The Race
In the novel 'Afternoons With Mister D', a story is told in the chapter titled 'Cross-Country'. The words below seek to illustrate the memory shared by Mister D, with his friend Charlee Parker. Enjoy! They were the two best. As opposing coaches described, they could run like the breath of a cyclone. Jimmy Klein was in his first year of high school. His closest rival was in his second. They were both lean and quick. Speed and endurance were the only ways to compete in their chosen sport. The trail for today’s meet had a rugged feel from the start. The bus ride had been long and rough to the northeast corner of the state. Traffic on the highway had caused the visiting team to be tardy, adding to the freshman’s anxiety. There’d been some rain the night before. The wooded portion of the course might still be wet in spots. These things have a way of totaling up. “Be aware of roots,” Coach Preston had said, when they first arrive...