Red Belt
Marcia's eyes snapped open and she sat up.
"This is not my bed," Marcia said
She stood up seeing she was in some sort of crater. She climbs out of the crater and dusted herself off. She hears a scuffling sound behind her and turns around quickly to see Star at the mouth of a cave hunched over chewing on a ribbon.
"Star?" Marcia questions looking at her friend, Star hisses at Marcia making her jump back, then the blonde girl shuffles off into the cave.
Suddenly something drops down next to Marcia with a heavy thud and she looks to see it's her locker. She looks at the locker than gasps running over to it.
"I don't know my combination!" Marcia said
The lock rattles violently then the door flings open, to reveal another Marcia inside wearing her outfit from the Blood Moon Ball.
Marcia backs away from the other Marcia in the locker a look of confusion on her face. The Marcia in the locker then snaps its eyes open making Marcia scream and fall back onto her bottom. The clone starts to shift and change its face morphing into Mr. Candle's but he was still wearing her dress.
"What are your plans for the future, Miss. Diaz?" Mr. Candle asked
"Mr. Candle? That dress really doesn't fit your figure," Marcia said pointing at him.
Shadows pass by over Marcia and she looks up to see various kids from her school floating above her holding onto balloons.
"We're moving on with our lives," Jackie said
"Uhhhhh….." Marcia said confused watching them float away. She looks down at her hand seeing a red balloon in her hand, "Where will my balloon take me?"
The balloon starts to float up and Marcia lets go of it allowing it to drift off. Marcia watches the balloon float up and it passes by a red moon. The red moon glows brightly shining a light on Marcia. As she was bathed in the dark red light something appears from it. The object takes a solid form making Marcia gasp out happily.
"My red belt," Marcia said reaching for it, "I've been looking all over for you," Marcia tried to grab the belt but then it flies out of her reach, "Wait! Come back."
Suddenly hands wrap around her waist lifting her up to get a higher reach for the red belt. Marcia looks down and her eyes widen seeing Tom holding her up.
"I've got you, Marcia…...Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!"
"Marcia. Marcia. Marcia!"
Marcia jolted awake falling out of her bed tangled in her sheets. She pulls the sheets away from her face looking up to see Star staring down at her. Half of Star's body was sticking out of a portal made by the dimensional scissors.
"Marcia, Marcia, Marcia," Star said calling out to the dazed girl.
"Star?" Marcia asked rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as she sat up. She pulled herself off of the floor and sat down on her bed.
"You okay? Sounded like you were having one of those "stuck in life" dreams again," Star said
"Yeah. Wait. What are you doing in here?" Marcia asked
"I'm hanging my first "Love Sentence" poster," Star said bringing a poster out of the portal, "You can be my prisoner of love, Justin Towers."
"Uh...that's not what I meant. I was sleeping. Although I was pretty ready to be woken up from that dream," Marcia said
"Oh! Right. You have a hammer? I'm putting this bad boy up Earth girl style. No majack!" Star said
"Yeah, all I'm saying is, you could've tried knocking on my door, Earth girl style," Marcia said
"Why would I do that when I have dimensional...oh! How can I be so "duh"? Nothing's easy on Earth! Haha! I'm gonna find a hammer the hard way. Scavenger hunt!" Star said before disappearing back into the portal.
"Do we even have a hammer?" Marcia questioned out loud.
Marcia stood up and walked over to her closet. She opens its doors and looks to see her karate gi hanging in the closet. With a determined look Marcia nods her head and pulls out the gi.
Marcia kicked open the door to her dojo then does a front flip inside landing in a fighting pose, "Sensei, I need to talk to you about graduating to a red…"
Marcia's words drifted off as she saw Sensei Brantley sitting crossed legged in the middle of the room, "Silence! I'm about to achieve oneness with the universe," Sensei Brantley took in a deep breath then grunted, "Now, bow to your sensei."
Marcia bows at a perfect 90-degree angle, "Master, I've been a green belt for five years. It's time for me to level up."
"Hahaha! Five years, and you think you're ready? Go get an ice cream cone or something and quit wasting my Saturday," Sensei Brantley said
"Sensei, I'm serious," Marcia said
"Are you sure? The training you desire has broken many a student," Sensei Brantley said
"I'm ready to do whatever it takes, Marcia said
"Fine. We start…" Sensei Brantley jumps at Marcia screaming, Marcia doesn't flinch as Sensei Brantley lands right in front of her his foot in her face, "now! Clip the toenail."
"Seriously?" Marcia speculated
"Clip the toenail!" Sensei Brantley shouted
Marcia with a disgusted look pulls out a pair of toenail clippers and clipped Sensei Brantley big toe. The toenail shoots out and hits Marcia right in the eye.
"Ow! Gross!" Marcia yelled
~Montage~
Sensei Brantley stood on top of a toilet as Marcia plunged it.
"Plunge the toilet!" Sensei Brantley said
"Ugh," Marcia groaned out plunging the toilet.
