by Abby Klein
I scraped some of the mashed potatoes off my cheek and licked my finger. “Mmm, it still tastes pretty good.”
“Ewww. That’s gross,” Suzie whined.
“What’s gross?” said my mom as she returned to the table carrying a sponge and paper towels.
“Freddy just ate some mashed potatoes off his face!”
“Freddy, where are your manners? That is disgusting! You do not eat food off your face! Now look at me so I can wipe you off.”
My mom wiped the gravy and potatoes off my face and pulled the corn kernels out of my hair. “That’s good for now, but you’ll have to take an extra long bath tonight.”
“Awwww, Mom,” I groaned. “You know I hate taking baths.”
“Too bad, mister. That’s what happens when you decide to wear your food. Please try to be more careful next time.”
“Yes, Mom.”
“So, Freddy,” said my dad, “don’t be so upset.”
“Don’t be so upset! Don’t be so upset!” I shouted. “The biggest bully in the whole first grade is going to kick my butt in front of the class, and you’re telling me not to be upset!”
“Calm down. There’s no need to yell. Your friends said they would teach you how to snowshoe.”
“But I only have three days! There’s no way I can learn in three days!”
“Remember when you had to learn to ride a two-wheeler in a week, and you never thought you’d be able to do that?”
“Yeah.”
“Well you did, didn’t you? And not only did you learn to ride, you rode more laps than Max did that day.”
“I guess so.”
“You can learn anything as long as you set your mind to it.”
“I don’t know, Dad,” I said, shaking my head. “I just don’t know.”
CHAPTER 4
Training
The next day after school, Robbie and Jessie came over to teach me how to snowshoe. Before we headed outside, we stopped in the kitchen for a snack.
“Hi, Mom. It sure smells good in here.”
“Hi, Mrs. Thresher. Whatever you made smells amazing,” said Robbie.
Jessie’s eyes got big and wide. “Are those homemade brownies?”
“Yes, they are,” said my mom. “I thought you might need some extra energy for your training session today, so I made you a special treat.”
“These brownies are delicious, Mrs. Thresher,” Robbie said, taking a big bite.
“Thank you, Robbie.”
“Yeah, they’re yummy,” agreed Jessie, licking her lips.
“Well, I think it’s very sweet of both of you to help Freddy learn how to snowshoe. Freddy, you are lucky to have such nice friends.”
“It’s no problem,” said Robbie. “I brought my snowshoes for Freddy to borrow, and Jessie is going to help him with his speed.”
“Jessie is probably the fastest kid in the whole school,” I said.
“I don’t think the whole school,” Jessie said, laughing.
“Well, you’re faster than anybody in the whole first grade.”
We each shoved another brownie in our mouths and gulped down a glass of milk.
“Okay, Freddy, ready to go?” asked Jessie.
“I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
“It’s cold out there today, kids,” said my mom, “so bundle up. Freddy, do you want to wear your snow pants?”
“Snow pants? I don’t really plan on getting my pants wet.”
“But what if you fall down?”
“Fall down? I don’t plan on falling down, Mom. I’m not going skiing.”
“It’s up to you. Just make sure you keep your mittens on. I don’t want your fingers to get too cold.”
“Sure thing, Mom. Come on, guys. Let’s get started.”
We put on our snowboots, Robbie grabbed the snowshoes, and we headed outside.
“Brrrr, it’s cold out today,” I said, shivering. I breathed out a puff of air. “Hey, look, you can see my breath.”
“It looks like dragon smoke,” said Robbie.
“Do you think there really are dragons?” asked Jessie.
“There is no scientific evidence,” Robbie explained. Robbie knows everything about everything. He is like a science genius. “They’re just made-up creatures from stories.”
“That’s too bad because I’d love to see a real one,” Jessie said.
“Enough about dragons,” said Robbie. “Let’s get started. First, you have to stick your foot in here,” he said, pointing to a little opening at the front of the snowshoe. “Just like you’re putting on a slipper. Then you tighten this strap around your ankle. It’s really very easy.”
Robbie put the two snowshoes on the ground, and I slipped my feet into the holes. “So far, so good.”
“Now just fix the strap around your ankle. You want to make sure it’s tight enough so that it doesn’t fall off.”
When I bent to tighten the strap, I fell over and landed in the snow.
“Ha, ha, ha,” Jessie giggled. “You don’t snowshoe on your butt, Freddy. You have to stay on your feet.”
“Very funny,” I said as I got back up.
“Sometimes I bend down and put one knee in the snow to help me balance while I tighten the strap on the other foot,” said Robbie.
“Good idea,” I said. I got down on one knee and fixed the strap. Then I switched sides and did the other strap.
“Ready, Freddy?” asked Jessie.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Okay,” said Robbie. “Now just start walking like you normally do, but make sure you keep a little space between your feet, so the snowshoes don’t get caught on each other.”
“Okeydokey.” I took two steps and fell flat on my face. Jessie laughed.
I sat up and wiped the snow out of my eyes and mouth.
“You’re supposed to walk in the snow, not eat it.”
“Very funny.”
