A Star is Born by Walter Dean Myers Read Free Book Online Page A

got a late start and was behind the other girls as she rounded the first turn. The girl from Wadleigh, very short and very dark, was smooth on the front end and she looked like she could have done the whole race by herself. I watched the girls in the second leg line up. I glanced at the clock. The girl from Wadleigh passed the baton a hair past eleven seconds.
    If Zhade asked me to marry her I would probably say yes, even though I didn’t have a job or anything. And she could run. She started off five yards behind the other girls but made up half the distance by the time she reached Maria.
    I could see Maria digging down and leaning on the curve. She was looking great and quickly passed one of the girls. When she hit the far curve she was stride for stride with the second girl. Maybe just a body length behind.
    Sometimes the fastest runner is the anchor and sometimes the positions are just about who can handle running on a curve best. When Maria reached out the baton to Sagal my heart was in my mouth. Then Maria fell!
    â€œCrap!” Bobbi said.
    â€œShe passed it!” Kambui came back. “Sagal’s got the baton!”
    I saw Sagal switch the baton from her left hand to her right. Her legs were pumping like crazy as she leaned into the last turn and headed for the last sixty yards. She was still a yard behind the leader, a big, powerful-looking girl wearing the blue and white Wadleigh uniform.
    â€œRun, Sagal, run!” Bobbi was screaming.
    Sagal was running hard and I couldn’t tell who was in front. Then I saw the girl from Wadleigh’s hands go up as they crossed the finish line.
    â€œWho got it? Who got it?” Mr. Weinstein was pushing me with one hand and looking toward the officials.
    The two officials put their heads together for a moment and then one of them made a motion, bringing his finger around his head. The girl with her head covered had won!
    Yes!
    Okay, so Sagal wasn’t the best-looking girl in the school and her face was scarred, but right then and there I would have married her, too.

    THE PALETTE
    Â 
    WHAT I LOVE ABOUT AMERICA
By Sergeant Olga Litowinsky
    I was told that the Cruisers all showed up in support of Sagal Shehabi at the track meet at FDA. Sagal helped Da Vinci win the race she was in and helped the entire athletic squad win the meet. Although it was a personal victory for those who experienced it, what appealed to me was that Americans are always willing to let everyone compete. I congratulate Da Vinci, Sagal, the track team, and the Cruisers.
    I have just served my third tour in the Middle East and I think I see a lot of progress as the area stabilizes. Sometimes the day-to-day operations are hectic, but I know American troops, especially those in Civilian Relations, are doing their best to bring peace to the country. I have had a few narrow escapes and have had to fire my weapon on occasion, but I am proud to be an American and proud of what we have done in this troubled part of the world.

T he question I am going to ask you when this film is finished” — Mr. Siegfried pushed his glasses up on his nose — “is how many people, in how many countries, make a profit from this one simple operation of manufacturing chocolate? Yes, you might take out your notebooks and do the calculations, but you will not talk during this short film.”
    â€œWould you mind if I ran out and got some popcorn?” Phat Tony asked.
    Mr. Siegfried walked over to Phat Tony’s desk. “Mr. Williams, may I share with you two small facts? The first is that you are far less amusing than you imagine you are, and the second is that you are on the very cusp of failing Social Studies. I derive a great deal of pleasure in failing students who overestimate their cleverness. Shall we continue with your supposedly witty remarks or shall we discard our humor for the time being, sir?”
    â€œWe can let it go, sir,” Phat Tony said, slumping down into his