The Great Race (ages 9-12)

 By Joshua T. 

One day on Circle C Ranch, Justin, Chad, and Mitch were racing through a grassy field. Justin and Chad were neck to neck, with Justin in the lead. But just then Mitch, who was in last place, tripped on a rock and fell. Then Mitch started yelling, “Help, I'm hurt!”

But nobody stopped to help him. A few seconds later, Mrs. Carter came outside to check on everyone and she saw Mitch lying in the grass yelling for help. Then Mrs. Carter yelled  for Justin and Chad to go help Mitch.

“Really ma do we have to?” said Chad.

“I'll go help him, mama.”

“Thank you Justin,” said Mrs. Carter.

“Come on Mitch, get on my back, we'll catch Chad,” said Justin. About thirty seconds later, Justin and Mitch were just about on Chad’s tail. When they were about twelve feet away from the finish line (the big oak tree), Mitch was on his brother Justin’s back. Justin was also running with all his might. Justin and Chad were right beside each other, and in the nick of time, Justin got ahead of Chad. So Justin and Mitch were the winners.

“How did they win?” thought Chad, “I was so far ahead of them.”

“Come on in boys, it’s time for dinner.”

“Hey ma what’s for dinner?” said Mitch. “We are having pea soup with some cornbread.”

Sounds good, said Justin, Chad, and Mitch all at the same time.

After dinner Mrs. Carter said, “It is time to brush your teeth and wash your faces all of you. Hey, but Justin, I need to talk to you.”

“I wonder why Justin is in trouble,” Mitch said to Chad.

“Hey, Justin thank you for helping Mitch earlier,” said Mrs. Carter. 

“You’re welcome mama, said Justin.”

The next day, Justin, Chad, and Mitch were wondering who had won the most races so they made a pie chart of all of the races they could remember. This is what it looked like:

So it ends up that Chad won the most at 15 wins then comes Justin at 13 wins then in last place they had Mitch at 2 wins.

I wish I was faster than at least Justin, thought Mitch.

The next morning their mom told them about a fair that was being held in Fresno in two days. The following day all of the Carter boys were begging their mom to take them to the fair tomorrow.

The next day their mom finally gave in to take them to the fair. They left for the fair pretty soon after that. When they got there the three boys went straight to the skill act demonstrations. After that they were walking and looking around.

Later a random man walked up to them and asked them if they liked running. Then they all looked at each other with a glare. Ten seconds later Justin nodded and they all said yes at the same time. Next the man told them about a great race that he did with his friends when he was younger. Soon after that, the man walked away.

A little while later, they left the fair to go back home. Right as they got back, Mitch said, “Why don’t we have our own great race?”

“That sounds like a good idea,” said Justin. “Ya, I think so too,” said Chad. Next they all agreed when the great race was going to be held. They all agreed for it to be in two days.

“Hey why don’t we invite Peter,” said Mitch. “Ya that would be fun,” said Justin.

“Okay,” said Chad.

“Now let's  figure out where it should be held,” said Justin, “Let's think about where we could do it.”

These are the options they decided on:

 1.      The field

2.      Around the ranch

 

    “How about we vote?” said Chad, “Hey, we could also ask if Peter wants to vote with us.” At the end this was the chart in age order from bottom to top: 

4		Peter
3		Mitch
2	Chad
1		Justin
	AROUND THE RANCH	THROUGH THE FIELD

 

 

 

 

 

 “Now let's think about  what time it should be,” said Justin.

“How about at 1:30 PM, " said Chad.

 “Okay, that sounds good,” said Mitch and Justin. “Let's tell Peter, come on, let's ask mom if we can go over to Peter's house when Melinda wakes up from her morning nap,” said Mitch. When they got inside, they asked their mom to go over there.

“Okay," said their mom.

The next day the Carter boys couldn’t stop thinking about the great race so they decided to guess who was going to win, This was what they all estimated :  

guess	Mitch	Chad	Peter
person	Justin	Chad	Mitch

 

 

 

 The rest of the day all the Carter boys just layed in bed waiting for it to be the next day. When it was time to go to bed they all got ready for bed more eager to wake up in the morning than ever.

The next day all the Carter boys got out of bed and all got ready for the day. After they were all ready they all got their breakfast and they scarfed it down.

“Hey now," said Mrs.Carter.

"Sorry mom, we are just really excited,” said Justin.

 “Okay," said Mrs.Carter, "that doesn't mean you don't have to use your manners.” Finally it was nearing the time for the great race. Just a little bit after that, Peter and his dad arrived at the ranch. A little bit after they were ready to start the race. Everyone walked to the starting line.

“On your mark, get set, go!!” said Mr.Wilson.

At the start of the race Chad was in the lead then came Justin then Mitch and Peter were about the same in last place. In about ten seconds Justin and Chad were tied in first. Just about when they could see the finish line Chad got ahead of Justin and crossed the finish line and Chad was the winner!!

About two minutes after that, Mitch and Peter crossed the finish line in last place. “Good job, you were so close behind,” said Justin to Mitch.

After the great race, Peter, Mitch, and Justin had a parade for Chad.