by Shinn A. H.
“I love comics!” said Jory, picking one up and flipping through it. “Black Raven is my favorite!”
“She’s one of my favorites, too,” said Jake more at ease.
“Who’s Black Raven?” Kellie asked.
“Who’s Black Raven?” repeated Jory in utter shock. “She’s only the most awesomist, toughest female comic book hero!”
“But you probably could take her,” Jake said to Kellie, jokingly.
Kellie picked up a poorly painted, warped pyramid-shaped object from his desk. “What’s this?” she asked, as she turned it over in her hand.
“Oh, I was trying to make a ceramic pencil cup holder in the fourth grade,” answered Jake. “It didn’t quite work out, so it’s a paper weight…although, it’s not very heavy.”
Kellie and Jory giggled as she gently put it down.
Catching sight of the world map tacked over his desk, she pointed to the area in China where she used to reside.
“The monastery I lived at was a little over a hundred miles away from this town, Du Zhen.”
“How did you buy food and stuff?” asked Jory, seeming curious about Kellie’s unconventional past.
“We grew most of our own food. We went into town about once a month to barter for the things we couldn’t make ourselves. I loved going there! The monks would get me treats we didn’t have at the monastery. I also got to play with some of the kids who lived there.”
“Did you eat rice every day?” asked Jory.
“Pretty much.”
“Did you meditate?” asked Jake.
“Not as much as the monks, but yeah.”
“Is that where you learned kung fu?” asked Jory.
“Yes! We trained every day — it was a big part of our daily life.”
“Did you have to shave your head?” asked Jake.
“No…I didn’t have to,” said Kellie, keeping to herself the one time she actually did.
“Did you wear one of those monk robes?” asked Jory.
“They made me one….Master Kong loved to make dresses and play clothes for me. He also made me my first kung fu gi.” Kellie never forgot when he surprised her with it; she didn’t take it off for a week.
“Do you speak Chinese?” asked Jake.
“Yes, but not as well as before,” said Kellie. “I just don’t speak it enough, so it’s a bit rusty. Master Chen prefers we speak English here. Maybe it’ll all come back to me when I go back.” Kellie quickly shut her mouth, not meaning to have said the last words.
“You’re going back?” asked Jory, sounding disappointed. “You’re not going back permanently, are you?”
“I thought Master Chen postponed the trip?” Jake inquired.
“I…um…decided to go back.”
Kellie propped herself against Jake’s desk, looking at her confused friends. She made the firm decision to go to Taiping Monastery after she learned of the sadistic attack on Shifu Tao, and didn’t answer Jory’s question because she didn’t know if she would return. Once she got there, she had no idea what the future held. What if she was Anguo? She would have to stay in China if she was. She wanted to tell them everything, everything from her change in eye color when she was an infant to the latest attack on Shifu Tao, but she feared how they would perceive her.
“What do you mean, you decided to go back?” asked Jake. “Isn’t Master Chen going with you?”
Kellie fumbled with a comic that was under her fingertips on his desk, wavering on whether she should make up a story or be honest with them about the secrets she had been carrying around with her. She felt she could trust them both…but what if she was wrong about how they would react?
They stared at her, eagerly waiting for an answer. “Well?” they asked.
“You can tell us,” said Jory.
“Tell us,” Jake said supportively.
After looking at Jory and then at Jake, then at Jory again, she decided to take a gamble. “Here goes,” she muttered. “There’s a lot about my past that is a mystery,” she started to explain, carefully choosing her words. “I was adopted by monks because I was found near their monastery…when I was a baby…in a forest.”
Jake and Jory’s eyes widened, resembling saucers. They momentarily held their breaths with their mouths open, gaping at her.
With no protest of absurdity, she continued. “A lot of unexplained things happened to me when I was young. Trust me, you wouldn’t believe me….”
“We’ll believe you,” said Jory.
“You can trust us,” added Jake.
