by Sally Gould
"I hope it has a happy ending," Mom said.
Kate replied, "You'll have to come and see for yourself."
"I can't wait," said Dad.
Sam couldn't wait until he was in fifth grade. Maybe he'd get to do a play about knights. He knew so much about knights that he'd have to be chosen to be a knight. Sam asked her, "Does this mean you'll be pretending?"
Kate's eyed widened. "I'll be acting, Sam."
"It's okay, Kate," said Sam. "Pretending is what actors do."
5. SAM'S ROLE
The next day, Sam looked straight ahead during the whole of assembly. Mrs. Cross stood with a group of teachers near the wall of the hall. Sam didn't want her to see him. Finally the principal said that they were dismissed.
Before Sam could run off to play, Mrs. Dench came over to him. He had never spoken to her.
"You're Kate's brother," she said.
He nodded.
"I've seen you playing," she said with a smile.
"I didn't mean to." His face crumpled.
"I know." She crouched down. "You're very good at pretending. I've noticed that you're a ninja or a samurai until the bell goes. Only then do you go back to being Sam McIntosh."
He shrugged. Since Mr. Connor had banned the game for two whole weeks, he had to get used to being Sam McIntosh all the time.
"How would you like a part in the school play?"
"That's only for the fifth and sixth graders."
"This year we need a young boy to be a page. He has to help the knights before he's old enough to train to be a knight. He doesn't have many lines but he has to be very good at pretending."
Sam suddenly felt embarrassed. He stood on one foot and then the other. Wow, he thought. "I'd like that."
"Fantastic," she said. "You'll make a very good page."
Sam grinned and ran off to the playground.
***
Next week after school, Sam was at rehearsal for the play. He sat by himself on one side of the draughty hall. He watched the knights go through their fight routines over and over again. Mrs. Dench told each knight exactly how to swing his sword and how to move his feet. How boring! Right now his friends were at karate. Sam glanced at the clock on the wall. By now they were probably free fighting. Not like these knights. What we're doing is more like dancing, thought Sam with disgust.
He couldn't believe it when he found out that rehearsals for the play were on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. His mom had said that he'd agreed to play the part, and he couldn't pull out now. Sam screamed and cried and screamed some more. He couldn't help it. Even though he wanted to be in the play, he couldn't bear missing out on karate.
And this play wasn't the same as the Christmas play last year. He was the only kid who wasn't in fifth or sixth grade. Kate ignored him; she wasn't happy about him being in her play. She was on the other side of the hall fiddling with her long black hair and laughing with her friends. Sam was sure she was showing off in front of the tall boy who played the Lord of the castle. The fifth and sixth grade kids all hung out together. No one wanted to sit with him. He was lonely, but he wouldn't admit it.
And worse, he only had a part in the first half of the play and a small part at the end. But he still had to go to every rehearsal. Sam put his chin in his hands. Pretending could be boring.
6. THE PLAY
Two months later, Sam stood on the stage and peered out between the closed curtains. The theatre was full and his parents were in the front row, smack dead in the middle. He smiled to himself as his stomach fluttered. It felt weird. Kate was in the wings trying to decide if her hair was perfect enough. Even Sam thought that she looked pretty good in her long shiny blue dress. He wouldn't tell her that though. He looked down at his tunic. He didn't feel silly anymore because the knights all wore tunics too, except they had armor over the top of theirs.
Mrs. Dench made the call that the play was about to begin. Sam took his place.
The lights in the theatre dimmed. The audience fell silent. The curtains parted and Sam knew everyone in the audience was looking at him. He glanced up; except for the first couple of rows, the audience was a blur. His throat felt dry. I'm only a page, he thought, I can do this.
Sam helped the cook serve dinner. After all the rehearsals, he didn't have to think about what to do. It was easy.
When he discovered Kate, playing Mary of Moreland, and the silver knights fast asleep after they had eaten their soup, he looked absolutely shocked.
After a black knight picked him up and said, "What should we do with the little one?", Sam screamed and looked terrified.
Later, Sam projected his voice to the back of the theatre as he cried out, "The silver knights kidnapped me! If you let me go, then I'll show you where they hide their treasure." Sam's heart thumped, because he really felt like he was in danger.
