Free The Beast with 1000 Eyes by Laura Dower Page A

it. The most important meet of my life was in just one hour! I needed to get back to Dojo Academy pronto!
    We said our good-byes—for the time being—to Leery.
    Then Walter volunteered to drive all of us down Nerve Mountain to the karate studio.

CHAPTER 16
    RUNNER-UP, UP, AND AWAY
    Competition day at Dojo Academy was a real blur. I think this was partially due to the fact that I was dog tired. What a week it had been! I’d met a long-lost aunt, tracked down and destroyed the beastly Eyeball Beast, and found a glowing amulet with monstrous powers.
    But I had to shake off my nerves and tired bones. It was time to compete.
    I spotted Brick and his family right away and waved. Then I saw my own family in the viewing gallery. Mom waved. I’d called her earlier to let her know that I was spending the morning with my friends and I’d meet her at Dojo Academy. I’d also told her that I had bumped into someone she knew and that person would be coming to the meet, too.
    As soon as we arrived, Front Desk Lady pulled together another row of chairs for the members of the Monster Squad, Walter, and my surprise guest, San San.
    When I brought Great Auntie San San over to Mom, they just stared at each other for a moment. And then they slowly started to talk. Whew. That was easier than I thought.
    Now all I had to do was kick my way to a black belt. No sweat. I headed back into the karate studio to do some warm-up exercises. Wouldn’t Brick be surprised when he saw me do his kick for the judges?

    As it turned out, Brick was in rare form. Sure, he made fun of osu during practice, but he used it perfectly during our match. He pinned me on the floor and knocked me off the mats more than once.

    Eventually, I landed flat on my back, with Brick standing over me.
    â€œTough break, Ninja,” Brick said. He helped me up. “Better luck next time.”
    I got up and waved to the Monster Squad, Walter, San San, and Mom. Everyone was clapping. But despite losing, I did not feel like a runner-up. I was a winner—all-around. I helped kick some monster butt and I got to know my long-lost aunt. I even got a trophy, never mind that it was only for second place. If all this wasn’t winning, then what was?
    Brick came over to me after the awards had been distributed and I was sure he’d gloat some more. After all, his trophy was three times the size of mine.
    â€œSee you in class next week?” he asked.
    This day was certainly full of surprises. “Next week!” I said.
    â€œSo who’s up for a great big barbecue tomorrow?” Mom asked as we strolled out of Dojo Academy. “Auntie San San already said she’ll be there. And your friends are all welcome!” she said, pointing to Lindsey, Jesse, and Damon.
    They looked back at me.
    â€œFriends?” Damon cracked.
    But the truth was, it was getting harder and harder not to consider my fellow squad members as actual true friends.
    â€œHey, Stella,” Jesse said. “Let me see your trophy.”
    I handed it over. The engraving on the bottom read:
    STELLA MIN
KYU 2
DOJO ACADEMY
    â€œFor what it’s worth,” Jesse said to me, “I think you were number kyu one, not kyu two. Whatever that word means.”
    â€œAnd as far as I’m concerned,” Damon added, “you really are a ninja.”
    As we walked outside, the sky looked ominous, like a storm was blowing in. Night was coming, too. Brrrrr. I shoved my hands into my pockets to shake off the chill.
    Mom and San San stood off to the side, saying their good-byes.
    Lindsey stood off to the other side, snapping photos in the half dark. The flash kept going off like a strobe light. I posed like a ninja, of course, for as many photos as possible. Damon pretended to be a ninja standing next to me. He was good for comic relief sometimes.
    In the midst of our photo session, Jesse whispered, “Hey, guys, what’s that up there? Up in the sky? Do you see