Darkness Before Dawn by Sharon M. Draper Read Free Book Online Page A

to run two circles around me before continuing with the group.
    Leon ran with the team also. He was a solid runner, never flashy, but we could always depend on him to give the team what we needed to make a good showing at an event. He showed up just after B. J. I almost lost my stride, laughing at his silly outfit. He had on green trunks, a T-shirt that read “County Jail Escapee,” and a Mickey Mouse hat on his head—his lucky running hat, he called it. Whenever the team went out for pizza after practice, Leon could be depended on to keep us laughing, putting breadsticks in his ears, burping Pepsi through his nose, and singing to the other customers in the restaurant. Afterward, we all went our separate ways. Leon always went home alone, not like some of the other kids on the team who hung out at each other’s houses. I asked him about it one day as we were finishing practice.
    â€œHey, Leon. How come you never hang with the rest of the dudes?”
    â€œNo reason, really. It’s always been that way. No big deal.”
    I hadn’t pushed, but I could see in his face that it bothered him. “You like running?” I had asked, changing the subject.
    Leon took a deep breath and smiled at me broadly. “Oh yeah!” he said with feeling. “I like cross-country because we run for long stretches—gives me time to think and breathe.”
    â€œI feel you,” I replied. “I don’t like sprints—too much effort and too little thought!”
    Leon had laughed. “I also like being outside, even on rainy days. I like the smell of the trees and the dirt.” He looked embarrassed all of a sudden—as if he had said too much.
    â€œYou can smell dirt? You got talents I never knew!” I teased him as I tossed my shoes into my gym bag. “I’m not that gifted, but I do like the way the wind makes me feel strong and powerful.”
    Leon had looked at me and hesitated before he said, “Me, too. At school I hardly ever feel that way.” He had rushed off to his car then. I waved good-bye as he drove off, but he pretended he didn’t see.
    I slowed my pace a little and let the girls’ team pass me as they thundered after the boys’ team. They reminded me of long-legged Amazon warriors chasing their male captives. They ran easily, as if the brisk weather and the crispy leaves were created just for them.
    I noticed Joyelle next. She was struggling a little,breathing harder and running slower than the others, but you gotta give it to her—she didn’t give up. I shouted a couple of good words to her as she ran: “You go, girl!” Joyelle looked up and smiled at me with appreciation. She didn’t run with the ease of the older girls who were in better shape. She had eaten far too many hamburgers and french fries to run with any speed or consistency. But she refused to give up, and she told me not long ago that in just the few weeks she had been running with us, she felt better, and her jeans zipped up a lot easier.
    Just behind the girls’ team jogged Jonathan Hathaway. I didn’t notice at first when he started running next to me. My mind was on the colors of the leaves and how Andy had loved to rake a big pile of leaves, then jump into them. Jonathan was dressed in a silk—yes, silk—University of Cincinnati track suit, and he ran easily in and among the girls, encouraging them, handing out water, jogging easily at the pace he set for them. I watched as they looked at him—kinda like puppies at a kennel. They’d do anything to please him. If he smiled and winked a golden eye at one of them, she ran harder, striving to please him. Not me, though. Basically, I tried to ignore him. I slowed down and let the group get far ahead of me. Jonathan glanced back at me, but said nothing. He ran on with the girls’ team. I finally slowed my pace to a walk, taking slow, deep breaths.
    â€œKeisha! What are you doing