Everyone looked at Spencer.
“I tried to get to you. I thought you might be hurt. But then I saw you get back up again, and your friend was with you. I didn’t want to slow you down. From what I hear, you almost caught that guy at the finish.” He shook Spencer’s hand. Then he turned and shook Jake’s too. “That’s the spirit, fellas. That was some great running.”
“So that’s where you got the scrapes on your hands and the gash on your chin?” asked Coach Dave. “Why didn’t you say something?”
Spencer shrugged. “I’m okay. Jake was there.”
“Well, I’m impressed. Especially considering how you two still came flying across the finish line like twin tornados.”
“That’s the way to do it,” said Mr. Solomon. “Right, Spencer? You might get knocked down, but that doesn’t mean you quit.” He paused. “I used to run myself. Absolutely loved it.”
There was an awkward moment in which no one said a word. Spencer looked down at the dirt. Jake felt his chest go tight.
Mr. Solomon smiled. “But I also loved watching Spencer and the rest of you boys run today. I hope you keep it up for a long time. Being out on the trail with friends like this—there’s nothing better. Sometimes the course we’re on takes an unexpected turn, but we find a way keep on going.”
“Just be sure you duck when you need to,” said Shawn, rubbing his forehead. Everyone laughed.
“That was the best pizza I have ever tasted,” said Tony as they walked out of Perry’s Pizza.
“I’m surprised you tasted anything at all, you were eating so fast,” said Shawn.
“I slowed down after the first four slices.”
“We sure did make that party pop,” said Simon.
“It was cool they gave us sundaes for free,” said Sam.
“Hot as lava, cool as ice cream,” said Coach Dave. “So, gang? Time to head home?” He slid the door of the van open. Spencer and Jake went over to the Jetta with their dads, but the rest of the team climbed in.
“Hey, did you know that a group of spiders is called a clutter?” asked Sam with a grin.
“No!” said Shawn. “If you don’t cut out the spider talk, I’m going to sing all the way home.”
“Would you rather,” said Tony, “listen to Shawn sing one hour every day for the rest of your life or die right now from a poison arrow?”
“Poison arrow!” they all cried.
Spencer helped his dad into the Jetta. Jake folded up the wheelchair and put it in the trunk. His dad gave him a high five and climbed into the driver’s seat. “I really enjoyed watching the race, Jake. See you at home.”
“You too, Spencer,” said Mr. Solomon. “Have a good ride.”
“You’re sure you don’t want me to ride home with you?”
“No, you should go with your friends. Have fun.”
“I guess that worked out,” said Spencer as the Jetta disappeared from view. “My dad asked if we had any more races coming up. He and your dad are all ready to plan another road trip.”
Jake smiled. He looked down at his medal. “You really are a great runner, Spencer. Thanks for coming. We really needed you.”
“No, Jake,” said Spencer as they made their way over to the van. “I’m pretty sure it was the other way around.”
The door slid open again. “Enter if you dare,” said Simon.
“If we dare?” Jake looked at Spencer. “We are not afraid!”
“I am,” said Coach Dave. “The way you guys eat, I can’t afford to buy any more food. Come on, we’ve got to get Tony home before dinner.”
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to all the young readers who asked for this story to be written; to all the runners, coaches and parents who were its inspiration; to the amazing team at Orca Books who worked to bring it to print; and to my family, who always cheer me on.
Sylvia Taekema’s first novel, Seconds, was voted a Silver Birch Express Award Honour Book. Sylvia enjoys visiting classrooms and libraries and meeting with readers and writers of all ages. She also loves to read, bake cookies and go on camping adventures with her family. She lives in Chatham, Ontario. For more information, visit sylviataekema.wordpress.com.
Chapter One
A hotdog.
No, it was worse than that. A healthy hotdog.
A six-foot, all-natural, high-fiber, low-fat, live-in wiener. I couldn’t believe it.
