8 Yellow Belt Yeti

Yellow Belt Yeti Saturday! Today was the day Stink would earn his yellow belt in karate!

By the time Stink got to Empty Hand Academy, he had jumping beans in his belly. He took in an ocean of deep breaths. He made himself still like a pool of water. Judy, Mom, and Dad sat in back. Stink faced the mirror. Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the yellow beltest of us all? Stink smiled. Stop smiling! Focus! Concentrate! Stink did not even tell himself a joke. He stood with three other kids and made his mind blank as a piece of paper. Stink bowed to Sensei Dan. The room got dead quiet. Hee-ya! Ai-ya! Ha! Ha! Ha! Stink went through each stance. The audience clapped. Stink showed his skill with side kicks and

roundhouse kicks. More clapping. He finished with a back-fist strike and punch. Next, Stink sparred with Rooster. Then he handed in his community service paper. Last of all, Stink recited the Yellow Belt Creed. He bowed to Sensei Dan and waited for the panel of judges to call out names. Ruby Yamamoto... Rooster Raymond... Stink Moody! Sensei Dan held out the yellow belt. It was not blucky dirty like his old white belt. It was new and gold and shiny! "When Stink first came to us, he was tripping over the mat," said Sensei Dan. "Now look at this young man. No one has worked harder these last few weeks. Stink Moody, on behalf of the Empty Hand Academy, it is with great honor that I bestow upon you this yellow belt. Wear it with respect and confidence." "Great job," said Dad. "Rare," said Judy. Stink wrapped the yellow belt around his waist two times. He knotted and unknotted his

new belt, trying to get the ends even. "Sensei Dan says karate will help me with all sorts of stuff. I so don't stink at sports anymore." "But you so do stink at knots," said Judy.

"Do not. It's not as easy as you think to tie a reef knot," said Stink. "You can play any sport you want, if you just put your mind to it," said Dad. "So, you're a sports freak now, huh?" said Judy. "Too bad you didn't get a trophy." Today, even big-sister Judy couldn't bug him. He looked down at his now-perfect knot. "But I got this cool uniform, and my yellow belt is kind of like a trophy, and now I get a pizza party! Right?" "Right," said Dad. "Right," said Mom. "Can I have a thumb-wrestling pizza party at our house? And invite all my friends? For real? Can I wear my karate uniform, too?" "Maybe just this once," said Mom. "Hi-ya!" Stink gave a spinning reverse punch in the air. "Take that, old me who stinks at sports. There's a new kid on the block. Karate Stink. Just call me Yellow Belt Yeti."

该页暂无翻译