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This is the story of how Torry and Arite met. On a cold September day Torry was walking along when this 7-year-old started tugging on his arm. He’d seen this kid around before but he really didn’t know him. In fact Torry didn’t even know the kids name.
“Follow me!” the kid said.
Torry really didn’t know what to do. The 7-year-old boy went on ahead. He looked behind and saw that Torry was still standing at the side of the road in confusion.
“Come on!” the kid yelled.
As if grasped by some unknown force, Torry slowly followed him. They walked across the new bridge over the Dreosin River. After about half an hour of walking they turned left. They walked for 5 more houses then the kid stopped.
“This is my house,” he explained. “Come in.”
Torry decided if he’d walked this far he might as well come in. Inside he found a gloomy surprise. The house was almost empty of furniture. One of their beds, the dining room table and chairs, one couch, and a few other thing were all that remained. On the couch was a sad looking couple.
“Obviously the kid’s parents,” thought Torry.
On the floor beside them was a 4-year-old looking at a flattened part of the carpet where some furniture used to be. The father got up and spoke.
“Forgive us for the inconvenience, but we had to sell most of the furniture to get some money.”
“Why?” asked Torry.
He got a chair from the dining room table and put it next to the couch. The 7-year-old boy sat beside his mother.
“Out entire life savings has been stolen,” the father stated. He paused to let the words sink in and then continued.
“About $9000 worth plus the TV set.”
He points to the flat spot in the carpet.
“Where do I come in?” interrupted Torry.
He knew they had to want him for something. He knew they didn’t invite him over just to tell him their sad story.
Suddenly he came to his senses. “Why didn’t the insurance company pay for it?” he questioned.
“We never bought insurance,” the father reluctantly explained. “Since no one knew we had the money, we thought there was no reason to waste money insuring it. I guess we were wrong.”
“And where do I come in?” repeated Torry.
“Well over at Jesterville High School they’re having a series of contests,” answered the father. “You are able to be in the youngest age bracket. The winner gets $100, 2nd gets $50, and 3rd gets $25. We will pay your entrance fee. You will give us 75% of your winnings. If you don’t win any money don’t worry. You’re just a back up for someone else.”
Just then the door opened.
“This is our oldest son,” explained the mother. “Forgive him. He’s a little troublesome. Kurt, this is Torry, the back up I’ve told you about.”
“Artie don’t need no backup!” yelled Kurt. “Why he could run circles around this Torry dude!”
Torry didn’t want to stay and listen to Kurt yell at him and brag about Artie. Torry quietly left as Kurt and his mother yelled at each other. The father noticed that Torry was gone and went out after him. He saw Torry going just around the curb.
“Be at the high school on Saturday at 7:30!” he shouted after him.
“Morning or night?” asked Torry.
“Morning,” he replied. Then he went back inside to take over the argument.
“Yuck! That’s what I thought,” Torry muttered to himself.
That was Tuesday. On Thursday Bill found out Torry had entered the contest and signed up too. Bill loved showing he was superior to Torry and his friends. Especially Torry since he seemed to be the leader of the group.
While Torry, Bill, and some of the others were preparing for the race; Artie was also preparing for the race. He was good at all the events in the race, except the cross country run at the very end. He hoped he would get a big enough lead in the other events that the cross country run wouldn’t be needed.
Saturday came sooner than expected. Many people entered and even more came to watch; including the Trims, Torry’s family and friends, and the family he had entered for.
After they were divided into age groups, there were only 5 other people besides Torry. Torry looked around at the competitors. Bill smiled at Torry in a way that said he was going to win. Torry tried to ignore him. He looked around at the rest of the competition. There was a chubby boy, a skinny girl (not quite as bad as they sound), and someone at Torry’s school he knew he could beat. Then he saw a black guy about 6 feet tall and only half a year older than he was.
“That must be Artie,” he thought. “It sure will be hard to beat him … Hold it! We’re teammates.”
Torry decided he should introduce himself. He went over to Artie and shook hands with him.
“Hi, my name is Torry. Your backup,” said Torry sarcastically.
Artie’s reply was not as bad as he thought it would be.
“My name is Artie,” Artie replied. “as you already know. See you at the finish line.”
Just then the official of the event spoke in the microphone. He explained the prize money and where the entrance fee went. Then he went on with how it was made possible, how the age groups were divided, who was in charge of each age group, and many other not so important things. Then he described the events.
“… The series of events are; the 100 yard dash, the long jump, the bicycle race, the baseball throw, the obstacle course, the high jump, and the cross country run. In each event the winner will get 20 points, 2nd – 10, 3rd – 6, 4th – 3, 5th – 1, and no points for 6th and after. The one with the highest number of total points will win. Good luck to each of you. Now let’s begin.”
The first event was the 100 yard dash. Arite ran ahead of everybody. Torry was just able to pass Bill and come in 2nd. Bill came in 3rd. Artie would have won the long jump too, but Bill cheated. It looked like Bill won by an inch. Artie came in 2nd and Torry took 3rd.
In the bicycle race Torry tried as hard as he could to beat Artie. Artie could have won easily come in 1st, but Torry was his backup so he decided to just keep the pace. Torry and Artie tied for 1st. Even cheating, with a faster bicycle, Bill was unable to keep up and came in 2nd. Torry was all out of breath. He was glad the baseball throw was next. Artie looked like a sure win, but it wasn’t over yet.
