Stanley tried to catch his breath long enough to get the next part out. "It was really scary. I got a rip from its claw. You can see right through me." There was a loud thump on the other end of the phone.

"Hello?" said Stanley. "Stanley, talk to your brother for a moment," said Mr. Lambchop. "I think your mother just fainted." Arthur got on the line. "What's up, bro?" "Hi, Arthur." "When's the big show?" "In an hour," sighed Stanley. "But I can't be in it." "Why not?" "Because I got hurt! I worked so hard, Arthur. I climbed a mountain and bounced through an army and rolled on the Great Wall. I finally mastered a Double Flying Dragon. But now I won't get to do any of it!" "Slow down," said Arthur. "I didn't understand half of what you just said. Start from the beginning, and tell me everything." Stanley did. He told Arthur about the twins' Great Grandmother Yin and Great Uncle Yang, and the meaning of Yin and Yang, and how he learned to use chopsticks. He told him about climbing Mount Huashan and practicing on the roof of the temple,

and about when they trained among the Terracotta Army soldiers, which Arthur thought was terrific, just like Stanley thought he would. He told him about the accident on the Great Wall and how Yang responded, and the two days of intense practice that followed. He told him about Beijing, and the limousine, and the zoo, and the panda, and the picture, and Doctor Don who was just like Doctor Dan, and Yang's miraculous recovery, and how now he was all alone calling home and feeling sorry for himself. Arthur didn't say anything for a long time. Then he said, "Have you tried duct tape?" "What do you mean have I tried—" Stanley froze. He lifted up his shirt and peered at his wound. "Arthur," Stanley cried, "you're a genius!" In the center of Beijing, in the heart of the Forbidden City, Stanley stood nervously between Yin and Yang as a giant red velvet curtain parted

before their eyes. A wave of rapturous applause rushed over them. They bowed slowly. In a balcony, the president of China nodded and smiled. And then, together, the three Flying Wonders shot into the air. Stanley felt the rushing air on his skin, and the grasp of the twins' hands, and the light rubbery bounce of his toes touching down and springing back up. He felt the top of his head brush the back of his ankles. At times, he could not tell where his body ended and theirs began.

A giant flaming torch rose up in the center of the stage, and Yin and Yang encircled it and stretched Stanley before the audience. He felt the heat on his back as the light glowed through his thinning body: a human Chinese New Year's lantern. The crowd went wild. Yin turned upside down beside Stanley. He faced her back, while Yang faced his. The twins curved their bodies outward, the three of them exhaled deeply, and the Wheel started to turn. It rolled