Marcia stood on a wood log one leg up holding a calculator in one hand while trying to reach for a receipt in a large pile of receipts. She had a pencil behind her ear and a second one in her mouth clenched between her teeth. Sensei Brantley held a box of more receipts and right behind him….even more receipts.
"Take the deduction," Sensei Brantley said
A fly lands on Marcia's nose and she quickly slaps herself trying to get it but she loses her balance and falls off the log with a loud thud.
Marcia had a grossed out look as toenail clipping where in her hair and eyes. She desperately tried to get the toenails out gagging the whole time.
"Is your moment of failure at hand, Miss Diaz?" Sensei Brantley said
"No sensei," Marcia said
Montage over
Marcia was now at a house on a ladder. She had a sponge in one hand and was cleaning a window on the second floor of the house.
"That's right, Miss. Diaz. Feel the squeegee deep in your soul. Preparation is key; you never know when trouble will arrive," Sensei Brantley said
A car horn gets Marcia and Sensei Brantley's attention. They look behind them to see a car pulling up in the driveway. An elderly woman gets out of the car, her arms full of groceries.
"Hello dear," The woman said
"Mom! How nice to have you, uh, visit me at my own house," Sensei Brantley stuttered out nervously.
"It's nice to see you finally getting to those windows, and you have a little friend helping you. Maybe I'll fix you a big helper's snack," Sensei's Mother said
Marcia slid down the ladder landing next to Sensei Brantley, "Your mom seems nice."
"Oh yes, she often comes to see me. But not too often, on account of her having her own home," Sensei Brantley said in an even more nervous tone.
"I'm glad you made that distinction because it almost seemed like this was her house," Marcia said with a smirk crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow making Sensei Brantley sweat.
Sensei's Mother walks out of the house holding two plates of food, "Here you go you two. If you need me, I'll be taking a nap in my room, okay?"
Sensei Brantley holds his food looking at Marcia who still has her smirk on.
Sensei Brantley sat dejectedly in his room munching on a sandwich as Marcia leaned against a wall.
"Okay, it's clear that you live at home, no shame in that," Marcia said
"Uh...good that you think like that. That means you'll have no problem cleaning my room," Sensei Brantley said
"Hold on there. Are you training me for a red belt, or are you making me do all your chores?" Marcia asked
"No no, we're training. Ha!" Sensei Brantley kicked his foot in Marcia's face again, "Cut the toenail."
"Ugh! I think I've more than earned my red belt," Marcia said
"Uh, you can't because I, uh…" Sensei Brantley looks nervously at Marcia then he falls on his knees and starts sobbing, "because I'm also only a green belt."
"What⁈" Marcia exclaimed
"I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life so I rented a dojo and ordered these instructional videotapes," Sensei Brantley pulled out a box of tapes from under his bed, "Each tape told me what to learn to get each color belt. It was going pretty well at first, but I only watched as far as the green belt tape."
"Why'd you stop there?" Marcia asked
"Because the red belt tape got stuck in the machine. Now it just holds up the short leg on my computer table," Sensei Brantley said
"Couldn't you just try to get the tape out and untangle it?" Marcia asked
"I did, but that tape got stuck in another machine! What kind of sensei can't even work a VCR?" Sensei Brantley said
Marcia lets out a heavy sigh, "Well, we can totally find it online," She pulls out her phone and starts typing, "Except we can't. It seems like this is one of the rarest sets of videotapes in existence. I guess we'll just have to find it IRL."
"No way. I owe those guys too much in back taxes," Sensei Brantley said
"IRL means 'in real life.' We just have to find a copy somewhere out there," Marcia said
"I see. In that case, we'll need wheels," Sensei Brantley said
The garage door opens and Sensei Brantley comes out on a bicycle with Marcia riding on the spokes.
"To adventure!" Sensei Brantley cheered
"Haha, I'm coming red belt," Marcia said
Sensei Brantley stops the bike and looks up, "What is this place?"
"It's cool. You'll love it," Marcia said getting off the bike.
Marcia walks in the store followed by Sensei Brantley.
"Yuck. Come on. It's like a yard sale, but inside," Sensei Brantley said
"These are the only kind of places you can find old videotapes anymore," Marcia said walking over to a bin. She pulls out a random video.
"Is that it?" Sensei Brantley asked
"No," Marcia said tossing it and picking another.
"Is that it?"
"No."
"Is that it?"
"Nope."
"Is that?"
"Nope. Wait I got it. Never mind, this is how to karaoke," Marcia said holding up a karaoke video.
"Ahg. This is impossible! We're never gonna find it," Sensei Brantley said
"Come on, we just got here," Marcia said looking at some more tapes, "Why don't you go check one of those other bookcases?" Marcia looks behind her but sees no Sensei Brantley, "Sensei?"
Marcia walks out the store to see Sensei Brantley getting ice cream.
"How about grape and cherry? Ooh, you know what? Just squirt every flavor you got on it zombie style. Ooh, yeah," Sensei Brantley said taking the cone.
"Why'd you leave?" Marcia asked
"We tried we failed," Sensei Brantley said, the ice cream man held his hand out for money. Sensei Brantley reached into his pocket and pulls out the lining showing he has no money. He looks at Marcia who rolls her eyes.
