Spies in Disguise: Passports and Protection (#1)

Chapter 1: Spies Say No

The morning of August 1, almost three weeks (but not quite) after my birthday, my mom says:

"Stef, you are going to take karate classes starting the coming Monday, even if you don't want to!" 

You're thinking, "What a nice mom!" And I'm thinking, "What's this all about now?"

Oops. How could I be this rude not to introduce myself? I'm Stephanie Carter, but please, do call me Stef. That's what everyone calls me. I'm a school freak, a fashion freak, and I go crazy for badminton. I turned 12 years old sometime last month, and I finally got a phone! Woot woot! Oh, the joy of getting your first cellphone...too joyful and epic to express.

Right now, my family is sitting at the kitchen table, eating pancakes and bacon for breakfast. My soon to be 7 years old brother Ryan is sitting on my left, happily shoving bacon in his mouth. Mom is sitting right in front of me, and Dad is sitting on Mom's right. 

"Wait, why do I have to take karate classes?" I reply, frowning. "I thought we went over this several times that you can't force me to do anything, like taking extra classes?"

"You need to take karate classes, Stef," sighs Dad. "Those karate skills might save your life one day!" Mom and Dad, especially Dad, are keen on me taking 'life-saving classes', such as karate, swimming, judo, etc. They keep asking me to take them, but my answer is always the same: no, no, no, no!

"You said MIGHT," I emphasize. "So they MIGHT save my life. So I don't have to take those classes!"

"Oh, and some swimming lessons would do you good too," adds Mom. "All - or almost all your cousins know how to swim! Knowing how to swim might save your life one day!" Yep. Pretty much all my cousins know how to swim. Ryan, our cousin Quentin, and I are the only ones that can't swim.

"You said MIGHT," I emphasize again. "So they MIGHT-"

"We're not going over this again," sighs Mom. "You're taking karate classes with Maddie, and that's final! Maddie has had this conversation with her parents already!" Mom then mutters, "Which was even worse than this one."

Maddie is my younger cousin from Mom's side of the family. She turned 10 sometime in May, and we enjoy talking to each other, pranking other people...you get the point. She has a 7 year old brother Quentin, who is a few months older than Ryan. Quentin may be older than Ryan, but Ryan is WAY taller than him. Yep, he's at least 10cm taller than Quentin. Don't make me emphasize this again.

"Fine...karate classes, I could live with, but what about the swimming class thingamajiggy thing?" I pester. "And does he have to take any classes?" I add, motioning to Ryan, who is now gobbling up his pancakes. 

"No, he already has his guitar lessons," replies Dad. "And you're not taking swimming lessons. Karate is more important. Besides, Maddie could teach you how to swim!"

"I don't want to learn how to swim," I scowl. "Swimming pools and I will never be friends!" 

"Fine then, that's settled," says Mom in her 'mom' voice. That's what we call her strict and firm tone of voice. "Just a reminder, your karate class will be a mix of karate and gymnastics."

"UGGGGGGGGGG," I grumble. "Gymnastics?! I'm not physically flexible, I can't even cartwheel, or do the splits, or-"

"That doesn't matter. You'll be physically flexible by the end of August, even though you can't cartwheel or do the splits. This is settled, let's not talk about this!" said Dad in a louder voice. We don't talk for the remainder of breakfast, until Ryan says:

"Yes, this is awesome! I don't need to take any more classes, but Stef does! Ha ha ha ha harrr!" Ryan blows a raspberry in my face, and I grumble.

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