For (cid:51)(cid:97)lie (cid:50)osh (cid:14) (cid:47)ri(cid:78)fin You radiate goodness in this world I am the luckiest
CHAPTER 1 SEPTEMBER 7 2001 FRIDAY (cid:119)(cid:119)(cid:119)(cid:119)(cid:119)(cid:119)(cid:119)(cid:119)(cid:119)(cid:119)(cid:119) I’d rather dunk my head in a school toilet than run cross country All the tree branches and roots are like landmines They slow me down Besides I’m not good for long distances I’m more of a sprinter You know get from point A to point B as fast as possible with a finish line al(cid:95)a(cid:97)s in si(cid:79)ht and no s(cid:93)rprises alon(cid:79) the way That’s running Unfortunately Coach makes us do cross country in the fall or we can’t run track in the spring It’s stupid They’re not the same sport at all Come on only half a mile left Sam says as he grabs my elbow and pulls me through the woods He’s not even winded as he adds Let’s pick up the pace Only half a mile Might as well be three Sam made me practice all summer and even though I’ve gotten a lot better I still hate cross country But at least Coach
2 JUST A DROP OF WATER knows how hard we’ve been working He’s sure to name us team captains it’s only fair and the only reason I’m letting Sam drag me along To top it all off we’re going to crush Palmetto Ridge Middle and Tyler Montgomery this year That’s why I keep running The trees block out the sun but the air is still sticky It feels like a hundred degrees and my shirt’s soaked Dodging a tree limb I pant I HATE YOU I know Jake You tell me every day Maybe I’ll let you win since it’s your birthday Or not He laughs and sprints ahead of me My eyes dart up and down and side to side try ing to navigate the forest maze As the woods thin out the redness of the school track peeks through the edge o(cid:78) the tree line (cid:41) s(cid:85)ooth r(cid:93)n (cid:41) painted finish line I speed up The rest of the team is way behind as usual in cluding Kirk Steiner He’s the only other eighth grader on the team and he’s new and fast though not as fast as Sam and me Okay maybe a little faster but still Sam and I have been on the team since sixth grade and we’re going to lead it this year Kirk hangs back with the seventh graders for our runs If he tried I’m sure he’d be able to keep pace with Sam and me up front but he likes to show off He stays back and then blows us away at the last minute
KERRY O’MALLEY CERRA 3 Leaves crunch under my feet as I just about exit the woods Before I pass the last tree Sam pops out and ambushes me So predictable I shout We wrestle each other to the ground Sam’s solid like a cannon and I’m more like a bayonet Doesn’t matter though we’re almost always opposites I’m faster but Sam can run longer I have blonde hair blue eyes and pale skin Sam’s got dark hair brown eyes and brown skin He can throw a bomb of a pass in football and I’m the best receiver We make a great team Together we’re unstoppable Sam pins me I squirm to the left break free and (cid:198)ip hi(cid:85) to the side He shakes dirt from his hair Nice move Sweat drips into my eye and I wipe it with my sleeve I’ve been saving that one just for you The team passes us and Sam looks at his watch Come on You’re gonna be late for your own party Dinner at home with Grandma and Sam’s family is hardly a party but it’s all I want this year Well that and tickets to a Philadelphia Eagles game In Philly We scramble to our feet With the team ahead of us Sam and I take off We got this I yell as we streak by them Sam taps Kirk on the back as he passes him Race ya
