Patricia McCune Irvine
has also written articles and short stories
that has mostly appeared as
a special to
The Los Angeles Times Article Collection
has also written articles and short stories
that has mostly appeared as
a special to
The Los Angeles Times Article Collection
The Big Race By Patricia McCune Irvine: March 09, 2005
Part 3: Excerpt
"The story so far: Chuck is dead last in the big race and kids are laughing and calling him Chubbo."
"You'd better hurry up, Chubbo. You're going to be lapped."
And then laughter.
Well, Chuck couldn't stop right then with everyone laughing at him. And he wondered what being lapped meant.
He found out soon enough.
He heard noise behind him. Josh, Chris and Matt were neck and neck on their second lap around the field. And Chuck hadn't even finished the first. Mr. Ray had said it was a long way. He was right. Now Chuck wanted not only to quit, he wanted to hide. His eyes stung. He couldn't help crying. So now, on top of being a no-good runner, he was a big baby too.
But all the time he kept his heavy legs moving. Up and down. Up and down. Even when Josh, Chris and Matt whizzed past him and stirred the dust again.
"Hey, Chub, you just got lapped!" yelled Davey and Peter. But Chuck was surprised to see them flopped on the ground at the fourth turn and breathing hard.
They'd quit the race! Davey and Peter had quit the race! Why did they do that? Had they been lapped, too? Chuck gulped in a huge breath as a surge of energy rolled through him.
"So did you get lapped, too?" Chuck yelled back at them. "Is that why you quit?"
For a moment Chuck felt elated and finished the first lap with a burst of strength. One more lap to go. Could he do it?
Thursday: Will Chuck join Davey and Peter on the sidelines?
Look for Thursday's Kids' Reading Room in the middle of Weekend Calendar with the comics.
This story is on The Times' website at latimes.com/kids as with all other articles found below.
Carlos the Coach By Patricia McCune Irvine
Homerun Howie By Patricia McCune Irvine
A gift from Gillie By Patricia McCune Irvine
A friend from Megan By Patricia McCune Irvine
The yellow cap By Patricia McCune Irvine
A day from Grand Daddy By Patricia McCune Irvine
A change in his life By Patricia Mccune Irvine
The Boy Next Door By Patricia Mccune Irvine