“Here, let me help you up,” said Robbie. He gave me his hand and pulled me up. “Remember what I said. Just make sure you keep a little bit of space between your snowshoes.”
This time I went about four steps before my feet crossed over each other, and I crashed. “I’m never going to be able to do the race,” I moaned.
“Yes you are,” said Jessie. “Just get up and try again.”
This time I think I took about ten steps before crashing.
“See?” said Robbie. “You’re already doing a lot better.”
“But I still keep landing on my butt.”
“Don’t give up. It just takes practice.”
After about twenty minutes, I was able to go pretty far without falling down.
“Now it’s time to try running,” said Jessie.
“Running? Are you crazy? I can’t run in these things.”
“Yes you can, Freddy. You just lift your feet up a little more than you usually do when you run. Like this. Watch me.” Jessie ran once around the yard. “Now you try it.”
To my surprise, running was actually a little easier than walking.
“You’re doing great!” said Robbie. “Don’t stop! Keep going.”
I almost made it once around the yard before I fell on my back.
Jessie and Robbie came running over. “Are you all right?” they asked together.
“Yeah. I think so, but could you guys help me up? I think I’m stuck.”
They each took one of my hands and helped me up.
“That was awesome!” said Jessie. “You’re really getting the hang of it. I think we should start timing you now and working on your speed.”
“Whatever you say, coach,” I said, smiling.
Robbie pulled a little notebook and stopwatch out of his pocket. “Jessie, you help Freddy with his form, and I’ll keep track of his times in my notebook.”
We must have stayed outside training for about two hours.
When it started to get dark, I said, “Uh, guys.”
“Yeah?”
“Well, I think that’s enough training for today. Let’s go in.”
“So, how did it go?” asked my mom.
“It went great, Mrs. Thresher,” said Jessie. “If we practice every afternoon this week, Freddy is going to win that race.”
CHAPTER 5
The Big Day
On Friday morning I couldn’t sleep. I was excited and nervous about the race. I jumped out of bed and started to get dressed. Mrs. Wushy had told us all to wear red shirts and red hats. We were going to be the red team, and Mrs. Brown’s class was going to be the blue team.
I opened three different drawers, but I couldn’t find my red shirt anywhere. I sat down on the edge of my bed and hit my forehead with the palm of my hand. “Think, think, think!” Oh no! I just remembered that I wore it two days ago and forgot to ask my mom to wash it. I ran to the bathroom to look in the dirty clothes hamper, but the door was locked as usual.
“Hey, open up!” I yelled, pounding on the door.
No answer.
I pounded on the door again. “Hey, Princess Poopyhead, stop looking at yourself in the mirror, and open the door!”
“Go away, Shark Boy. I’m in here now,” she yelled back.
I banged on the door again, and this time Suzie made the mistake of opening the door a crack to yell at me. I was able to squeeze my way in.
“Hey, get out of here, creep!”
“Not until I find my red shirt,” I said, throwing clothes out of the hamper.
“Hey, watch it. You just threw a pair of your dirty underwear in my face!”
“Ah, here it is,” I said, holding up my red shirt.
“You can’t wear that.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s dirty.”
“So?”
“Mom, the Queen of Clean, would not be too happy if she found out you were wearing a dirty shirt.”
“But today is the Winter Olympics, and Mrs. Wushy said that we have to wear red shirts. Besides, Mom will never know.”
“Unless someone tells her.”
“You wouldn’t do that,” I said, looking Suzie straight in the eye.
“What’s it worth to you?”
“Are you kidding me?”
Suzie just stared at me with her hands on her hips.
“OK, OK, just tell me what you want.”
“You make my bed for three days, and I won’t tell Mom you’re wearing a dirty shirt.” She held up her pinkie for a pinkie swear.
“Three days?”
“I could make it four.”
“Fine,” I said. “It’s a deal. I’ll make your bed for three days.”
We locked pinkies. “Deal,” said Suzie. “Now get out of the bathroom. Your breath stinks. It smells like shark breath.”
“How would you know what that smells like?” I shouted as I ran back to my room.
“Freddy, is that you?” my mom called from downstairs. “You need to get a move on. You don’t want to be late to school.”
“Coming, Mom,” I yelled. I threw on my pants, grabbed my red hat, and ran downstairs.
“Good morning, honey. I made you a special breakfast today—French toast and bacon.”
“Thanks, Mom. It looks yummy,” I said, stuffing a forkful into my mouth.
Just then Suzie came into the kitchen. “Smells good, Mom.”
My mom gave Suzie her breakfast, and then she turned to me. “Freddy, didn’t you just wear that shirt two days ago? I haven’t washed since then.”
I gulped. I looked at Suzie, and she looked at me. I mouthed the words, “We have a deal.”
“Uh, actually, Mom,” said Suzie, “that was Robbie. He was wearing his red Lincoln Elementary shirt when he was over here the other day helping Freddy train for the race.”
“Oh, I could have sworn it was Freddy, but I guess you’re right.”
“Thanks,” I mouthed to Suzie.
She just smiled back.
I looked at the clock. “Oh no! The bus is going to be here any minute. I don’t want to be late.”
