Jake Maddox - Board Rebel

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

Copyright 2007 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.
Board Rebel / by Jake Maddox; illustrated by Sean Tiffany.
p. cm. (A Jake Maddox Sports Story)
Summary: When Tanner moves to an exclusive new town he misses his old skate park, but with the help of the town bully and another new friend, Tanner thinks he can figure out a way to get a skate park built in Woodville.
ISBN-13: 978-1-59889-319-9 (library binding)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59889-414-1 (paperback)
ISBN-13: 978-1-4342-8854-7 (ebook)
[1. SkateboardingFiction. 2. Moving, HouseholdFiction.] I. Tiffany, Sean, ill. II. Title.
PZ7.M25643Bo 2007
[Fic]dc22

2006027806

Art Director: Heather Kindseth
Graphic Designer: Kay Fraser

Chapter 1

King of the Park

Tanner Ryan tipped the front edge of his skateboard over the lip of the ramp. His back foot held the board in place by its tail. His front foot tapped at the battered front edge of the board.

Tanner looked down at the board. All the slides and grinds he had done over the last year had left his board in bad shape. Time for a new one, he thought. But Im sure that wont happen until my birthday.

Two more months. It would be hard to wait. It might even be harder for him to part with the board that helped him win his first Citywide Skateboard Challenge, however.

Tanners eyes scanned over the other, younger skaters as they whipped around the park. The little guys rode back and forth between the smallest ramps.

Tanner smiled. It wasnt that long ago that he was one of those little guys. Now he was standing at the top of the biggest half-pipe in the city.

Hey, Tanner, what are you waiting for? came a voice from the other end of the pipe. It was Billy Collins, one of Tanners best skateboarding buddies. Lets see what you got today!

Tanner grinned. A lot more than what you got, thats for sure, he called.

With that, he tipped the board forward and rode it down the ramp. He was headed straight for Billy, who was standing at the top of the opposite side of the ramp. Tanners grin grew as his board climbed the far edge of the pipe.

Tanner barreled off the top edge of the pipe. He flew up, turned a perfect three-sixty in front of Billys face, and dropped easily back down into the half-pipe. Eat that! Tanner called back to Billy.

Billy laughed, then jumped down the half-pipe, trailing after Tanner. They spent the rest of the day chasing each other and trying out new tricks. Each boy would try something new, and the other would quickly try to match it.

By the end of the day, they were pretty tired and really sore. Even with all of their protective gear on, they still came away with some bumps and bruises. Tanners pants, already ripped up from a number of falls, had some new damage.

Finally, it was time to head home. Tanner and Billy headed off together, grinding on curbs and jumping over sidewalk cracks and anything else they could find. About a block away from Tanners house, Billy turned down a different street. Catch you later, he said.

Youll never catch me, Tanner said, laughing.

Tanner wheeled for home. He was still the best skater at the park. But he didnt know about the surprise that was waiting for him at home.

Chapter 2

The Big Surprise

Tanner wheeled around to the back of the house. He popped his board up into his right hand, swung open the screen door, and walked inside.

Tanner? Is that you? his dad called from the kitchen. Come in here, quick! Weve got a big surprise for you!

At last! Tanner thought to himself. They finally decided to get me a new skateboard!

Tanner turned the corner and walked into the kitchen. He glanced around the room quickly.

There was no new skateboard that he could see. But both of his parents smiled broadly at him. Tanner stood in the doorway.

Something was up. Normally, food would be getting cooked and his parents would be asking him about his day.

Instead, they just looked at him, smiling. Whats going on? Tanner asked. You guys are acting, um, weird.

Weve got big news, Tanners dad said. Im getting promoted at work.

Oh, cool, Tanner said.

Tanner, his mom said. This is really good news. Your dad worked hard for this.

Oh, I know, Tanner said. He struggled to sound more excited about it. I mean, thats great. Good job, Dad. Tanner felt uncomfortable. He tried to leave the room.

Tanner, wait, his mom said. Theres more. Dads going to be working in a different office, she said. Out in Woodville. Out by my office.

Oh, thats cool, Tanner said to his mom. Youll have company on the drive.

Again, Tanner turned to leave. Finally, his parents couldnt hold it in any more.

Um, Tanner, his mom said, its not going to be a long drive.

There was a pause. Tanner started to realize that he might not like what was coming next.

Were moving, his dad said.

Chapter 3

The New House

It seemed like Tanner had no time to get ready. In a matter of a month, the house had been sold and he was moving. He could hardly believe it was happening.

Woodville was only an hour away. It might have been a million miles to Tanner. He wouldnt be close to his friend Billy. He wouldnt be close to the city skate park he loved. He wouldnt be close to anyone he knew.

His parents bought a fancy new house in a very nice neighborhood.

It was nothing like what Tanner was used to. The new house was a two-story. Tanners bedroom was about twice as big as his old bedroom.

There was a separate room that his parents had set up as a game room for Tanner. It had a big-screen TV for video games and a pool table.

Tanners parents put the family computer in that room too. Tanner knew hed spend a lot of time in there.

The best part of the new house was in the backyard. It was a giant swimming pool.

On the night they moved in, Tanner turned on his computer.

When he discovered Billy was online, he sent him an instant message.

U wouldnt believe my new house, Tanner wrote.

Big? Billy wrote back.

Its sweet, Tanner wrote. Pool and game room. You should come see it.

Lucky, Billy wrote.

Tanner wasnt so sure. True, his new surroundings were nothing like his old neighborhood. But that was part of the problem. Tanner didnt quite feel comfortable in the new neighborhood.