I nodded. “Not bad. Not bad at all. I’ll have to think about it.”

“Come on, Jon. I’d like to have someone at my level to do forms with. The only class that I can get to has no one of my age and level. I have to do forms with eight-year-olds.”

“Maybe.”

“Okay. Well, I’m always up for a training session. You text me, or I’ll text you.” She unclipped her phone from her armband and swiped a thumb across the screen. “What’s your number?”

“Uh…well…I’m not…”

“You between phones too?”

I laughed. “No, no.” I gave her my number. I had no intention of training with Megan. But I had to get her off my back.

After she had keyed in my number, Megan glanced up. “You know, everyone is pretty excited that you’re going to show off your moves at school next week.”

“Yeah, well, I thought it might be a way to get people excited about coming to my sifu’s studio.”

“I thought you said that you were between studios.”

“Right, right. Well, to be honest, it’s kind of embarrassing.” Oh man, this was hard! “The reason I’m between studios is because mine isn’t getting enough students to stay open all the time. My sifu is struggling. I thought this might be a way to get him new students.”

“Wow. That’s honorable,” said Megan. She looked impressed. “My studio,” she continued, “is super busy. My sifu complains he barely has time to clean up after all the little kids who come to his classes. I wish we had some older students. Hey, maybe I could visit your studio and train with you there. I know you’re probably more skilled than I am, but I can try to keep up.”

Time to check my invisible watch. “Oh man. I’m running late. My mom’s supposed to pick me up in five minutes. I have to go. See you at school?”

I hustled out of the gym, not daring to look back. Sifu Jon’s number three lesson? When you’re in the presence of a real kung fu expert, say little and get out as fast as you can.

Marty Chan is an award-winning author of dozens of books for kids, including Kung Fu Master in the Orca Currents line and the award-winning Marty Chan Mystery series. He tours schools and libraries across Canada, using storytelling, stage magic and improv to ignite a passion for reading in kids. He lives in Edmonton.

For more information on all the books
in the Orca Currents series, please visit
orcabook.com.