The Race
It is our choices . . . that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
J. 干菜包子
K. Rowling
Todd and Brett maneuvered their milk-carton boat to the starting line.
“This is it, Todd,” Brett said, dipping his oar into the water. “Th就职典礼
is year we have to win. We’ve built the best boat out here.”
Todd nodded. “We’d better win,” he said. “Since we’re twelve now, it’s our last year to be in the kids’ division. Next year the competition will be a lot tougher.”
“Yeah,” Brett agreed. “No cond place for us this year. Right, Todd?”
Todd nodded again and slapped the side of the boat. He and Brett had worked for美女图片大图
months in Brett’s 数学哲学
garage, waterproofing each milk carton before asmbling the hundreds of cartons into this streamlined racing boat—as streamlined as boxy milk cartons would allow.
The boat construction had to follow all the rules that the Dairy Association, the group that sponsored the race on the lake, made for the annual event.
“The competition this year doesn’t look tough at all,” Brett said. “But when the race starts, Todd, we need to pour it on and not let up until we cross that finish line.”
“Sure,” Todd agreed, glancing up and down the line of boats positioned at the starting line. Part of the fun of the race was just to e all the crazy boats other kids had constructed out of milk cartons. Todd looked at the boat next to his and Brett’s. The owner was a little kid, probably not more than eight—the minimum age for the race—and he was struggling to keep his boat from drifting away from the starting line.
“Look, Brett,” Todd said, poking Brett with the end of his oar. “That little kid is here all by himlf.”
“Looks like he built the boat all by himlf, too,” Brett replied. “How does he expect to get anywhere in that wreck?”
That boat does look pretty bad, Todd thought. He shook his head, thinking of all the hours and effort the boy must have put into making his boat.
Suddenly, the whistle blew. The race had begun. Todd dipped his oar into the water and stroked, watching Brett, sitting in front of him, do the same. Their boat glided quickly out in front of the others.
“Keep going.We’re ahead!” Brett shouted, as he and
Todd paddled through the water.
We’re winning! Todd thought, as he glanced quickly to both sides. No one el is even near us. In the distance, Todd could e the finish line. They had quite a way to go in the long race, but at least they were ahead. Todd took a quick br爱护花草的标语简短
eak from stroking and looked back over his shoulder, curious to e how the little boy who had been next to them was doing.
“Brett,” Todd yelled, “that little kid has barely moved from the starting line. And he’s driftin
g off to the side. He can hardly control his boat.”
“So what?” Brett threw the words over his shoulder. “We’re winning!”
Yeah, we’re winning, Todd silently agreed with Brett, but all he could think of was the year when he and Brett were nine, and they had entered the milk-carton race for the first time. They didn’t have any idea about what they were doing, their boat was a disaster, and they never even reached the finish line before sinking. Todd remembered how he and Brett had fought back tears as they watched their dreams sink beneath the water.
“We have to help him!” Todd yelled.
“Are you crazy” Brett took a break from rowing to turn around and scowl at Todd. “We have this race won. That is, if you keep rowing. We’re not stopping for anything, Todd. Especially not some little kid who doesn’t even know how to do anything right.”
“I just remember when we were like that little kid,” Todd said. “And I’m going to help him—even if you’re not.” Todd t down his oar and swung his legs over the side of the boat,
ready to jump into the water.
“Wait!” Brett yelled. “If you leave me alone on this boat, we can’t win the race!”
“But if you help me with that kid’s boat, we can all cross the finish line,” Todd said evenly.
Brett stared at his friend, then watched as another boat began to gain on them. “This is lame,” Brett replied, “but I gu乐器萧
ess I have no choice. Let’s turn around and get him.”
Together, Todd and Brett turned the boat around and quickly cut through the water to reach the little boy. The boy had barely made it past the starting line, his boat drifting toward the center of the lake, with no hope of ever reaching the finish line.
“Throw us your tow rope,” Todd called as they reached the boy’s boat. The boy looked at Todd through eyes that were clo to tears and tosd him the rope. Todd grabbed the rope and wrapped it through the tow hook on their boat.