Kellie was touched by their support, which prompted her to divulge everything. She didn’t refrain from going in to detail about every account Master Chen shared with her in the back office of the studio. She also told them about the intruder invading the monastery searching for “Bao Yu” and the suspicions that she may be Anguo.
“I just found out that another monk was attacked and that’s why I made the decision to go to China as soon as I can.”
Her friends were quiet for an excruciating amount of time. Jake was lying on his bed, examining the ceiling with a long, glazed face. Jory was sitting on a chair, staring at one of Jake’s comic books on the floor, not blinking once. Kellie had no clue what they were thinking and began to regret the disclosure. Neither of them made eye contact with her; they probably deemed her as a liar and possibly delusional.
Finally breaking the silence, Jake said, “You definitely are the most interesting person in Milldale.”
Kellie breathed in relief.
“What does Master Chen think about you going back?” asked Jory.
“I haven’t told him…and I’m not going to. He’s been against it this whole time and I don’t think he’s going to change his mind. I’ll have to figure something out….”
“Is that a wise idea?” asked Jory. “To go by yourself?”
“I have no choice. The monks were attacked… probably because of me…and Shifu Tao was seriously injured. Maybe I can stop it.”
“Have you thought about what would happen if the attacker finds you, especially if he thinks you’re Anguo?” asked Jake.
The look on Jory’s face made it clear that he was picturing the worst. “Don’t go,” he urged. “Master Chen is right. It’s best if the monks leave the place and get as far away from there as possible. Assailants often get more vicious with each attack….My dad watches a lot of crime shows.”
Kellie shook her head. “I’m going to go. I have to help them. And Master Chen has been training me really hard these days. I’m ready for anything.” Kellie was firm with her words. Sharing her feelings and predicament with her two friends reinforced her decision, helping her to feel an iota of bravery.
“But you said the monks said this guy has skills never seen before,” Jory reminded her.
“I know.” Kellie didn’t know what else to say. He was right; she didn’t stand a chance if the monks couldn’t defeat him.
“So, when are you gonna make the great escape?” asked Jake.
“I’m thinking I’ll go on the Friday, a week before winter break,” said Kellie, looking at Jory remorsefully.
After Jory realized what she was conveying, he said, “That’s the day of the dance!”
“I’m sorry, Jory,” said Kellie, “but if Master Chen thinks I’m at the dance, it’ll give me more time.”
“You’re really not going to tell him?” he asked. “He’s going to be so worried.”
“I’m going to leave him a letter and explain everything to him….Hopefully, he’ll understand. He raised me to always do the right thing and I truly believe in my heart, this is what I have to do. If he asks you anything about the dance, please cover for me….He wants to meet you before then….And again, I’m sorry I won’t be able to go with you.”
Jory looked crushed; Kellie felt badly putting him in this situation. She felt even worse about lying to Master Chen, but going to Taiping Monastery was what she had to do.
“Well Kel, you definit
ely are the most interesting person in Milldale,” said Jake a second time, trying to lighten things up.
After several long seconds, Kellie broke the awkward silence. “So…Jory, what do you like to do? We found out that Jake is a closet Casablanca fan, what about you?”
“Very funny,” Jake muttered.
“Well, I want to be a computer engineer,” Jory said glumly. “My dad just got me a top of the line laptop and all the gadgets you could think of to go with it. My most favorite thing to do is to see what’s going on all over the world with a satellite camera.”
“You’re kinda like a spy,” said Jake.
“Yeah, one day I want to work for the CIA,” he said, his tone easing up. “What about you? What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“A pro athlete,” answered Jake.
Then Jake and Jory turned to Kellie for a response.
“I think…I want to be a kung fu instructor,” said Kellie, putting her hand under her chin, thinking hard about it. She never gave that question much consideration before, but she couldn’t picture doing anything else.
They threw her a blank expression.
“Isn’t that what you do already?” asked Jake.
“I guess so…I really like it….”
The three of them shot looks at each other and then they burst out laughing.
