National Adult Literacy Database

January 11, 1999

This week, our story comes to us from Whitehorse, Yukon. The author, Marlon O'Brien, is quite an avid writer. He uses computers regularly, as well as E-mail.

The Ice Race That Ended Fast

by Marlon O'Brien

The night was short and the day was here. The morning wind was cool and the sky was clear. The ice was frozen from top to bottom. People from all around were here to race, with one things on their minds and that would be to win, because everyone knows that second is first place loser. So you do your best and race with the rest. As my partner and I got our car tuned up and ready to race we were excited and waiting to race. One by one the ice racers moved into position, roaring their engines high and hard, waiting for the green light to let them go. Each second seemed infinite as the timer counted us down. My foot was twitching and the gas pedal was ready to go. Three...two...one.., we were off moving into the second gear and the third gear, fourth gear, and overdrive. I was moving fast into the first "S" turn with everyone behind me bumping me telling me they wanted to pass. My partner screamed at me telling me they already passed. With no time to lose, we moved on down the path.

Snowdrifts and water holes were in the way. Not caring about our car, we knocked down whatever was in our way. My partner screamed that I was in the way and I tried not to notice all the cars passing me by. With twenty miles to go, my partner was in the need for speed. Just one more lap to go and we were able to trade places. I was in control and I could see the barrels just straight ahead and I stopped. "Let's switch places!" my partner screamed. Then I got out of the car and ran around as fast as I could and got into the passenger's seat. Before I could even get completely into the car the pedal was already to the floor. The engine was revving so high I thought that it would blow. My mind was gone and the tires were very low. I was still hanging on to be number one. Faster and faster I told him to go. We went around the corner a little too fast and we went spinning out of control and we were all over the path. The race was over and we were dead last. That's when I realized that we were all out of gas. Then I looked out and saw that we were still at the starting line. Now I see it as it was meant to be; being number one never pays. We may not have finished first but that ice race sure went fast.