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Authors: Matt Christopher
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combo method/shifty, and a nose grab/tail grab, among others. He ended
with an overall 8.75. Pretty good.
Paul's run would have made anything Dondi could do look pathetic, Freddie thought, sighing. But Freddie knew he himself could
beat Paul's run with even a half-decent performance.
Adrenaline shot through Freddie's system when he heard Eric call his name and number. He slid straight down the halfpipe,
gathering speed for his first jump. Launching high into the air, he twisted into a full 360° turn, grabbing the nose of his
board at the same time. So high had he gone that he could have done an extra half turn.
And that was exactly what he did next—an incredible 540°! He landed smoothly, hearing the roar of the crowd from below. He
had lost hardly any speed, and now on the spur of the moment he decided to try something he'd never done before—two complete
turns. A 720°! Why not? he reasoned.Who cared if he fell? Clarissa wasn't there to see it. Neither was Dondi, or his parents.
Freddie crouched down a little as he approached the top of the wall and sprung into the twist just as he caught air. The ground
below him spun as he turned at top speed, once around, then twice! He hit the slope hard but managed to stay on his board.
Two final grab moves completed his incredible run, and he skidded to a stop, his fist pumping high over his head.
“… for an incredible 9.5 overall, folks!” Eric was yelling.
Freddie felt the exhilaration for only a moment. Then he remembered that it was all for nothing, and his shoulders slumped.
Then he saw his parents watching him with pride plastered all over their smiling faces. He went over to them and gave them
each a big hug. “How'd you know about this?” he asked.
“Some big secret,” Aida said. “Your friends calling all the time, leaving messages. The article in the newspaper.”
“We're so proud of you, son,” his father said, hugging him.
“It's the new board,” Freddie said. “Thanks again, you guys.”
“We're so glad we got it for you,” his mom said.
Then Eric's voice came through the megaphone again. “Time for the second and final run, everyone. Boarders, take your positions.”
“I'd better get going,” Freddie said.
“Good luck, son,” Esteban said, waving after him.
The second run went much like the first. Freddie, who was feeling loose as a goose, added all kinds of flourishes to his second
run and finished far ahead of the competition.
Afterward, when Eric presented him with the trophy, Freddie held it aloft to show the crowd. He smiled and waved his thanks
as they applauded him. But inside, he felt emptier than ever. Without Dondi in the competition, it was a hollow triumph.
As he followed his parents back to the lodge, he caught sight of Dondi, talking with Nate and Brad—and Clarissa. Freddie felt
the lump rise in his throat and he beat his trophy against his thigh in frustration.
“What's the matter, Freddie?” his mother asked, her brow furrowed anxiously.
“Nothing. It's nothing,” Freddie muttered. “Let's just get out of here, okay?” he asked, tucking his board under his arm and
trudging toward the exit, not looking behind him even once.
Dondi did not come home in the car with them. He was going to get a ride with Clarissa's parents—Dondi was taking her to the
movies at the mall.
All night long, Freddie lay in bed, watching the TV but not really paying attention. His mind was on Dondi and Clarissa. Right
about now, they'd be sitting in the movie theater… in the dark… and Dondi would be sneaking his arm around her shoulders….
When Dondi finally got home, he was in a mood to rub it in. This day, which was supposed to be the day of Freddie's triumph,
had turned into a day of absolute, total misery.
“Hey, squirt!” Dondi said, poking his head into the bedroom. “Bedtime so early?”
“Shut up,” Freddie muttered.
“Excuse me? I didn't hear you,” Dondi said, coming in.
with an overall 8.75. Pretty good.
Paul's run would have made anything Dondi could do look pathetic, Freddie thought, sighing. But Freddie knew he himself could
beat Paul's run with even a half-decent performance.
Adrenaline shot through Freddie's system when he heard Eric call his name and number. He slid straight down the halfpipe,
gathering speed for his first jump. Launching high into the air, he twisted into a full 360° turn, grabbing the nose of his
board at the same time. So high had he gone that he could have done an extra half turn.
And that was exactly what he did next—an incredible 540°! He landed smoothly, hearing the roar of the crowd from below. He
had lost hardly any speed, and now on the spur of the moment he decided to try something he'd never done before—two complete
turns. A 720°! Why not? he reasoned.Who cared if he fell? Clarissa wasn't there to see it. Neither was Dondi, or his parents.
Freddie crouched down a little as he approached the top of the wall and sprung into the twist just as he caught air. The ground
below him spun as he turned at top speed, once around, then twice! He hit the slope hard but managed to stay on his board.
Two final grab moves completed his incredible run, and he skidded to a stop, his fist pumping high over his head.
“… for an incredible 9.5 overall, folks!” Eric was yelling.
Freddie felt the exhilaration for only a moment. Then he remembered that it was all for nothing, and his shoulders slumped.
Then he saw his parents watching him with pride plastered all over their smiling faces. He went over to them and gave them
each a big hug. “How'd you know about this?” he asked.
“Some big secret,” Aida said. “Your friends calling all the time, leaving messages. The article in the newspaper.”
“We're so proud of you, son,” his father said, hugging him.
“It's the new board,” Freddie said. “Thanks again, you guys.”
“We're so glad we got it for you,” his mom said.
Then Eric's voice came through the megaphone again. “Time for the second and final run, everyone. Boarders, take your positions.”
“I'd better get going,” Freddie said.
“Good luck, son,” Esteban said, waving after him.
The second run went much like the first. Freddie, who was feeling loose as a goose, added all kinds of flourishes to his second
run and finished far ahead of the competition.
Afterward, when Eric presented him with the trophy, Freddie held it aloft to show the crowd. He smiled and waved his thanks
as they applauded him. But inside, he felt emptier than ever. Without Dondi in the competition, it was a hollow triumph.
As he followed his parents back to the lodge, he caught sight of Dondi, talking with Nate and Brad—and Clarissa. Freddie felt
the lump rise in his throat and he beat his trophy against his thigh in frustration.
“What's the matter, Freddie?” his mother asked, her brow furrowed anxiously.
“Nothing. It's nothing,” Freddie muttered. “Let's just get out of here, okay?” he asked, tucking his board under his arm and
trudging toward the exit, not looking behind him even once.
Dondi did not come home in the car with them. He was going to get a ride with Clarissa's parents—Dondi was taking her to the
movies at the mall.
All night long, Freddie lay in bed, watching the TV but not really paying attention. His mind was on Dondi and Clarissa. Right
about now, they'd be sitting in the movie theater… in the dark… and Dondi would be sneaking his arm around her shoulders….
When Dondi finally got home, he was in a mood to rub it in. This day, which was supposed to be the day of Freddie's triumph,
had turned into a day of absolute, total misery.
“Hey, squirt!” Dondi said, poking his head into the bedroom. “Bedtime so early?”
“Shut up,” Freddie muttered.
“Excuse me? I didn't hear you,” Dondi said, coming in.
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