As Sam tricked the black knights and managed to lock them in the dungeon, he had to stop himself from smiling. He wasn't allowed to show that he was having fun.
Sam watched the second half of the play from the wing. Kate had been rescued and was safely back in the castle. As she was reunited with the Lord, she brushed her hair with her hand and knocked her tiara to the side of her head. She clutched it and froze mid-sentence. Sam strode on to the stage. "My Lady," he said. "May I take that for you?" Kate handed him the tiara and thanked him with her eyes. Sam bowed to her before walking off. Kate continued where she'd left off.
In the wing, Mrs. Dench patted Sam on the shoulder. "Fantastic work."
Then the Lord put on a feast to celebrate the victory of the silver knights and the safe return of Mary. After the feast the Lord presented Sam with his own magic sword. It was Sam's favorite part of the play. The Lord declared that Sam had proven his bravery and he was now a squire, which meant the silver knights would train him to become a knight. Sam knew that a page had to be fourteen years old before he was really allowed to become a squire, but he didn't mind. He kneeled in front of the Lord and said in his strongest voice, "I promise to protect the weak, defend good against evil, and serve my Lord for the whole of my life."
When the play finished, all the actors stood in a line across the stage and took their bows. Sam squeezed in at the end of the line. Kate stood in the middle holding hands with the boy who played the Lord. The audience clapped and cheered so loudly that Sam could feel the theatre shaking. He knew he'd always pretend. Pretending was the best fun ever. He saw Kate looking at him. She smiled and he smiled back.
Fitness Fanatics
1. FITNESS FANATICS
Zack stood on the freshly mown oval. It was empty. The other kids weren't allowed on it until Fitness Fanatics finished. He listened to Mr. Bannister giving his usual speech.
"You've got to run past the red flag before it's counted as a lap. Some kids don't seem to know how to count," he boomed. Everyone laughed. "I don't want anyone to drop dead, but I'd like to see my Fitness Fanatics push themselves."
The kids grinned.
Zack knew that Mr. Bannister wanted to make one of his Fitness Fanatics a State Champion runner. Just like he had been.
Mr. Bannister looked at Zack. "Are you chewing gum?"
Zack swallowed and shook his head.
Mr. Bannister rolled his eyes and looked at Levi. "Levi Smith! Get that sweater off!"
Levi took it off and tied it around his waist. He gave Mr. Bannister a mischievous grin.
Mr. Bannister then looked Ben up and down. "You've got school shoes on. What's your name?"
"Ben, sir."
"Why haven't I seen you before?"
"I'm new, sir."
"Oh." Mr. Bannister's voice softened. "Next week bring your trainers. And no one calls me 'sir'. Okay?"
The kids all laughed and yelled out, "No sir!"
Mr. Bannister tried to look cross, but laughed instead.
Ben blushed.
Zack elbowed Levi. "The new boy's tall." He stood straighter. "Look at his skinny legs."
"Yeah." Levi
put his hands on his hips. "Look how long they are." He glanced down at his own short legs. "He could be fast."
Zack stuck out his chest. "Not as fast as us."
The kids took their positions to run. Mr. Bannister blew his whistle and Zack and Levi sprinted out in front until the older kids overtook them. Mr. Bannister ran up and down one side of the oval yelling encouragement. Zack and Levi did their usual ten laps, then went over to Mr. Bannister's six grade helper to get ten stickers each for their Fitness Fanatics books.
Mr. Bannister joined them. "Lazy Bones 1 and Lazy Bones 2," he teased. "You both could've done two more laps!"
"Don't wanna be tired for gym" replied Zack. Mr. Bannister shook his head, then yelled encouragement to the remaining runners.
Ben ran past them.
"He's still going," said Levi.
Zack frowned.
"Look at him. Those long legs make it look easy." Levi lowered his voice. "He might win the cross-country."
Zack folded his arms. Not if I can help it, he thought.
Ben stopped after thirteen laps. They watched him as he stretched his legs like a professional athlete and then they gave each other a look that said, Far out!
