I sat on the sticky wooden floor in a hot summer day. I hated doing summer homework as much as eating my veggies!  My hand ached from writing. I had all the windows opened and all my fans surrounding me to cool me down. Why did it have to be this hot in the beginning of fall!?         

         “Nicole!” Mama looked up from her laptop and smiled with her big brown eyes. I  got up from the floor and all my papers went flying everywhere.           

“Look Nicole! You’ve been waiting for this for a whole month!”         

“I hope it’s not finding out my new teacher,”I thought to myself.”Oh how I dreaded doing more homework and sitting at my desk the whole day! I’d rather do karate kicks for three hours although I have never tried that before.”

I walked to my Mama’s desk and looked at the laptop screen. As soon as I saw it I opened my mouth to shout.

“Mama I did it ! I knew it!” I was as happy as a kid going to Disney World for the first time! Mama chuckled and hugged me tightly.

“Now go back to do your work now, I just wanted to let you know.”   

I walked back to where my papers were scattered, and I thought to myself, “I can’t believe I won my first black belt tournament!” I smiled very wide,”I won second prize!” I let out a loud squeal of delight, maybe the first day of school wouldn’t be so bad after all, at least I have something to tell my friends. 

I held my backpack strap as it thudded against my back. I glanced nervously around the whole school and began to worry. It was crowded with students rushing from place to place! A crowd of girls were standing next to the buses so I walked over hoping to make friends.

“At my gymnastics class, I learned to do a somersault!” A pretty girl with green bead earrings said.

“Show us Caroline!”a girl shouted.

Caroline smiled and walked to a nearby clump of grass. She took a deep breath

held her hands high and got into a perfect handstand! I smiled and gazed in awe. As Caroline landed,  I ran closer to get a better view. I dropped my backpack in the grass. Caroline gasped and tripped on my backpack. She landed face first in the grass. Everyone stopped and stared.

As I scurried to get my backpack she glared at me and said, “Think you’re so tough, huh? Well you’re not,” she wiped some dirt off her shirt.

I crossed my arms and said, ”You’re calling me weak when I just won second prize in my black belt tournament !” I was proud that I stood up for myself.The crowd of girls stood next to Caroline and looked at me with disgust.

            “Move your big fat arms and legs out of this place,dummy!”Caroline laughed an evil laugh and said,” I don’t think karate’s your thing.”

            I turned around and covered my face to keep the tears from flowing down my cheeks.

On the sidewalk, I walked as slowly as I could. I looked down at the cement and kicked a stone across the road. My hands were stuffed in my pockets and I tried not to think about the accident at school. Now it seemed like no one wanted to be my friend,and why did they all side with Caroline? When I got home, I took my house key out of my back pocket. Mama opened the door and smiled at me.

            “I thought she was going to be at work,” I thought to myself but I didn’t bother asking.

            “How was your first day at school?” Mama asked as I walked inside.”Did you tell your friends that you won second prize in the karate tournament?”

            I sniffed and rubbed my eyes, “No,” I muttered under my breath.

            “Not talking much,huh? Did you have a bad day? Why don’t you get all your anger out by doing a few karate kicks,” Mama suggested. I growled as loud as I could. I didn’t think karate was my thing anymore, anyways,, what use would it be if I used it to trip a beautiful girl when she was about to do a perfect somersault. 

            The next day at school, I tried to stay away from Caroline and her friends but it was absolutely impossible! They kept following me wherever they could and I had no intention to make it worse. But at lunch it was the only time they stayed away from me. They had an all girls club table. I sat down at my usual seat and held my head down as I ate. I glanced at the girls club table and saw all the girls pointing at Caroline who was at the front stage.

            “Can I please borrow the microphone?” Caroline pleaded to the lunch counselor.

 The counselor held the microphone higher and said,  “ No. You may not.”

Caroline glared at the lunch counselor and grabbed the microphone.

            “ Attention fellow students!” she waved her hand in the air. Everyone’s head turned. ”Remember the first day of school,” she scanned the cafeteria and looked at me.”She... made me trip.” she paused thinking of a clever insult.”She thinks she is so strong that she can move her heavy backpack and trip me.”

The lunch counselor whispered, “Excuse me, can you give me the microphone back?”

Caroline handed it back and everyone stared at me. Nobody even said a friendly hello to me or smiled at me anymore.

             As Mama set the utensils on the dining room table, I ran up the twisted stairway with my homework against my chest. As I sat down at my desk, I opened my math notebook and pressed my pencil on my paper as I wrote.

“Maybe she is right that I’m just a small weakling,” I thought to myself. ”I didn’t win first place either in the karate tournament, I got second.” I gritted my teeth and pressed my pencil so hard that the lead popped out. “Maybe karate is making me have no friends because I moved my backpack to make Caroline trip.”

“Dinner everyone!” Mama shouted. I put my down my pencil and ran down the stairs to the dining table. As I sat down, I figured it was impossible! I loved karate but if I continued, Caroline and everyone at my school would never want to be my friend!

            “So, has anybody got something they want to share with us?” Mama asked.

 I slumped in my seat and decided that Caroline bullying me was enough! I was about to explode. I slammed my hands on the table, making everything shake and yelled out,  “I QUIT KARATE!” Mama was shocked, Papa nearly choked on his pasta.

