Head to Head by Matt Christopher Page A

like this challenge you to quickly adapt your movements to newsituations,” Sifu Hale explained. “Let’s see how you do.”
    One by one the kids crawled, hopped, and punched their way through the course. “I never knew it could feel so good to hit
     something!” Savannah cried as she pummeled the bag.
    X held up his hands in mock terror. “Just so long as the bag’s your target, and not me!” he joked.
    Savannah struck a fighting pose. “Don’t tempt me, X-man,” she growled playfully, pretending to jab at him.
    “I’ll protect you, X!” Jonas bellowed. He jumped in between X and Savannah.
    “My hero!” X trilled in a high voice.
    As Mark watched his friends goof around, the knot in his stomach loosened.
So they don’t take kung fu seriously
, he thought.
Big deal. They don’t know what
really
goes on here
.
    After they finished the obstacle course, Sifu Hale had everyone line up against the back wall. He took out a huge body ball
     and bounced it a few times.“You kids have heard of dodgeball, right?” Before they could answer, he flung the ball toward Charlie and X. They darted out
     of the way and the ball hit the wall, bouncing back to the teacher. He hurled it again, this time at Bizz. She, too, got out
     of the way just in time. On the next throw, Charlie wasn’t as quick and had to take a seat against the back wall.
    They played three rounds of dodgeball. Bizz won the first round; Jonas, the next round; and Charlie, the third. Mark came
     in second each time.
    “Okay, one more activity before you hit the party room,” Sifu Hale said. He took out a long foam noodle, the kind used in
     swimming pools to help people float. He told the kids to get in a circle around him. “Let’s see how quick your reflexes are.
     If the noodle taps you three times, you’re out. Ready?”
    He held the noodle at the height of their heads. “Crouch low like a snake in the grass!” He spun around. Laughing, the kids
     ducked to avoid being tapped.
    “Now jump like a leopard pouncing!” This time Sifu Hale whipped the soft noodle around at floor level. Savannah and X were too slow and got bumped, but the others cleared it. Sifu Hale continued to call “crouch!” and “jump!”,
     tapping the slower players until at last there was a single person left in the circle — Jonas.
     

     
    “To the one with the best reflexes goes the prize,” the teacher said. He handed the noodle to Jonas and bowed. Jonas accepted
     the prize and returned the bow.
    Like a fist to the gut the funny feeling returned to Mark’s stomach.

CHAPTER THREE
    The party ended soon after the cake and ice cream were gone. Mark’s friends had given him a lot of cool presents and he made
     sure he thanked them all when it was time for everyone to head home.
    Mr. and Mrs. Goldstein collected Mark’s gifts. “We’ll help you finish cleaning up after we put these in the car,” his mother
     said.
    Mark nodded. One of the
kwoon
rules was that students help keep the place clean. That meant party rooms, too, so after his parents left he picked up a
     broom and started sweeping.
    “Happy birthday, Mark! Can I give you a hand?”Mark looked up and was surprised to see Mr. Malloy. He thought Jonas had already left.
    “Uh, no, but thanks anyway, Mr. Malloy,” Mark replied. “I guess Jonas is around here somewhere.”
    “He’s in there, talking with your teacher.” Mr. Malloy jerked a thumb over his shoulder.
    Mark looked into the office. Jonas was sitting across from Sifu Hale. As Mark watched, Jonas gathered up a pile of forms,
     shook Sifu Hale’s hand, and walked out with a big grin on his face.
    “What’s going on?” Mark asked as Jonas joined them.
    “I’ll tell you what’s going on!” Jonas fake punched Mark in the arm. “I’m signing up to take lessons. Say hello to your new
     kung-fu buddy!”
    Mark nearly dropped the broom. “You — you’re going to be taking lessons here?”
    “Won’t it be great? We can practice all