I jumped out of my chair, tripped over my backpack, and went sailing to the floor.
My mom came running over. “Freddy, are you all right?”
I sat up slowly and did a quick check of my knees and elbows. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just hope I don’t do that in the middle of the race. That would be so embarrassing!”
“And hilarious!” Suzie added.
“Suzie,” said my dad, “that wasn’t a nice thing to say. Apologize to your brother.”
“But …”
“Suzie …”
“Sorry, Freddy.”
“Now wish him luck.”
“Good luck, Freddy. I hope you beat Max. And I mean that.”
“Thanks. I’ll try.”
“Don’t worry, honey. You’ll be great!” said my mom.
I grabbed my backpack and the snowshoes and ran toward the door. “Go get ‘em, Mouse. You’re a winner!” my dad called after me.
“You’re a winner. You’re a winner,” I muttered to myself as I slammed the front door and jumped on the bus.
As I plopped down in my seat, I heard a voice say, “Hello, loser. Ready for the race?”
CHAPTER 6
Team Captain
It seemed as if the bus ride took forever. Max just kept bragging about how he was going to beat me. I thought we were never going to get to school.
When the bus pulled into the parking lot, I jumped off and ran to the classroom. Outside the door was a huge sign that said WELCOME TO THE WINTER OLYMPICS.
“Cool,” I said.
“Very cool,” said Jessie. “I can’t wait!”
We all went inside and quickly sat down on the rug.
“Good morning, boys and girls,” said Mrs. Wushy. “Today is the big day. I hope you all are ready.”
“Oh, I’m ready,” said Chloe. “I’ve got my new hat, scarf, and mittens. See how they all match?”
“But your hat is pink,” said Max. “Everyone’s supposed to wear red, not pink.”
“But then I wouldn’t match,” said Chloe. “And for your information, this color pink is called baby pink, and a red hat would not look good with the baby pink scarf and these mittens.”
“Does she know this is an athletic event, not a fashion show?” Jessie whispered.
“It’s always about the outfits,” Robbie answered.
“I did ask everyone to wear red,” said Mrs. Wushy. “I wanted us to look like a team.”
“Well, my fingernails are painted red,” Chloe said, waving her fingers in the air.
“Whoop-de-doo,” said Max. “That will help us win today for sure.”
Mrs. Wushy stared at Chloe for a minute, and then she continued. “Before we start the Olympics today, each team must choose a team captain.”
“I think I should be the team captain,” said Max.
“Is he kidding?” whispered Robbie.
“Me, me, me!” Max shouted, jumping up and down.
“Well,” said Mrs. Wushy, “this is how it’s going to work. First, children in the class will suggest some people that they think would make a good team captain, and then the class will vote.”
“Vote for me! Vote for me!” yelled Max.
“Max, you need to stop shouting out. If you can’t control yourself, then I will have to ask you to leave the room.”
“OK,” Max said quietly.
“Now remember, the team captain must always play by the rules, be a good sport, and support his or her teammates.”
Jessie raised her hand.
“Yes, Jessie.”
“I think Robbie should be the team captain because he always plays by the rules, and he is very smart.”
“Excellent, Jessie. I agree. Anyone else?”
I raised my hand.
“Freddy, do you have a suggestion?”
“Yes, Mrs. Wushy. I think Jessie should be th
e team captain because she is really good at sports, she never cheats, and she is always nice to everyone in the class.”
After some other kids in the class made a few more suggestions, and Mrs. Wushy added their names to the list, it was time to vote.
“Okay,” said Mrs. Wushy. “I think it’s time to vote.”
“But what about me?” Chloe whined.
“What about you?”
“No one suggested me for team captain.”
“That’s because you’re lame,” said Max.
“Oh! Did you hear that, Mrs. Wushy? Did you hear what he just said to me?”
“Yes, I did. Max, that was very rude. Because of that, I am taking your name off the list for team captain. A team captain would not treat other people like that, and if you don’t stop calling people names, then you won’t be allowed to participate in the Olympics. Instead, you can spend that time in Mr. Pendergast’s office. Do you understand?”
Max just looked at her, but he didn’t say anything.
“Max, I am asking you a question, and I expect an answer. I will ask you one more time. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” he muttered.
“Good. Now I think we’re ready to vote. Remember, boys and girls, you may only vote once, and you are voting for someone who you think shows good sportsmanship and is a good leader.”
“But what if I like more than one person?” asked Chloe.
“You have to choose one,” said Mrs. Wushy. “I will say the names one at a time. You raise your hand for the person you want to be the team captain. Any questions?”
No one raised a hand.
“Good. I want this to be a secret vote, so close your eyes. No peeking. Here we go.”
Mrs. Wushy said the names one at a time. It was really hard for me to decide who to vote for because Robbie and Jessie are both good friends of mine.
After Mrs. Wushy finished reading all the names, she told us to open our eyes. “I think you all made a good choice. This person will make a great team captain.”
“I wish she would just say the name already,” whispered Jessie.
“I know what you mean,” said Robbie. “My stomach is doing flip-flops.”