Over the laughter, they heard a knock on Jake’s door; his mother poked her head in the bedroom.
“Hi, Mom!”
“Hi, Ms. Russo,” Kellie and Jory greeted.
“I’m so delighted you two are here…and having a good time, I see….Dinner is ready, so come on out!”
Jake’s mom was as bubbly and vivacious as ever, beaming with genuine warmth. There was no doubt that Jake got his good looks from her. In contrast from the way she looked when she picked him up from school, this evening she showed off her radiance. Her hair was pinned up loosely, with soft wavy curls falling on the sides of her face, and she was dressed in a flattering yellow striped dress.
“It really smells wonderful, Ms. Russo,” said Kellie politely.
“Please, call me Donna. Now come on, let’s have supper!”
Kellie, Jory, and Jake followed her out to the dining room where the dinner plates and food were elegantly laid out on the table.
“This looks delicious!” said Jory, drooling. “I love spaghetti!”
Kellie was in awe of the meal; she never had most of the dishes placed before her. She also admired how formally the table was arranged, set with fancy dishes, candles, and a lace tablecloth.
After they each took a seat, Donna loaded their plates with a mound of steaming spaghetti and marinara sauce with meatballs. Kellie couldn’t wait to take a taste.
“I’ve never had spaghetti before,” said Kellie, her eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.
Donna, Jake, and Jory looked at Kellie as if she were an alien from another planet.
“You have never had spaghetti before?” asked Jake, throwing his hands up in the air. He declared he couldn’t comprehend the situation; it was his favorite food, after all.
“Have you had salad or garlic bread before?” asked Jake joking around, pointing to the food items.
“Of course I’ve had salad…but not garlic bread,” Kellie admitted.
“This is an outrage!” Jake cried out, throwing his hands up again.
“Master Chen and I usually eat rice, chicken, steamed vegetables…oh dumplings, which is one of my favorites. And soup…different types of soup,” said Kellie.
“Well, enjoy sweetie,” said Donna, as she passed the basket of garlic bread to Kellie. “Here you go.”
Jake and Jory filled their plates with salad and chicken marsala. Donna helped herself to some grilled asparagus and passed it around.
Kellie copied the others and stuck her fork in the noodles covered in red sauce. She twirled the utensil, being careful not to splatter on her only nice sweater. Eagerly, she placed the foreign viand into her mouth and smiled. The tangy, but sweet flavor of the tomato sauce bit at her taste buds. She chewed on the perfectly boiled noodles and said, “This could easily be a new favorite of mine,” agreeing with Jake. For the rest of the meal, Kellie, Jake, and Jory didn’t say much to each other, focusing mainly on their plates.
Donna ate slowly as she watched the teens inhale their food. “You would think the three of you haven’t eaten in months,” she said as she laughed. “Make sure you save room for dessert.”
After they had their fill, Donna left for a few minutes and came back carrying a cake, lit with candles. She started singing, “Happy Birthday,” and Kellie and Jory joined in. Jake closed his eyes as he made a wish, and blew out the candles.
Donna cut a slice for each person, giving Jake the first piece, along with a kiss on his head. Tonight he didn’t shy away from her affections and smiled back at his mother, and then at the decadent final course.
“Let me guess, you’ve never had tiramisu cake,” Jake said to Kellie.
“I would say…I have not,” answered Kellie.
“Well, you are going to enjoy this,” said Donna, handing Kellie a slice.
Kellie took a bite and moaned, “Mmmm! I have never tasted anything like this before. It’s so smooth and creamy! Mmmm.”
“I’ll pack some up for you to take home,” said Donna, looking pleased that the dinner was a success.
“Oh, we have gifts for you!” said Jory, jumping out of his seat to grab them.
Jake tore open Kellie’s gift first, ripping off the wrapping and breaking open an end of the cardboard box.
“Wow!” squealed Jake. “A sword! This is so cool.” He carefully examined the weapon, running his fingers up and down the blade. “What kind of sword is this?”