When Uncle Hammy called to ask if I’d like to work for him at the Food Fantasia Fun Fair, I was actually kind of excited. I mean, who wouldn’t be? The job offered the two things fifteen-year-old boys care most about in life: food and money.
All I had to do was hand out samples from his hotdog stand for an afternoon. I could eat as much as I wanted from the other food stalls plus he’d pay me ten bucks an hour.
Ten bucks an hour!
I couldn’t believe my luck. Happy little money birds twittered around in my head. Up to that point, my luck had only come in one variety: rotten. Now it looked like something good was actually going to happen for me.
The offer came at exactly the right moment. Just before Hammy called, I’d been having a little “discussion” with my mother. I really, really needed a personal trainer, but she refused to pay for one. She wouldn’t even talk about it.
“Dan,” she said and laughed into her cup of coffee. “What do you need a personal trainer for?”
I’m sure the answer was obvious to everyone but her.
Girls. That’s the other thing most fifteen-year-old boys care about. With the way I looked, though, I knew I didn’t stand a chance with them. I couldn’t do much about my glasses or my braces or my all-around nerdy vibe. But I figured I might be able to do something about my scrawny physique—or at least a paid professional could.
I did the math and took the job on the spot. If I worked the whole afternoon, I figured I could afford a couple of hours of training—maybe more. After all, Hammy had mentioned the possibility of tips.
What he apparently forgot to mention—at least until I showed up at the Metro Center a week later, all ready to go—was that I had to wear a costume.
“I didn’t tell you about that?” Hammy tried to sound innocent. “Funny. You wouldn’t think I could forget something…like this!”
He whipped a giant pink-and-yellow foam hotdog out from behind his stall. Its rubbery arms flailed at me like a little kid in a fistfight.
My dork instinct immediately kicked in. I raised my hands up in front of my face for protection.
“It’s not going to bite you,” Hammy said. “It’s a hotdog, Dan. If anything, you bite it.” He had a good chuckle over that, but I didn’t join in.
“You must be kidding. Wear that?” I brought my arms down and folded them across my so-called chest. “Forget it. Not a chance.”
Hammy leaned against the hotdog and draped his hand over its sesame-seed shoulder as if they were long-lost brothers. The truth was, they did bear a remarkable resemblance to each other. They both had goofy grins, wiry red hair and mustard dribbling down their fronts. The only obvious difference was that the hotdog also came with relish.
Hammy picked up the hotdog’s three-fingered hand and wagged it at me. “C’mon, Dan! Where’s your sense of humor?”
Where’s my sense of humor? This was the guy who decided to call himself “Hammy” because he thought it would be funny with the last name Hogg. Trust me, the name Hogg doesn’t need any help getting laughs. I know that from personal experience.
“It’s my dignity I’m worried about!” I said. “What would my friends say if they caught me parading around dressed like an enormous frankfurter?”
Hammy’s face went serious. “I thought about that, actually. You know what I think they’ll say?” He paused while he came up with an answer. “They’ll say you look taller.”
I glared at him. He knows I’m sensitive about my height.
“And stronger too!” Hammy held out one of the hotdog’s arms. “Look. Built-in biceps!”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. Right. Like anyone is going to mistake those tennis balls for muscles.”
“The kid’s got no imagination either.” Hammy seemed to be talking to the hotdog now. It gave him the same blank-eyed stare I did. “Oh well.
Doesn’t matter,” he said and patted me on the back. I relaxed.
“Phew,” I said. Hammy always was a joker. “For a second there, I actually thought you were going to make me wear that stupid thing!”
That got the biggest laugh yet. “Course I am! I mean it doesn’t matter what other people think. No one’s going to see you. You’ll be completely hidden. All they’ll see is a big delicious Hogg’s Dogg. Now let’s get this show on the road! And by the way, you’d better strip down. It’s hotter than a barbecue grill inside this thing.”