Mr. Bannister couldn't stop smiling. He gave Ben a Fitness Fanatics book with thirteen stickers and slapped him on the back. "Buddy you're a natural."
Ben blushed.
Zack kicked the grass. Thirteen laps at Fitness Fanatics doesn't prove anything, he thought. I'm the best runner in third grade and I'm going to win the cross-country.
2. THE HOLE
Zack, Levi and Ben stood in the shade of the big old tree waiting for Fitness Fanatics to begin. Zack blew a bubble with his gum. "I'm doing thirteen laps today," he said.
Levi put his hands on his hips. "Ten's enough for me."
"When's the cross-country?" asked Ben.
"Next month," said Levi. "This year we run through the Wetlands Reserve." He took off his sweater and tied it around his waist.
"Yeah," added Zack, "most of the kids end up walking it. You have to be fit."
They took their positions alongside the other kids. Mr. Bannister blew the whistle. Ben got a good start. Zack and Levi slipped behind. Zack could see Ben keeping up with the fourth-grade kids. He took long strides with his long legs. He's a good runner, Zack admitted to himself as he pushed harder. He'd need to train more to beat Ben.
A small white dog with honey-colored markings joined Zack and Levi as they ran.
"Honey," shouted Zack, "where've you been?" Honey barked and ran alongside him.
His legs felt heavier as he watched Ben increase his lead. Then Zack couldn't believe his eyes as Ben fell flat on his face. "Far out!" Levi and Zack cried out at the same time. When they reached the place where Ben had fallen, he'd already limped off the oval. Zack saw the hole; it was small and deep.
After ten laps he stopped. What was the point? He'd already beaten Ben.
Levi only managed eight laps. He clutched his stomach. "I shouldn't have eaten that pie."
They headed towards Ben, who was resting on a bench. Zack whispered to Levi, "If he was such a good runner he'd miss the holes."
Ben's knee was bandaged. Zack slapped him on the shoulder. "Bad luck," he said.
3. A PAINFUL FALL
The following week before Fitness Fanatics, Ben changed into his trainers.
"Is your leg okay?" Zack asked.
"It wasn't that bad."
That day Zack did eleven laps of the oval. He'd planned to do thirteen, but he was tired. He'd stayed up too late the night before.
Levi was red in the face when he joined Zack. He looked over at the other runners. "Far out! Ben is still going."
Finally Ben finally joined them after he'd done fifteen laps. He was puffing hard.
Next time I'll do sixteen, Zack told himself.
***
Zack sat on top of the monkey bars at recess the next day. "Look at me!" he yelled to Levi and Ben. Then Zack fell back and swung from the back of his knees. He swung back and forth and scratched himself under the arms. "I'm a monkey," he called out.
Levi laughed. "You're ugly enough."
Zack poked out his tongue.
"Your face is really red," said Ben.
"It's a rush; feels real good." Zack swung back and forth, higher and higher. Then he went too high and his knees lost their grip. He screamed before falling in a heap and twisting his ankle. The pain was unbearable. Oh no! Oh no! he screamed silently. I'll never win the cross-country now!
4. TRAINING
Zack was watching the Fitness Fanatics the next week when Ben came along and sat down on the bench next to him. He looked down at Zack's bandaged ankle. "How is it?"
"Okay," replied Zack. "Aren't you running?"
"I don't feel like it." They watched Levi, wearing his sweater, take off with the other kids. Honey appeared and grabbed Mr. Bannister's red flag with her mouth. She tore off with it. Zack and Ben laughed as they watched the sixth-grade helper run after her.
"When your ankle gets better ... do you want to train together?" asked Ben.
Zack squinted. "You and me? Together?" Far out, he thought. I wanna beat him, not train with him.
"We could practice the cross-country route," Ben said excitedly. "Levi too."
I'd get faster, thought Zack. And if Ben trains and I don't ... he'll thrash me. Zack nodded. "Okay."
***
When Zack's ankle was better, he asked his mom if he could run with Ben at the Wetlands Reserve. She said no. He followed her out to the back veranda and asked again.
"No," she said. "You can practice on the school oval." She turned back to her painting.
