Jake Maddox - Record Run

Impact Books are published by Stone Arch Books
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Copyright 2010 by Stone Arch Books

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Maddox, Jake.
Record run / by Jake Maddox; text by Eric Stevens;
illustrated by Sean Tiffany
p. cm. (Impact books. A Jake Maddox sports story)
ISBN 978-1-4342-1598-7 (library binding)
ISBN 978-1-4342-8883-7 (ebook)
[1. Track and fieldFiction.] I. Stevens, Eric, 1974
II. Tiffany, Sean, ill. III. Title.
PZ7.M25643Rec 2010
[Fic]dc22
2009004094

Summary:
After getting soaked by Harrys water balloon, Paul chases Harry down. He didnt expect Harry to be so fast. He gives Harry a choice: join the track team or else. Harry doesnt think its fun to run if hes not being chased. With Pauls help, can Harry find a good reason to run?

Creative Director: Heather Kindseth
Graphic Designer: Carla Zetina-Yglesias

CHAPTER 1

Harry Ecker and Jeff Razz were laughing. The two sixth graders were crouched together in a jungle gym at a park near Polk Middle School.

The jungle gym they were hiding in was built to look like a pirate ship. At the top was a wood cabin.

From inside the cabin, Jeff and Harry could see the whole park, but no one could see them.

Okay, Jeff, Harry said, still laughing. Thats three for you, and two for me.

You know it, Jeff replied. Looks like Ill win again.

A big pile of water balloons was next to the boys. Harry reached out and picked one up.

You only have one throw left, Jeff said. Even if you get someone soaking wet, you can only tie the score.

Harry thought for a second. What if I score a two-pointer? he asked.

Jeff laughed and shook his head. You must be nuts, he said. You have to soak an eighth grader to get two points. Are you really that crazy?

Harry smiled. Ill do whatever it takes to win, he said.

Jeff shrugged. Well see, he replied. We cant wait all day for an eighth grader to walk by.

Harry slowly got to his knees and peeked through the window. He turned his head to look carefully over the whole park, trying to spot someone to throw the next water balloon at.

There, Harry said, pointing.

Jeff got up and looked through the window. Where? he asked.

Harry was pointing toward the edge of the park. Two boys from their school, both eighth graders, were leaning against the fence.

Look at them, Harry said. They look like theyre half asleep. Theyll never know it was me.

Jeff laughed. Maybe, he said. But theyre pretty far off. I bet you cant even reach them with a water balloon from here.

Who said I have to throw it from here? Harry said.

What are you going to do, walk right up to them? Jeff replied.

If thats what it takes to win! Harry said. He tossed the water balloon lightly in his hand. So, are you going to come with me?

Jeff shook his head. No way, man, he said. If you hit one of them, you win. But Im staying right here where its safe.

Harry shrugged. Suit yourself, he said. Then he climbed down the ladder out of the cabin.

Harry took a few cautious steps toward the two eighth graders. He stopped behind a tree when he thought he was close enough.

Harry glanced back at the pirate ship cabin. He could see Jeffs face peeking through the window.

Well, here goes nothing, Harry muttered to himself. Then he stepped out from behind the tree.

The two eighth graders were facing the other way and still seemed half asleep. Harry pulled back his arm. With all his might, he heaved the water balloon toward the two older boys.

The water balloon hit one of them right in the back and exploded. It sent a flood of water all over the boy.

Right away, Harry stepped back behind the tree to hide. If he started running, the eighth graders would easily spot him.

Please, dont let them see me! he whispered to himself.

Hey! a voice shouted. Who threw that water balloon at me? You better come out now if you know whats good for you!

Harry stayed completely still and silent. He listened carefully.

I think I saw someone run behind that tree, another voice replied. I bet it was him!

Oh yeah? said the first voice again. Lets go find out.

Uh-oh, Harry whispered. He decided it was time to start running.

Get him! the first voice said again.

Harry glanced over his shoulder as he ran. One of the boys the dry one wasnt very fast. After a few seconds of running, he just stopped and caught his breath.

But the boy Harry had hit with the balloon was still chasing him. And he looked really mad!

CHAPTER 2

Harry ran as fast he could. At least this means I beat Jeff , he thought as he ran. I got more water-balloon points than he did.

He managed to smile as he picked up speed. Harry didnt really know the eighth grader hed hit. He had seen him around school, but otherwise he didnt know anything about the older boy.

Its not like hes going to beat me up or anything , Harry thought.

Still, Harry didnt want to get caught. It wouldnt feel like a real victory if he got caught. And Jeff would definitely make fun of him.

Harry glanced over his shoulder again. The kid was catching up. Harry tried to put on a little more speed.

Soon he reached the north end of the park. But suddenly he realized something. He hadnt been paying attention to where he was going.

He wasnt thinking as he ran, and he forgot the north end of the park didnt have a gate. Harry was running at full speed, right at a three-foot fence!

Uh-oh, he muttered to himself. Guess I have no choice, though. Im going to have to jump it.

Just before he ran smack into the fence, Harry took an extra deep breath. Then he jumped as far and high as he could. He cleared the fence so easily, he even surprised himself.

Stop! the boy behind him called.

Harry kept running. He was sure the eighth grader would stop at the fence. When Harry glanced behind him, though, he saw the older boy glide effortlessly over the fence.

Whoa, Harry said as he ran on. He was starting to get tired now.

After a few more steps, he felt something tug on his collar. He was pulled to a stop.

Gotcha! the older boy said with a huff.

Harry was caught!

CHAPTER 3

Get your hands off me! Harry said. He spun around and managed to get his shirt out of the older boys hand.

Take it easy, man, the eighth grader replied. Im not going to hurt you.

I almost got away, Harry said.

Yeah, I noticed, the eighth grader replied. Whyd you throw that water balloon at me? I dont even know you.

Harry shrugged. Its a game I play with my friend, he said. We get a point for each kid we hit with a balloon. But we get two points if we hit an eighth grader.