Why does Gender Matter?

8/9/2019 Why does Gender Matter?

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Agbaw 1

Adele Agbaw

Mrs. Evans-Maxson

Creative Writing

20 April 2010

Why Does Gender Matter?

“Ouch! What was that for?” Hina exclaimed after Saki threw her book at her. The two

best friends had been studying for their ninja exams for the three hours. Saki was determined to

study while Hina only wanted to go to the bar to get some ramen.

“I threw that because you’re not focusing! We’ll never pass the exams if you’re fooling

around. Now, get to work!” Saki screamed at Hina. She had had it with her friend and was tired

herself from struggling to study while her friend played around.

“But Sa-chan! We’ve studied enough already. I’m exhausted-”

“Well, that’s a surprise because you’ve done almost no work.” Saki said even though she

knew Hina had studied with her for at least two hours.

Hina closed her book and got up of the bamboo floor. “I promise you I’ll study with you

tomorrow. Can we please go get something to eat now?” Saki silently agreed and they both went

to Saki’s dining room and feasted on ramen noodles their favorite dish. After that, they went out

to town where they’re friends’ favorite hang out: the sushi bar.

“Did you guy’s just come back from studying?” asked Tami when Saki and Hina sat in

one of comfy, plushy chairs at the lounge.

“Yep, we studied for like three hours-Saki’s idea.” Hina prattled.

“Hey, it’s what I have to do if I want to be a ninja-” Saki started. One boy came and sat

with them.



Agbaw 2

“Don’t tell me you’re still trying to become a ninja. You know they’ll never let you. It’s a

boy thing. Girls are supposed to stay home and cook and clean and take care of children. You

should leave ninja stuff to the guys, it’s too dangerous,” said Kane, who was one of their good

friends. “Besides, don’t you need some more muscles before you can pass those exams?” he

teased. Saki punched him hard in the arm, trying to show off her strength. He in turn, tried to

strike back but Saki blocked it with her stealth.

“See, strength isn’t everything. You might be the toughest in our class but I’m the craftier

one. I think I can get by with just my speed, I don’t need strength.” Saki took drink of some of

her steaming hot green tea and settled back in her chair. In turn, Hina sat up.

“Don’t be stupid Saki. They only let boys go and you know they won’t change, they

never change. It’s always been about sticking to tradition. I want to be a ninja as much as you

want to but, for my village I’d rather just become a nurse or something.”

“Don’t listen to her; you can do anything if you put your mind to it. If you want to be a

ninja, go be a ninja,” she put her hand on Saki’s shoulder. “I think it’s time that things changed

around here.”

“Do mine ears deceive me? Are these the same girls who said they’d rather clean dishes

that become ninja’s?” Kane taunted.

“Don’t say that, you know that was during the mid-term exams. Those were the hardest

exams ever! I mean, we almost collapsed at the end of it didn’t we?” asked Tami.

“More like died. Anyways, I just don’t want you to get too discouraged when they don’t

accept you.”

“I won’t because I will be accepted. Hey, aren’t you supposed to be supporting me

instead of putting me down like this?” Saki asked down-casted.



Agbaw 3

“You shouldn’t give up, but I think you should calm down a little bit, okay? All of us

even, Kane want change but we know we can’t do anything.” Hana said

“I don’t care what you guys say, I’m still going through with this, boy or not. I mean why

does gender really matter?” At that moment, as they all went into silent contemplation on my

comment.

“Come let’s play some soccer-the losers have to buy us ramen next time!” Kane said,

trying to cheer up the mood a little bit. They all went outside, borrowed a ball from someone and

played soccer just like friends do. The next morning, during breakfast, Saki’s mom asked her

about the upcoming exams.

“Are you studying hard enough for those exams?” her mom asked as Saki stuffed herself

with tamogoyaki, rolled omelet.

“Yes, mom, I really am working hard, surprising as it may seem,” Saki hadn’t always

been the most hardworking person in class, mostly because she was always distracted by Hana.

The two loved to fool around in class and mock the teacher while he or she was talking.

“I see what you mean. You have been very studious these past few months. I ‘m happy

but has caused the change in attitude?” Saki still hadn’t told her mom about her ambitions to

become a ninja. Now was the time.

“It’s because…I want to become an official ninja,” she said this as she picked on a piece

of her tamogoyaki.

“I see,” her mom said thoughtfully. “The problem is you know that that is strictly a male

job. It’s not a woman’s place to do ninja work, or so I’m told. How will figure it out,” said her

mom who had kept a composed face, even after Saki’s shocking revelation.

“See, that’s the problem; I’m a girl and rules are rules.”



Agbaw 4

“If you really want to be ninja, go for it. You have my full support,” her mom said. Then

she added, “Just don’t tell your dad though.” With that Saki was off to school.

After school she went to the principal’s office to plead with him one last time to let her

become a ninja. She had been doing this for the past two months with no results. This time, for

some reason, she felt some hope.

“Good-afternoon, Mr. Suzuki! You must be tired, I brought you some water and cookies,

your favorite-” Saki started.

