Back Track Rat - Chapter 6

by I.M.
(CA)

I am posting the 6th chapter separate to attract more reads, as I don't think anyone knows there is more than one chapter out.

For once, the coin landed on tails. "Wow, Zach! The coin actually landed on tails! Are you physic or something?" I said, while staring at amazement at the coin. "Well, at least we won't be calling her rat." Zach said, with a hint of relief in his voice. Just then, the wind picked up, and gave them both chills. "I think it's time for me to show you where you will be staying," I said while clutching my arms. "I think so too," Zach muttered. We walked in silence, which I have to admit, was really awkward. I looked over at his face, and I noticed that he was intensely blushing. He then proceeded to trip over a rock, and fell face first into the dirt. "Are you okay?!" I asked while bending down to help him up. I couldn't help but laugh a little. He blushed even more. "aww, you're so cute when you blush!" I taunted. "Sorry, I was thinking and didn't notice the rock." He replied, taking my hand. I pulled all of my weight backwards, and he came up in a flash. He was lighter than I had expected, and I fell pulling him down with me. We both laughed a ton, and finally stood up. "Well, that beats awkward silence," he laughed, barely able to get the words out. "You bet," I replied. The wind was still blowing, and now that I wasn't distracted, it was cold. I started to walk, and finally saw the cottage up ahead. I pointed and said, "That's where you'll stay. My dad already brought luggage up to the house, so you just need to unpack." "Thanks, it's nice that I don't have to go back up to the truck, while it's freezing out here." "You bet. My dad probably didn't mind, it was only one duffel bag. Oh yeah, I forgot to ask, but after you unpack, do you want to come and eat dinner with me and my dad?" He thought for a second, then said, "Yeah, sure." "Great," I replied. We walked up to the cottage, and opened the door. A blast of warm air greeted us. Zach grabbed his duffel bag, and rushed inside. "Do you want some help unpacking?" I asked. "Nah, I know where the house is, so I'll meet you up there in five minutes." He unzipped his bag, and as I was about to go out the door, he shouted, "Hey, Bell!" I turned around, and he threw me an oversized sweater. "Thanks, it would have been a cold, lonely, three and a half acre walk to get to my house." I joked. He laughed and waved me off. I slipped the sweater on, and looked at the words. They were a Y and a C with the C overlapping the Y. I also liked how it smelled, because it smelled like Zach. I hugged myself then walked down to the house.

Back Track Rat

by Isabella
(California)

Photo credit: AgencjaAIAC

"Dad, I hate going to the racetrack! Please don't make me go!" I was super mad at my dad for taking a job at a local racetrack. I hated racetracks because there were plenty of thoroughbred horses at Pleasant View Downs that would make good show jumpers and dressage horses.

"Maybe if you come, you can find a horse that you like and can buy." I smiled, "Well then, why are we just standing here!"

I ran into my dad's little gold truck. I had brought the 10,000 dollars I had saved up to buy a horse. I couldn't wait to get to the track.

When we got to the racetrack, it was cold and windy. My dirty blonde hair was now brown, so my dad and I ran into the barn for cover. I had never seen so many good horses in one barn before! They were pampered so much that they were spoiled rotten, and even though this was a small town racetrack, these horses were worth hundreds if thousands if dollars.

One mare caught my eye. A groom was leading her out. She was a light dapple grey roan. I noticed that all four of her legs were bandaged. My dad noticed that I was looking at her.

"That's Back Track Rat. She isn't very good on the track. Her owners have her in a claiming race today. Her price is 5,000 dollars." I looked on the program and saw she was in the second race. "Dad, where do I go to claim her?" He told me that he would take me over to where I needed to go and I placed a claim on her. Now I just had to wait.

"Riders up!"

The horses were all very tense from all of the commotion and a few almost unseated their riders. After the horses warmed up, they loaded them in the starting gates. Back Track Rat had the outside position of 10. The track was super sloppy, and she seemed to be handling the mud well. "And away they go!"

Back Track Rat was the first horse out, but quickly lost her lead to the favorite, see me now. All if the other horses were far behind and they all were slipping and sliding, but not these two. They were turning into the homestretch already because they started in the backstretch.

See Me Now started to falter! The lead belonged to Back Track Rat! She was effortlessly pulling away! She was so close to the finish, everyone just knew she was the winner!

Then, she suddenly spooked and jumped from the dirt track and into the turf! Her footing quickly gave way, and she fell down onto the ground, her jockey thrown violently from her back! She was down and out if the race!

"No! This can't happen!" I yelled. Before my dad could stop me, I was running down from the grandstand and running as fast as I could to the track. The other horses ran past me, and I ran down to Back Track Rat.

Okay guys, tell me what you think. I will have the next three paragraphs up tomorrow! :)