Jake Maddox - Skateboard Save

Jake Maddox Books are published by Stone Arch Books
A Capstone Imprint
1710 Roe Crest Drive
Mankato, Minnesota 56003
www.capstonepub.com

Copyright 2009 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.
Skateboard Save / by Jake Maddox; illustrated by Sean Tiffany.
p. cm. (Impact Books. A Jake Maddox Sports Story)
ISBN 978-1-4342-0775-3 (library binding)
ISBN 978-1-4342-0871-2 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-1-4342-8866-0 (ebook)
[1. SkateboardingFiction. 2. SportsmanshipFiction.] I. Tiffany, Sean, ill. II. Title.
PZ7.M25643Skd 2009
[Fic]dc22
2008004294

Summary: When Riley enters the skateboarding contest, he doesnt expect to help his biggest rival.

Art Director: Heather Kindseth
Graphic Designer: Kay Fraser

CHAPTER 1

Riley Alexander looked down into the half-pipe. His skateboard hung over the edge, ready to roll.

It was a typical Wednesday afternoon. School had been kind of boring, but going to the skate park always made Riley feel better. Just placing his foot on the skateboards deck filled him with energy.

Riley took a deep breath. Then he dropped into the pipe.

He had been skating that half-pipe since he was nine. Now, five years later, he was an expert.

By the time he reached the other edge, Riley had enough speed for a kickflip. For an instant, he was completely airborne. With one hand, he held his board against his feet.

He did a few more tricks. Then he glided to the bottom.

Finally, he headed back to the top of the pipe to go again. But as he steadied himself before dropping in, someone grabbed his shoulder.

Riley spun around.

Three seniors from Rileys school were standing there. Nice board, kid, one of them said. Mind if I test it out?

Yeah, I do! Riley snapped. But the other two boys stepped up and pushed him down.

The older guys laughed. Take it easy, the first guy said as he grabbed the board from Riley. Im not going to break it.

The other guys held Riley on the ground as their friend spun the skateboard in his hands. Riley had a bad feeling that breaking the board was exactly what they planned to do.

What are you doing? Riley yelled as the bully stepped onto his board.

Im just having a little fun! the guy called as he slid hard along a cement bench.

Riley pictured the bully taking the slide too hard and cracking the board.

You better not break my board! Riley called out.

One of the guys told him to be quiet. Riley struggled to get up. Give it back! he called out.

As the leader of the guys was about to go for another rough slide, a voice shouted out from behind the half-pipe. Hey, knock it off, the voice said.

The three bullies looked up. The one on the board came to a stop and kicked the board into his hand.

What gives? the bully said. He looked confused as Bernie Chu, also a senior and one of the best skaters in Riverton, stepped out from the shadows.

Riley swallowed hard. Hed seen Bernie around school.

Bernie was a tough kid. He was always giving younger kids and even some of the other seniors a hard time.

We were just fooling around, said the bully with Rileys board.

Enough, Bernie snapped. He took Rileys board from the bully. Get out of here, he added.

The three bullies looked confused. What? their leader said. Bernie, you do this stuff to these little skaters all the time. Whats your problem today?

Bernie just growled. The three bullies glanced at each other. Whatever, their leader said. Then they turned and walked out of the skate park.

Riley got to his feet. Bernie dropped the board on its wheels and slid it over to him.

Riley stopped it with his foot. Then he kicked the board into his hand.

Thanks, Riley said. But Bernie didnt even look at him. He just turned around and walked off.

CHAPTER 2

Its true, Jay, Riley said the next day as he chewed a huge bite of his sandwich. Bernie Chu saved my board.

His best friend, Jay, pointed over at the lunch line. That Bernie Chu? he asked.

Riley turned around and saw Bernie Chu walking away from the lunch line. He was carrying a full tray and elbowing people out of his way. Move it, he grunted at one kid.

The kid stumbled, dropped his tray, slipped on some gravy, and fell face-first onto his own mashed potatoes. The whole cafeteria burst into laughter.

Riley turned back to Jay. Yup. That Bernie Chu, Riley said.

I dont believe it, Jay said, tearing open a ketchup packet and squirting it all over his fries. Maybe you should go thank him, he added with a smirk.

If I do go talk to him, Riley replied, will you believe me?

I do believe you, Jay said quickly. But you should still thank him. I mean, its a good idea to be polite to a guy whose left leg is bigger than your whole body.

Riley stood up. Fine, he said. Ill go thank him.

He headed to the table on the edge of the room. That was where Bernie always ate by himself.

Um, Bernie? Riley said as he reached the seniors table.

Bernie was taking a long drink of milk. He glanced at Riley over the carton as he continued to drink.

I just wanted to say thanks for saving my skateboard yesterday, Riley went on.

Bernie put down his milk and crushed the carton with his palm. Go away, Bernie said through his teeth.

Riley didnt have to be told twice. He backed away slowly, turned around, and walked over to his own table. Jay was barely holding in his laughter as Riley sat down.

That was awesome, Jay said.

I dont get it, Riley said. Why is he acting like that?

Thats obvious! Jay said, pushing his empty tray away. Bernie couldnt let the whole school know that hed been nice to you. It would ruin his reputation.

Is that the truth? Riley wondered. Is Bernie Chu really just worried about his reputation?

CHAPTER 3

After school that day, Riley and Jay walked home past the skate park.

I wish theyd let us bring our boards to school, Riley said, glancing over at the half-pipe. Its stupid to walk all the way home to get my board and then come back here to practice.

Jay nodded. Hey, check that out! he said, pointing toward the fence that circled the park.

Two men wearing green overalls were up on ladders, hanging a big banner from the top of the fence. The banner read, First Annual Skateboarding Contest.

Lets go check it out, Riley said.

There was a smaller sign on a wall. It read: