Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Extra (08/29/13)
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TITLE: Running the Extra Mile | Previous Challenge Entry
By P. J. Baker
09/04/13 -
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“Hey, are you racing in the fun run tomorrow?” asked Ned.
“Sure am!” Charlie had been collecting sponsors and secretly running laps around his garden for weeks now.
“Want to make it more exciting?” Ned grinned.
“Umm… not really.” Charlie always worried when Ned grinned like that. He tried to change the subject to tarantulas, but Ned carried on anyway.
“We could do a challenge. Whoever wins carries the other’s bag for half the race, right?”
“But you always win challenges!”
But Ned wasn’t listening. “First one to speak’s the loser.”
Charlie rolled his eyes. Most of the time Ned did things his own way and Charlie just went along with it. The clock in Charlie’s bedroom ticked loudly. The cat strolled in and jumped onto his bed. His mom shouted “Charlie!” But Charlie and Ned sat staring each other out.
“There you are! Didn’t you here my call?” Charlie’s mom did not look happy. “What are you doing in here?”
Charlie pointed at Ned. Ned pointed at Charlie.
“Charlie? CHARLIE!”
“On mom, it was a challenge and now I lost ‘cause I spoke first!” Charlie stormed out into the garden. Sometimes he just wanted to be on his own.
Charlie jumped out of bed the next morning and looked out of the window. The sun was up, and it was already pretty warm.
Ned was waiting for him at the starting line. “Here’s my bag, Charlie” Ned threw it on the ground. “Hey, where’s yours?”
Charlie grinned. “Mom has it at the finish line.” He picked up Ned’s bag, and put it on his back. It weighed a ton.
“But what about water and stuff?” asked Ned.
“Drank gallons at breakfast. You ready?”
An announcement came on the loud speaker “Ok runners. Good Luck and happy running. On your marks, get set, GO!”
Ned and Charlie leaped forward, sprinting for the first couple of miles. Charlie was naturally smaller and faster, but the handicap of the bag kept them at the same pace. The road curved down and around the hill, so it was pretty easy for a while.
Soon the road curved upwards, and Charlie fell behind. Ned’s bag felt heavier by the minute.
At the half way marker Ned was nowhere to be seen. No way I’m carrying all this weight thought Charlie. He opened Ned’s bag and found two huge bottles of water, each one as long as his arm! Charlie chucked them on the ground. He threw the bag down, then picked it up again. If that went missing he’d be in big trouble. He set off.
Running was so much easier now, and it wasn’t long before Charlie caught up with Ned. Ned was red in the face and breathing hard. He grabbed his bag, “water!”
“It’s back at the half way point. We agreed half way, right?”
Ned looked furious. He turned and ran back to the half way marker.
Soon the road evened out, and Charlie was almost three quarters of the way to the finish line. He could see a crowd gathering. His family and Ned’s family would be there waiting for them.
Ned caught up. “Give me my bag back, Charlie.”
Charlie smiled. “For you Ned, I’ll go the extra mile.” He surged ahead towards the finish line. Ned followed behind, trying to catch up.
Charlie had almost crossed the line when he saw his family waving and cheering him on. Ned’s family were there too. Charlie felt his lungs fill with air. He felt proud, he was a good runner whatever he had to carry.
He felt a hand on his back, it was Ned! They crossed the finish line together, and stopped to get their breath back.
“Well done guys! We’re so proud of you.” Charlie’s mom hugged Charlie and Ned. Ned’s mom hugged them too. “And well done Charlie for carrying Ned’s bag. And what was that about?” she asked Ned.
Ned hung his head, looking sheepish. “I won a challenge…” he started.
“Charlie is a little younger than you, so you shouldn’t take advantage of that. You’re big enough to carry your own bag. And all that water in it!” She shook her head. “Tomorrow you can carry Charlie’s bag all day, understand?” Ned nodded.
Charlie took a long cool drink of water. Going the extra mile had definitely been worth it.
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I really liked the way you concluded this clever tale.
God bless~
I was confused at first. I thought they were grown men talking over a fence. Once I realized they were boys, I was even more invested in the story.
Children's stories are my favorite genre. I liked how you had Charlie resolve the conflict himself by taking the water out of the bag while still being responsible for the back. This was a delightful read and a fascinating take on the topic.
Loved this story!!!