by Tom Miller
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Tom Miller may be contacted at tmillercshaw@msn.com
Chapter 1Road Race
Bonnie Clark stood on her tiptoes and peered across a sea of bobbing heads
toward the starting line. Without thinking, she sneaked a peek at the steep
hill that stretched out beyond the start.
Why did I do that?
She slowly shook her head. She had promised herself that she wouldn't
think about-or even glance at-the dreaded hill that framed the starting line of
the Ranger 7-Mile race.
Named for the famous Ranger School at nearby Ft. Benning, Georgia,
the race attracted thousands of runners and walkers every July.
This was Bonnie's first road race ever, and her dad had suggested that she
try something shorter and less difficult, but her friends were running today
and she didn't want to be left out. Anyway, she liked a challenge.
Now, as she bounced up and down on the balls of her feet, she was having
second thoughts.
"Come on," she whispered, "let's get going."
"Will you relax?"
Bonnie stopped abruptly and smiled weakly at her closest friend and running
partner Mandy Barfield.
"Sorry," she said. "But I'm trying to relax. I'll be okay once we get started."
Bonnie crossed her fingers.
I hope I'll be okay, she thought.
The truth was she didn't know what to expect. Her longest race before today was 1500 meters,
and that was on a flat track.
This, she concluded, is going to be an adventure.
"Hey, don't worry," Tony Hernandez joined in, "just take it easy and you'll be okay."
Jamal Jackson, who was standing behind Tony, winked at the girls. "Yeah, listen to the pro," he laughed.
Bonnie smiled weakly. Tony ought to know, she reminded herself, he ran the race last summer.
The four friends had driven over that morning from their home in Indian Bluff, a pretty town perched on a high bluff overlooking the
Chattahoochee River. All were fourteen and would enter Indian Bluff High School in another month.
Mandy's dad was the basketball coach at Indian Bluff Junior High, and Mandy had started tagging along on his runs when she entered
seventh grade. It wasn't long before her best friend Bonnie joined them. Both girls had run track at the junior high and were looking
forward to going out for Cross Country in high school.
Jamal and Tony had taken up distance running the year before, and both quickly exhibited a talent for the sport. Much to the regret
of the football coach, Jamal planned to give up football for Cross Country and track in high school.
Tony decided to ignore his friend's teasing. "You're in good enough shape to finish easily," he assured the girls. "Just don't start
off too fast."
Bonnie and Mandy nodded in tandem. They had talked about all of this before, but always in the future tense. Now, in the present
tense, it didn't sound so simple.
"Runners," a voice suddenly boomed from the front of the pack.
The throng of runners fell quiet as each focused on the task ahead. Bonnie leaned forward slightly and stared at the heels of the
runner in front of her. Mandy looked straight ahead, her index finger poised over the timer button on her watch.
"Take your mark," the voice continued.
The runners strained forward.
"BANG!"
The horde surged forward-the elite runners at the front pulling the long train of runners up the steep incline.
Bonnie and Mandy matched strides with Jamal and Tony until the tight knot of runners began to unravel a bit, and the boys raced ahead.
They were a quarter-mile up the hill, and Bonnie was surprised to find that her pre-race jitters had vanished in the initial spurt forward.
She sneaked a quick peek at Mandy who flashed a wide smile in return. Soon, they reached the crest of the hill and turned onto a broad
tree-lined boulevard. They recovered quickly from the long climb and settled into a familiar pace.
Bonnie wanted to shout she felt so good. I can go faster, she thought. Much faster.
The two friends had run track at the junior high, and while both were good, Bonnie was faster and stronger.
Mandy seemed to sense what her friend was thinking. As they slowed for a water stop, she fell in behind Bonnie.
"You don't have to wait for me," she shouted. "Just meet me at the finish." .................................