“It’s a Chinese broadsword,” said Kellie, delighted that he liked it. “I can show you how to use it….Bring it to the studio next time you’re in.”
“Thanks, Kel!”
Jake put the sword aside and ripped open Jory’s gift. “What is this?” asked Jake excitedly. He pulled a gadget out of a box.
“It’s a pocket size portable GPS,” said Jory. “It’s the best one out there. No matter where you are, you won’t get lost….It also speaks 27 languages.”
“This is really neat, Jory,” said Jake. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” he said smiling, as he took a bite of his dessert.
Donna sneaked away and came back with a gift of her own. She handed Jake an envelope.
With an anxious smile, Jake opened up the envelope and took out two tickets.
“I can’t believe it! Two tickets to the Lions football game! Thanks so much, Mom!”
“You are so welcome, honey,” said Donna, cooing at her son.
“Thanks a lot for the gifts everyone,” said Jake with a large grin. Kellie had never seen Jake so happy, but with his mother’s adoring affection, how could he not be? Watching the love between them gave Kellie just a hint of what it would be like to have a mother.
“Are you two going to the dance?” asked Donna. “I met Lisa and she seems darling.”
“They do make a lovely couple,” said Kellie, playfully.
Jake didn’t comment, stuffing his face with cake; Kellie knew he was ignoring the conversation, and was preoccupied with his dessert.
“Yes, Kellie and I are going together,” Jory answered proudly. Kellie and Jake looked at him curiously. “Our colors are going to be red and black,” he said. “My mom and I will pick her up and I’m going to bring her a rose corsage.”
“Sounds like it’s gonna be fun…” said Kellie, understanding his intention.
They spent the rest of the night playing board games and watched a movie while they stuffed their faces with buttery popcorn.
When the evening was over, Kellie left not only with a big slice of tiramisu, but memories of an evening she would never forget.
The weekend whizzed by and before Kellie knew it, she was back in school. As she was opening her locker, Mr
. Patterson stopped to speak to her as he passed by.
“Kellie, your DNA results are a conundrum. I’ve been thinking about it all weekend and I’m really not sure how to grade your assignment. It’s very puzzling. The purity of your sample was quite high, so I don’t think it was contaminated. The genes you reported had impressive homology to different animal proteins and I’m having a hard time grasping how that’s possible. Maybe the samples were switched? Mr. Patel was dabbling with the sequencer….We all know he can be a little clumsy at times….There was a problem with the machine, that’s why it took so long to get all the students’ sequences….Or could this be a stunt? Are you pulling my leg?” he asked, eyeing her suspiciously. Kellie violently shook her head and before she could defend herself, he said, “Perhaps there is something wrong with the program,” while he scratched the bald top of his head. “I haven’t updated it in awhile. Yes, that could be it. Yes, yes — I must have it upgraded… although, no one else had results like yours…” he said, still scratching his scalp. “Hmmm…your data was clean — I just don’t understand why the program would pull up animal proteins…unless there’s something you’re not telling me.” He gazed at her and then started laughing loudly.
Mr. Patterson moseyed away still guffawing, leaving Kellie standing there, her hand on the knob of the locker combination and her stomach doing somersaults. This assignment was a huge part of the class grade and by the way Mr. Patterson deliberated, she didn’t know which way her grade would end up.
ellie tried to forget about what her biology grade was going to be all day. She hadn’t seen Jake yet and didn’t get a chance to speak with Jory in class. Mr. Patterson began his lecture on cells, describing mitosis and meiosis in detail, so the entire lesson consisted of taking copious amounts of notes. At the end of the period, before Kellie got up from her desk, she saw the straps of Jory’s backpack disappear out the door.
At lunch, sitting on the bench under the tree, she expected Jake and Jory to arrive any moment. After fifteen minutes and still alone, she put away her empty container and took out her biology notes to review. Since she didn’t know where her grade stood in Mr. Patterson’s class, she thought she might as well get a head start studying for the next exam.
