“Whoa, that guy is fast!” Said John. “Yeah,he sure is!” Said Stuart.They are watching cartoons on tv. Hey, what’s that ad about? John wondered. He was about to skip the ad when something caught his eye.”It’s about a race! It says all ages under 13 can participate!”John said out loud,”But I’m really slow.”He said,tears streaming down his cheek,looking at his feet. “Just because you think you are slow,that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try!”Said Stuart. “No,it does.”Said John. “Come on, John! You can do it! You just have to try!”Said Stuart. “You’re right Stuart,I will give it a try,but who will participate?”John asked. “Oh! It says here: Natalie Freeman,Bob Peloski,Alaina Durango,and Will Dionisio.”Stuart listed. “Will Dionisio?!”John screamed, “He’s the fastest kid in the world!”He shouted. “Just try.”Was all Stuart said. “The only way I’m gonna try is by taking fast fuel.”Said John.

John is at an Illegal drugstore.He is buying fast fuel. “Hey,can I have a bottle of fast fuel please?”John asked. “Coming right up.”Said the drug manager.John took the bottle and drank it. “Ahh!”John screamed.His limbs thrashed.His heartbeat slowed.His airways closed.The last thing he remembered was someone lifting him up and putting him in an ambulance.

“Is he awake?”Someone asked at the hospital. “I think he is.”Said someone else.John opened his eyes. “Stuart?”He gasped. “Yes, it’s me.You owe me an apology.You should have tried.”Stuart said.His hands were balled up into fists.He stomped his feet.His heart beat faster and faster. “Stuart-”John started. “No.I don’t want to be your friend.”Stuart said,and just like that,he stormed out of the room.John’s heart felt like it had cracked in half.Tears rolled down his cheeks.His whole body shook.“Hey, it’s so ok.”The nurse said kindly. “Tell you what: I can get you out of here,but you’ll have to listen to me.”The nurse whispered. “Ok,I will, thank you.”He whispered back, sniffling.

John is sneaking through the halls. “When will we be at the exit?”John whined.His feet throbbed from walking so long. “Soon.”Was all the nurse said.

1 minute later, they found the exit. “Uh-oh, there are security guards.”The nurse whispered. “What do we do?”John said. “Hmm… oh! We could set an alarm off!”The nurse whispered. “I’ll go.You stay here.”The nurse said.

What’s taking her so long?John wondered.Right then the fire alarm went off.5 minutes later the nurse came back. “Hurry! It’s only a matter of time before security comes back!”The nurse said.John scurried to the door and walked through. “Bye.”He said to the nurse. “Goodbye.”The nurse said back.

“Ok,so your name is John Stan Green.”The check – in man at the race said. “Yes,it is.”Said John. “Ok, Mr.Green, then you are all set!”He said.

“Ready…Set…GO!”A man shouted.John sprinted hard.His muscles ached,and his head felt dizzy, but then he found another path.He stopped.What do I do?He wondered.Hmm…I think I will take the other path.He decided. “Hey loser, why are you such a slowpoke?”Someone shouted.John turned and saw Will Dionisio staring at him. “Bye!”John said,and he sprinted through the path.

John is at the finish line.He can win it all now,but he waits a second.Why stop now?He thinks, and he steps across.The crowd went wild.John felt like a ray of sunshine.He jumped up and down.He grinned. “Ladies and gentlemen, the official winner of this race is John Stan Green.”The judge shouts,and he hands John a trophy.

“Welcome home honey! I’m glad you won the race.You have a guest waiting for you.” John’s mom exclaimed.John had just arrived home from the race.John opens the door, and Stuart greets him. “Stuart?!”John exclaims. “John, I want you to know that I’m happy for you, and I want to be your friend again.”Stuart says, shuffling on his feet. “Ok, are we all good then?”John asks. “All good buddy, all good.”Stuart says, his smile as bright as a thousand suns.

The End