He punched the wooden rail. "It's not the same!" he yelled. "Ben's allowed to go."
"Well you're not," she said as she made the sea wild with strokes of her paintbrush. "And if you ask again, I won't let you go to the oval!"
Zack stormed back to his bedroom.
***
After school every day for the next three weeks, Zack met Ben on the oval. They trained for a whole hour. Levi didn't want to train every day. He had told them he was going to be a pilot when he grew up, not a runner.
On the first day Zack could barely keep up with Ben. Not that he'd admit it. After sixteen laps he puffed and panted and thought he was about to drop dead. But he felt better when Ben fell on the ground complaining that his legs had turned to mush.
After two weeks Zack and Ben were doing twenty laps of the oval. After three weeks they were doing twenty laps without feeling like they were about to die. Zack no longer went too fast at the beginning. And now he breathed evenly the whole time.
On the last day at the end of training they stretched their legs. Zack said, "All this training better be worth it."
"It will be," replied Ben.
"Thanks," said Zack as he held his ankle.
"What for?"
Zack jumped up. "Race you to the front gate."
Ben jumped up and raced after him.
5. THE CROSS COUNTRY
Mr. Bannister paced up and down in front of the third-grade kids. They wore their house colors: red, blue, green or yellow. Zack and Ben looked at each other and grinned.
Levi stood next to them. "May the best man win," he said.
"Is everyone ready?" yelled Mr. Bannister.
"Yes!" screamed the kids.
Mr. Bannister looked at Zack. "No gum today?"
"No sir."
"Levi, no sweater! Excellent!" Mr. Bannister grinned. "Now remember everybody, follow the red arrows and you'll be on the right track." He blew the whistle and in a sea of color, the kids took off on the track alongside the bush.
Within five minutes, Zack, Ben and Levi were out in front. Zack felt fantastic. He could do this every day. Maybe he'd train for the Olympics. He imagined running around a track in a stadium full of cheering people.
Five minutes later, Levi slowed down. "You guys keep going," he panted. "Third place is good for
me."
Zack and Ben surged ahead, following the red arrows. They passed the lake, where there were hundreds of birds. Zack was sure they'd break a record. Did the school keep records? Yeah, Mr. Bannister was obsessed. He'd keep records.
They left the lake and reached a rickety bridge that crossed a shallow gully. But the track divided into two and there was no red arrow! Zack and Ben stopped. "Which way?" panted Zack.
Ben looked worried. Zack had never seen him look worried. Ben said, "We'll just have to run until we see the next red arrow," Ben said. He looked at the bridge and turned to Zack. "Over or under?"
"Over."
They ran for several minutes without seeing a red arrow. Zack was about to suggest they turn back, when he saw a dog with a mouthful of red arrows.
"Honey!" he yelled. "Where did you get the arrows?" Honey looked pleased with herself. She scooted off back to the bridge with the arrows still in her mouth.
Zack and Ben looked at each other and took off in the same direction. Zack had never run so fast in his life. When they got to the bridge, a teacher was there telling the kids which track to take. They were way behind now.
Zack didn't think they could run any faster, but they did. They overtook about twenty kids before they reached the oval. They could see Levi half a lap away from the finish line. They'd never catch him. But they could come second. Somehow they sped up. Every part of Zack's body ached. They overtook the last two kids who were behind Levi, then Zack saw Levi cross the finish line. Zack and Ben were neck and neck. Zack could hear Mr. Bannister and Levi cheering them on. As they crossed the line they raised their hands and slapped them together.
They hadn't won, but they were the best runners. And the best of friends!
Other books by Sally Gould:
Book 1 of The Max Books
Max's Revenge: A wedding, a party and a plate of dog food stew
Max's Revenge
1. THE WEDDING
Dad cut the engine, jerked on the handbrake and turned round. "These are the rules," he said, looking from me to Charlie and back to me. "You're both to be quiet, still and polite." His voice deepened. "At all times."
"Yes, Dad," we answered like a pair of robots.
"This is Sophie and Dan's special day—"
"Daniel," I interrupted, "Sophie wants everyone to call him Daniel."