“Oh, not this again! How long will it take before you give up! Tradition is tradition and

honor is honor, end of story!” he exclaimed. “But, if it makes you feel better, I’ll listen to what

you have to say-“

“Good! Look, I’m willing to make a deal with you today.” Saki tempted.

“A deal, I like deals! Make it a good one; I don’t have all day-”

“Okay! This is it!” Saki sat down in the chair opposite Mr. Suzuki and started straight

into his eye with the most piercing stare she could give him to show she meant business. “I

propose that if I pass the expert ninja final exam, I become an official ninja and am given access

to all ninja rights and privileges. But, if I fail, I never work on ninja practices again and will

never ever, ever, bother anyone about being a ninja ever again!”

I sat back and waited as he seemed to think this over. Finally, he spoke up:

“It’s a done deal!” he held out his hand for me to shake it.

“Is that it? Are going to agree that quickly?” Saki was utterly and completely astonished.

For the past two months, Saki had done everything to convince Mr. Suzuki to let her become a

ninja and all of a sudden they had a deal! Just like that! Saki couldn’t believe her luck. She

couldn’t wait to rub it into her friend’s faces.



Agbaw 5

“Look, I ‘m tired of seeing you come into my office every day. I have a life too.” He gave

Saki a few papers to sign so that she could switch her exams.

“So just sign here, and here, and here…there! Now you can take the official ninja expert

exam instead of the moderate one! Good luck!”

“Thank you!” Saki left Mr. Suzuki’s office happier than she had been in weeks! Success

felt so nice!

“Why are you looking all happy?” Hina asked Saki when she joined her with Kane and

Tami outside the school.

“I got Mr. Suzuki to switch my exams to expert!” she responded joyfully.

“Are you stupid? Why would you do that?” asked Kane perplexedly. Saki told them all

about the deal she had made with Mr. Suzuki and how he had just wanted her out of his office.

“Wow, that’s great! But, doesn’t that mean you’ll have to train harder?” Tami exclaimed.

“Yes,” Saki responded. “It means that I’ll need you guys to help me train, can you do it.”

Tami nodded her head, Hina smiled, and Kane had the face of someone in deep thought. He sat

there contemplating while the others waited, but after a while he grudgingly agreed.

“Okay, I’ll help you only because you’re my friend and I think you have what it takes,”

he said. They all got up and went to the school dojo to practice. When Saki arrived home later,

she felt so confident that she felt she could win a duel with their principle, the best ninja at their

school. She fell asleep easily, since she was so tired from all the training she and her friends had

done. The exams were only in three weeks, she thought she had plenty of time.

Before she knew it, one week came for a visit, then left. Two weeks passed by without as

much as a word. Then six days went by so quietly, she didn’t notice it. On the morning of the

exams, Saki was a nervous-wreck.



Agbaw 6

She panicked, getting up at 4 am in the morning and getting her friend Hina to train with

her.

“Do we really have to do this now?” Hina asked sleepily. “Please just two more hours…”

she began nodding off.

“Come one, wake up! You have exams too, right?” Saki looked at her friend angrily.

“Aren’t you the person who had agreed to help me?” she and Hina practiced outside Saki’s house

until seven and then went for breakfast. After that they went to school, Saki asking Hina study

questions on the way.

At school, Saki looked at the exam schedule: theory first, strategy second, and third,

duels. In theory, Saki had to answer questions about everything from ninja technique to

acupuncture.

When the strategy part came, she was tested on her technique and which moves she

would choose at moment. Finally, the duels: these were unsurprisingly the hardest parts of the

exam. These matches against different people tested your skill, how good you could fight a

battle, and overall if you could win over half of them. Students were often injured, but not too

badly in this section.

Saki first fought a variety of people: big, tiny, short, tall, easy, hard. At the end, she was

glad to get out alive because the last person she had fought was the expert training teacher. He

was a really tough one.

By the end of the day, the results were in: Saki and all of her friends had passed the

exams. There was a big end of the year party just to celebrate. Saki had never been so happy in

her life!



Agbaw 7

At the beginning there was ninja acceptance ceremony, where you received the reward

for all your hard work: an official ninja badge. When her name was called, Saki gladly got up, to

the astonishment of the whole school. All eyes were on her a she ambled to the front of the room

and took her badge. By this time, she was very anxious. As she sat down, there was no applause.

“You did it! I knew you could, Saki,” shouted Tami at the end of the party who gave Saki

a big hug.

Hina came and gave her a hug too, then asked: “So what do you plan to do now that

you’re an official ninja?”Saki thought very hard about her response:

“I want to become an artist who paints ninjas.” Everyone stared at her in shock, even

Kane. They thought she had gone nuts.

“Then, what was the point in all the training, the exercises, and finally become a ninja?”

Kane asked bewilderedly.

“It was so that I could make a change, make things better for everyone. Now, all girls can

become ninjas, thanks to me. Also, I’ve always wanted to be an artist and I think ninjas would be

my best subjects.” Saki answered. With that they all accepted her answer and continued with

their revelries and festivities. The End.

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Why does Gender Matter?