"Ugh…." Marcia digs into her pocket and pulls out some cash, "Here, you owe me." She goes to hand her Sensei the money but once again he's gone, "What the?!"
The Ice cream man points to the right and Marcia looks over to see Sensei Brantley on his bike doing tricks, showing off to some girls.
"Sensei, what are you doing?" Marcia asked running over.
"These chicks totally dig my bike," Sensei Brantley said
Marcia facepalms her forehead and lets out a grunt, "Are you for real?"
"What?" Sensei Brantley asked
"You don't really wanna earn your red belt, do you?" Marcia asked crossing her arms.
"Look, we tried, and we failed, and that's okay," Sensei Brantley said
"You're unbelievable! It's not okay. I actually wanted to be like you, I looked up to you, but ya know what I'm done. I'll see you later," Marcia said walking away.
"Where are you going?" Sensei Brantley asked
"I'm going to find that tape and get my red belt," Marcia said
"Uh, bow to your sensei," Sensei Brantley said
Marcia looked over her shoulder, "I don't have a sensei….not anymore."
Marcia walked away leaving a crestfallen Sensei Brantley.
"So where am I gonna look next? I could check more thrift stores, but what are the odds I'll-Ow!" Marcia fell back as she hit her head on something. She looks up to see a sign that read 'Rare video Tapes', "-bump into it?"
Marcia smiles and stands up running off.
A bell goes off as a young girl walked into a Video Store. Marcia walks up to the counter standing before the cashier. The Cashier had a dead fish stare as Marcia approached.
"You are no cinephile. Next," The Cashier said
"I'm looking for a rare set of karate instructional tapes," Marcia said
"Finally. A customer who knows what she's talking about," The Cashier said
"It's the "How to Karate" series. The red belt tape," Marcia said
The Cashier points behind him "Behold, the coveted volume 8 red belt cassette," He pulls it off the shelf, "Viewed only once."
Marcia gives out a happy squeal and reaches for the video, "I've been looking all over for you."
The Cashier smacks Marcia's hand, "Not without gloves, please."
"Okay. How much is it?" Marcia asked
"I will give you the aficionado price. 2,400," The Cashier said
"Dollars⁈ Have all the tape cleaning fumes gone to your head. I can't afford that," Marcia said
"Well, there is another way," The Cashier said
"Cool what is it?" Marcia asked
"Go on a date with me," The Cashier said
"Nope, not happening," Marcia said quickly.
The Cashier deflates but quickly hides his disappointment, "Then there is another way. Fight me!"
"Really? Yeah, okay," Marcia sid
The cashier stands up, revealing he's much taller in height and his body had way more muscle.
"I'm not leaving without that tape," Marcia said not intimidate getting into a karate stance.
The cashier karate chops his own desk breaking it in half. The two let out battle cries as they jump at each other starting the battle. Marcia blocks a couple of hits then jumps at The Cashier with a kick but he manages to catch her kick in his pecs and throws the girl away. Marcia gets back up just as The Cashier started to throw tapes at her. She dodged each tape but failed to see the guy wrap a tape from a video around her ankles tripping her. The Cashier goes to stomp on her but Marcia rolls out the way breaking out the tape.
Marcia climbs on top of a shelf but The Cashier pushes it over. As the two duke it out the door to the store opens.
"Hey, Marcia. I'm still your sensei, right?" Sensei Brantley said walking in. The Cashier looks up and brings out a remote pressing a button making dozens of VHS tapes fall onto Sensei Brantley from a hidden trap door.
Marcia picked up some tapes and started throwing them at The Cashier as Sensei Brantley crawled out of the pile of tapes wrapped in the tape ribbon.
"Sensei, he has the tape!" Marcia screamed backed into a corner. She started to scream as The Cashier ran at her like a wild animal. The Cashier jumped up putting his leg ou prepared for a kick.
"Miss. Diaz, clip the toenail!" Sensei Brantley yelled
Marcia screams and thrusts her hand forward eyes closed tightly. Her hand catches something and she peeks one eye open. Her eyes widen when she sees that she stopped The Cashier's attack but just grabbing his big toe.
The Cashier flails then falls to the ground landing on his back.
"You...defeated me. The tape is yours," The Cashier said handing the tape to Marcia.
Sensei Brantley inched wormed his way next to Marcia, since he was still tied up, "Can you ask him if he has the "How to Untangle Multiple VHS Tapes" VHS tape?"
"No," Marcia said to Sensei Brantley, she then looked back at The Cashier, "Do you have a pair of scissors?"
"Actually, we…"
Marcia cut The Cashier off, "Not the critically acclaimed award-winning romantic comedy "A Pair of Scissors," an actual pair of scissors."
"No," The Cashier said
Marcia lets out a groan.
Marcia smiled as she pulled the "How To Karate" from the VCR. Not only had she learned to become a red belt but so had her sensei.
"You know, red is really your color," Sensei Brantley said giving Marcia a bow.
Marcia bows back, "It's yours too, sensei."