            “What!” they exclaimed. I was too sad to hide my tears and I cried freely as I ran to my room. 

“Nicole, honey,” Mama and Papa were tapping at my bedroom door.Papa shook the doorknob but it was locked.”We want to talk to you.”

I crouched in the corner of my room with my head tucked in my knees.Papa sighed and took the key on the top of my door and unlocked the door with a push. Mama and Papa walked over to the corner and lifted me to my feet. I sat down on my bed and began to sob like a baby without her pacifier.

            “What happened?” Papa asked in a gentle voice.

            “These girls at school are bullying me. They say karate’s not my thing,” a tear fell from my chin onto my hand making it sink and dry up in my skin.

            “And you actually believe them that you’re bad at karate?”Mama had to smile.

            “No, I tried to ignore them but they keep following me and they made big scene at lunch and now nobody wants to be my friend.”  I cried in frustration.

            “And how do you know no one wants to be your friend?” Papa asked.

I was quiet to let this information sink in. I nodded, understanding. Papa patted my back and got up to leave my room. He seemed to know that I was feeling much better.

            “Be who you are and do what you’re good at doing. Show yourself to the world,” Mama whispered and she left closing the door with a pull.

              When I woke up bright and early at 6:40 am, I was ready to show Caroline and her friends that I knew how to do karate and I loved it! At school, Caroline and her friends kept whispering behind my back.

            “I wonder if Nicole quit karate yet because she stinks at it.” All the girls laughed.

            “ Yeah, and Nicole says she’s so good at karate that she can win one hundredth place in a karate tournament,” Caroline said loud enough for me to hear. I walked to the ‘What’s new?’ bulletin board and tried my best to ignore them but it was hard not to defend and fight back. As I read the usual news, I spotted a bright aquamarine paper that seemed new. It read,

 Calling all students! There will be a karate tournament held in the gym on April 16. An assembly will be held and  everyone in the school will watch. Prizes included.

My frown disappeared in an instance. That will show Caroline and her friends!

             On the day of the tournament, I was so excited. The loudspeaker boomed as everyone in the class listened for announcements.

            “All the students who want to participate in the karate tournament, please report to the gym.” I got up from my desk and pushed my chair in. Everybody rolled their eyes and looked at the ceiling as if I would never win. I hurried out the door and walked to the gym.

            “I hope I can show them.” I thought to myself. I saw boys and girls walk out from their classrooms following behind me.

            “You stink Nicole!” A voice shouted when everyone arrived in the gym. I suspected it was Caroline. I peered behind the curtains and saw the judges sitting at a long table.

The principle held up the quiet sign and said, “Today our students will be competing with some moves that they think are impressive that they learned in karate, Please welcome our first contestants, Nicole and Amazing Andrew!”

 I walked out from the curtains and a voice shouted, “Go Nicole!” I wondered who it was? I took a deep breath and did my best to do the best that I could do. One by one all the students performed. I thought they were horrible.

            “The winner is... “The principal said, everyone held their breaths. ”Nicole!” Everyone was silent. Then everyone shouted and cheered. I couldn't believe my luck! The principle put a medal on my neck and shook my hand.

             I walked to the bleachers where my class was sitting, with my medal bobbing against my chest.

            “Hey Nicole! Over here!” It was the same that cheered me on! I turned around and saw a girl with straight black hair, fixing her glasses and waving at me from the front of the gym.

            “Could I possibly have a friend already?” I skipped over to the girl and smiled my biggest.

            “Hi Nicole, I admire you extremely! You rock at karate! Oh, and my name is Amelia!”

            “Wow she sure is jumpy!” I thought to myself. I looked behind my back and saw Caroline crossing her arms, looking at the ground.

            “Why did loser Nicole need to win first?” she heaved a frustrated sigh and the girls patted her on the back like a mom does to a child. I found myself  feeling even a little sorry for her, even after what she has done to me. I turned my attention back to Amelia and smiled.

            “She sure is a hilarious friend,” I thought. I chuckled and rolled my eyes. Then  I walked back to the bleachers hand in hand with Amelia.

             I turned my head as I waited to be dismissed with my class in the gym and saw the girls whispering to Caroline about something but I didn’t quite make out what they were saying because of the racket the school was making.

            “Okay!” Caroline said in a whining tone.The girls stood up and made room for Caroline. She sighed for like her billionth time and got up, smoothing out her plaid skirt.

“My class, stand up!” Miss Williams said, motioning for us to get up. I could see Caroline walking towards me and I was anxiously trying to get the line to move.

“What does she want to do with me now, I need to hide!” I thought to myself but my

thoughts were cut short with a tap on my shoulder, I jumped and hopped backwards like a frog jumping from lily pad to lily pad.

            “Oops,” I whimpered.

            “Nicole,” I balanced myself and my cheeks turned as red as apples. Caroline was holding out her hand to help me.

            “I am really sorry for what I said earlier, you really are impressive at karate, after what I saw.”

“It’s fine,” I smiled.

“Is there any way I can do to make it up for my behavior?” I was astounded at what was coming out of her mouth. I was going to ask why she was acting so nice but I decided to enjoy it while the time passed.

            “Let’s just be friends,” I said. She nodded and we hugged each others forgiving one another.