"I will win, freshman year no wins, I will win, sophomore years no wins, I will win, junior year is my year to prevail" George said in the mirror to himself. Washing his face, then running down stairs. "George your gonna do great today" his mom said. He didn't hear her as he darted out the door, grabbing an orange on the way out. He saw the kids at the bus stop and thought about what he said."I will win, winners practice, winners train to be the best." So he decided to jog to school. Halfway there he felt doubtful about his decision. As the bus full of high school kids passes him. Kids screaming at him, throwing things at him, but he continues to jog. He turns the corner headed for the schools entrance, when a car drives up to him. It was his neighbor, "Hey George, listen I just wanted to say I hope you do well today at your uhhh....What is it you do again?""I run track Mr. Stan." George said shaking his head. "Oh yeah right, well I hope leave then in your dust" Mr. Stan said. "Yes sir", George said chuckling with a smile. Mr. Stan drives off, and George is entering his school, Blue Ridge High.
Walking through the halls, he felt like everybody was looking at him. Doubting him, Most said he was just gonna lose again. "Hey loser, prepared to lose again." said one guy. "Don't worry he's comfortable in last place," said another. "Yeah he's comfortable at the bottom of the polls, what's it like down there," they continued. "What place did he come in the last race...... 21!" Everyone in the hall said, and then everyone began laughing at him. George just stood there, "OK OK keep it coming, Is that your best shot," he said. One guy said "No this is", and shot a spit ball at him. As soon as it hit George's neck everyone started laughing, and a group of guys started throwing paper at him. George turned to look, and saw it was his fellow track teammates. Then Principle James came out,"OK alright you've had your fun, now get to class, pick up your trash on the way too", she said. "Listen George, you got this, you have to win it for us, our school is depending on you, even though they aren't really showing it, OK", said Principle James."Yes Principle James, " George said. George tried to go on for the rest of the day, ignoring all the harsh things everyone around him says. He ignored the paper thrown at him, the Jokes and names thrown at him, and the hazing of his own teammates.
It was time, 6 p.m. He sat in the locker room with his head phones on. Zoned out to his beats, nobody but him, sitting on the bench. The room is dark, and he sat under that one beam of light from the ceiling window. "I will win, I will win, I trained to hard for this, Junior year is my year, I will win, I will win, for Jackson I will win", he repeatedly said as he began to cry. Jackson, his brother, passed away from a fatal car crash, and from then on he was determined to win, for his brother. Suddenly, Coach came in the locker room." George what's are you doing, come on your meet is up next", said Coach. " OK Coach",George says standing up. "George you will win, I know Jackson's death was hard on all of us, but it's your time to shine now." coach says. hugging George and leading him to the track.
"Alright next up, is the sprint, runners make your way to the starting point" the announcers said. "Go get him George", coach said. George walks over to the starting line. "Break a leg, literally" One of his teammates said. Coach smacks him in the back of the head. George got set at the finish line, nervously looking at his opponents. Then he saw his mother in the crowd, and immediately thought of his brother. "I will win" he thought in his mind, He closed his eyes and waited for the gun shot. "BOOM", it goes off and George takes off in the lead. Everyone is astonished, but begins to cheer for George as he comes around the track still holding the lead. Coming up on the second turn his opponent comes up behind him. It's neck and neck, everyone cheers harder and harder. Then everyone goes dead silent as George's opponent passes him and takes the win. George collapses in defeat.
He began to cry. He felt like he let down everyone. Then his mom jumped up, "George! George! George!" she began to cheer. The everyone else joined in, and next thing you know the whole stadium was cheering for him. George looked up, his face lights up. He felt so accepted and loved. At that moment he didn't care if he won or not, because he felt like he had won something much better, he had won the love and support he had always wanted from his peers. That's all he could ask for. Coach walks up to him. "I bet Jackson is proud", he said with a smile. He and coach look around at the crowd, and the smile on George's face was impeccable.
No comments:
Post a Comment