Titles in the Series
121 Express
Monique Polak
Ace’s Basement
Ted Staunton
Agent Angus
K.L. Denman
Alibi
Kristin Butcher
Bad Business
Diane Dakers
Bear Market
Michele Martin Bossley
Benched
Cristy Watson
Beyond Repair
Lois Peterson
The Big Apple Effect
Christy Goerzen
The Big Dip
Melanie Jackson
Bio-pirate
Michele Martin Bossley
Blob
Frieda Wishinsky
Bones
John Wilson
Branded
Eric Walters
Bullies Rule
Monique Polak
Bungee Jump
Pam Withers
Cabin Girl
Kristin Butcher
Caching In
Kristin Butcher
Camp Disaster
Frieda Wishinsky
Camped Out
Daphne Greer
Camp Wild
Pam Withers
Caught in the Act
Deb Loughead
Chat Room
Kristin Butcher
Cheat
Kristin Butcher
Chick: Lister
Alex Van Tol
Cracked
Michele Martin Bossley
Crossbow
Dayle Campbell Gaetz
Daredevil Club
Pam Withers
Death Drop
Melanie Jackson
Destination Human
K.L. Denman
Disconnect
Lois Peterson
Dog Walker
Karen Spafford-Fitz
Explore
Christy Goerzen
Eyesore
Melanie Jackson
FaceSpace
Adrian Chamberlain
Farmed Out
Christy Goerzen
Fast Slide
Melanie Jackson
Finding Elmo
Monique Polak
Flower Power
Ann Walsh
Food Freak
Alex Van Tol
Fraud Squad
Michele Martin Bossley
Gold
John Wilson
Hate Mail
Monique Polak
High Wire
Melanie Jackson
Hold the Pickles
Vicki Grant
Horse Power
Ann Walsh
Hypnotized
Don Trembath
In a Flash
Eric Walters
In the Buff
Vicki Grant
Jungle Jitters
Lisa Dalrymple
Junkyard Dog
Monique Polak
Laggan Lard Butts
Eric Walters
Leggings Revolt
Monique Polak
Living Rough
Cristy Watson
Lost
John Wilson
Manga Touch
Jacqueline Pearce
Marked
Norah McClintock
Maxed Out
Daphne Greer
Medusa’s Scream
Melanie Jackson
Mirror Image
K.L. Denman
Nine Doors
Vicki Grant
On Cue
Cristy Watson
Oracle
Alex Van Tol
Out of Season
Kari Jones
Payback
Deb Loughead
Perfect Revenge
K.L. Denman
Pigboy
Vicki Grant
Power Chord
Ted Staunton
Pyro
Monique Polak
Queen of the Toilet
Bowl
Frieda Wishinsky
Quiz Queens
K.L. Denman
Rebel’s Tag
K.L. Denman
Reckless
Lesley Choyce
Rise of the Zombie
Scarecrows
Deb Loughead
Running Behind
Sylvia Taekema
See No Evil
Diane Young
Sewer Rats
Sigmund Brouwer
The Shade
K.L. Denman
Shadow
Mere Joyce
Shatterproof
Jocelyn Shipley
Siege
Jacqueline Pearce
Skate Freak
Lesley Choyce
Slick
Sara Cassidy
The Snowball Effect
Deb Loughead
Special Edward
Eric Walters
Splat!
Eric Walters
Spoiled Rotten
Dayle Campbell Gaetz
Stolen
John Wilson
Storm Tide
Kari Jones
Struck
Deb Loughead
Stuff We All Get
K.L. Denman
Sudden Impact
Lesley Choyce
Swiped
Michele Martin Bossley
Tampered
Michele Martin Bossley
Taz’s Recipe
Diane Tullson
Three Good Things
Lois Peterson
Unity Club
Karen Spafford-Fitz
Vanish
Karen Spafford-Fitz
Watch Me
Norah McClintock
Wildfire
Deb Loughead
Windfall
Sara Cassidy
Winter Road
Kristen Butcher
Wired
Sigmund Brouwer
For more information on all the books in the Orca Currents series, please visit
orcabook.com.