The Big Race
by
Darryl McCollum
HOME
Charlie crossed the finish line right behind Max. They were best friends and liked racing each other at recess. Max was the fastest kid in the class so he almost always won. After recess they had PE. The other 3rd grade classes at Grant Street Elementary had PE at the same time. Today the children would be racing and jumping and throwing things. They were learning about track and field. The other class had a school bully named Johnny in it. Johnny was the biggest and meanest kid in third grade. He was strong, fast and made a habit of taking other kids deserts at lunch. After PE Mr. McCann the PE teacher made an announcement. One week from today would be Track and Field day at the school. Each class would compete against another class in team competition. That meant Charlie and Max's class would have to compete against Johnny's class. This made Johnny laugh. He said, "Oh boy is this going to be fun. I am going to wipe the track with you guys." Max looked at Johnny, stood up as straight as he could, looked Johnny right in the chin and said, " I'll bet you our lunches for a year that Charlie here can beat you in a race. Johnny stopped laughing. "If you lose", continued Max," You won't pick on anyone the rest of the year." Johnny looked right over Max's head at Charlie, pushed Max to the side and pointed a big meaty finger at Charlie. " You're not even the fastest kid in your class, you're on see you on the track slow poke." Johnny walked away. Charlie turned to Max, " Are you crazy", he yelled. "Johnny is the biggest, fastest 3rd grader around. He's like a 9 year old Hulk Hogan." " Don't worry," said Max, " I have a plan." All week long, Charlie and Max practiced running and all week long Johnny laughed at them. The day of the big race came. Max put his plan into action. He knew that 3rd grade PE was after lunch. He also knew that Chocolate Chip Cookies were Johnny's favorite desert to swipe from other kids. That's why he had asked all his class to bring cookies that day. Sure enough Johnny bullied 50 cookies out of Max and Charlie's class that lunchtime. Then, just as Max planned Johnny ate them. When the race started a few minutes later, Johnny believed he would beat Charlie so bad he gave him a head start. As he ran however, Johnny got terribly tired and sleepy after all the cookies he ate. He tried but just couldn't finish the race. Charlie won. " Max I don't know how you knew this would happen, but I'm glad you did?" said Charlie. "Well," Max said, "I remembered our Sunday school lesson on the sin of gluttony and how some people will eat and eat and eat even though it is too much and that if someone eats too much they will become lazy. I knew Johnny would eat all the cookies, guys like him can't save good things for later and enjoy them longer they have to have it all right now. I just figured if it was in the bible it had to work. The End
