Hard winning

• Molly Wellington, Grade 5
• Short Story
• 2005

We were at the state athletics.
.. I’m not exited because Im not running in a single race I was supposed to be in every one but I hurt my ankle a week ago now and I rely on crutches for life. I used to be one of the best runners in our school. I hurt my self at training when I was running up a hill, I fell. Immense pain took over my foot. I went to hospital and found I had torn ligaments in my ankle. I was allowed to come to athletics but just watch. I hobbled out of the bus and onto the track. The wind blew my hair back making my ribbon blow on my face I felt like I was never going to run again. I was led over to a seat at the finish line. I slumped down in the seat and buried my face in my jacket. The eight hundred began. I was supposed to be in it. Near the end I sat up to cheer a girl from our school on. She was coming first. But behind her some one was catching up. She was just about to win when a girl clipped her at the end. “Maddy bad luck” I said to her. She grinned but I could tell she was disappointed. Next up was Danielle in the 100m. Danielle was my replacement so was Maddy. If these girls didn’t win our school would lose. I screamed encouragement at Danielle but she also came second. I sighed- only Alison was left. The teacher came up. “Alison is sick she’s not running.” Then I realized I could make a difference. I was determined to be in that race. I chucked my crutches and hobbled over to the starting line. I didn’t care what other people said. The teachers were running towards me but the cat-gun had gone off. I was relying on my other leg as fast as it could go. The teachers stopped dead in their tracks. I was getting close now. Nothing could stop me. Nothing in the world mattered now, just me and the tracks. I remembered what my dad said “run over the line.” I stepped straight on it. When I started to walk the pain shot up my leg. I collapsed and people rushed over to me. I was breathing heavily and fell into a teacher’s arms. Tears were streaming down my face. I had won! And in addition I had been racing boys not girls. I was given a trophy and I held it up in front of every one. I was still crying after a while I fell asleep in the teachers arms. I now know what winning is all about.
Alison came up to me the next day. “You really are the best runner in the whole state!”