In the baseball throw, Torry’s schoolmate surprised everyone by winning the event. Bill had a device that attracted the baseball to Artie. The official thought it was weird but couldn’t find any signs of cheating. Artie and Bill tied for 2nd. Torry came in 3rd.
In the obstacle course, Torry and Artie kept pace again. This time Torry’s schoolmate passed them at the home stretch. Torry and Artie tied for 2nd. Bill came in 3rd fairly.
In the high jump, Torry’s schoolmate and the chubby boy were out in the first round. Then Artie in the 3rd (or so he thought). Bill made the bar fall down without anyone noticing. In the 7th round the skinny girl was the only one who made it. Of course this was her event. Torry and Bill tied for 2nd. Artie managed 3rd.
Torry looked up at the score card for his age group. Artie was ahead with 76 points, Torry and Bill were tied for 2nd with 62 each, Torry’s school mate was next with 55, the skinny girl had 31, and the chubby boy had 6. The cross country run was to be held Sunday at one. All of them trained for the race.
Sunday came in a hurry. Torry felt nervous. Artie knew he needed at least 2nd to secure his lead. Bill was thinking of ways to cheat.
The cross country run started in the wilderness, twisted and turned through the wilderness, then turned back to the school, and ended with a lap around the track. This was a total of 5 kilometers (or about 3 miles). To prevent short cuts there were 7 check points placed at random.
The starter gun was fired. Artie started out with a big lead, followed by Bill, Torry’s schoolmate, Torry, the skinny girl, and the chubby boy. Soon Artie started dropping back. Torry passed his schoolmate and started moving in on Bill.
They passed checkpoints 1, 2, and 3. Then without warning Bill pushed Torry. He had to move up all over again. They passed checkpoints 4 and 5. The race stayed very close for a long distance race. Quietly Torry passed Bill. By the time Bill realized this it was too late. Artie tried once more and passed Torry’s schoolmate. They passed checkpoint 6.
Then disaster happened. Bill pushed Torry right into a tree. The crystal fell out. He stayed there unnoticed as the others passed him. He was too weak to move or call out for help.
Slowly he reached for the crystal. He changed into a cheetah. He did not consider it cheating; just undoing Bill’s cheating. He passed the chubby boy, then the skinny girl. Bill reached checkpoint 7. In a hidden spot Torry changed back. Well not quite he changed back to what he would have been like if Bill hadn’t pushed him into the tree.
Artie, Torry’s schoolmate, and Torry reached checkpoint 7 at about the same time. Torry moved up. After some very fierce competition Torry passed his schoolmate. Could he do it?
Torry caught up with Artie. Slowly he passed him. He ran out of the woods in time to see Bill enter the school. He could still beat him. Torry ran at full speed. Bill ran on what he thought was his victory lap. Torry tried sneaking up on Bill but the cheering gave him away. Torry was gaining. At the last quarter of a lap, Torry went ahead.
Bill tried to trip Torry. This only caused Torry to stumble, however Bill was able to take the lead again. Torry and Bill were neck and neck approaching the finish line. Torry stretched for the tape. Not thinking Bill gave Torry one last push. Torry was able to keep his balance until after he crossed the finish line. After that he fell down, hard.
It was so close not one of them knew who won. They had to check the photo finish. Meanwhile Artie was able to pull ahead of Torry’s schoolmate and come in 3rd. The audience was mumbling about who won. A few of Torry’s friends in front saw Bill pushed him. They yelled at the official but he ignored them.
The official looked at the pictures and studied them carefully. Torry waited patiently. Slowly the official went up to the microphone.
“The winner,” he began deliberately slow. “… is … Torry by about two tenths of a second. Torry and Artie are tied for 1st. A rematch will take place next week. Bill has 3rd all by himself.”
“A rematch between us,” thought Torry. “That will show Kurt. I might even win.”
“HOLD IT!” exclaimed the official. “Wait! Hold everything! One of the pictures shows Bill pushing Torry. Bill is disqualified. We will figure out what the score would be if Bill didn’t take part in any of the events.”
Bill quickly ran out of the school zone. He didn’t want to stay around and get booed.
After a few minutes of talking to the score keepers, the official came towards the microphone once again.
“We are proud to announce the true winner of the youngest division,” explained the official. “The winner, with 96 points, is Artie.”
The crowd cheered as Artie went over to collect his prize money.
“Second place, with 86 points, is Torry,” the official added. “Third …”
Torry didn’t want to hear anymore. He tried his best, yet it still wasn’t enough. Slowly he walked up to collect his prize money. The crowd cheered for him, but not as loudly as they cheered for Artie. All of Torry’s friends went over to congratulate him. Only Mr. Trim could see that Torry was not completely satisfied.
“Second place isn’t all that bad,” said Mr. Trim. “You beat 4 other people and you came in 1st in the cross country even with Bill cheating.”
Torry appreciated Mr. Trim trying to cheer him up, but it just didn’t do much good. He turned away. He walked with Artie to deliver their promised share of the money to the family. They talked along the way.
When they got there, Kurt answered the door.
“Who won?” he asked.
“I came in first and Torry came in second,” Artie replied.
“I told you Artie would win,” Kurt yelled.
To Torry’s surprise, Artie stood up for him.
“Now listen,” he commanded. “Torry worked hard to give you this money. Much harder than I did. Maybe Torry didn’t win, but he sure gave his all. I’d like to see you do something like that.”
Kurt was silent.
Torry and Artie went upstairs, delivered Kurt’s parents’ share of the money to them, and left without saying a word. After they closed the door, Torry smiled.
“Thanks,” he said.
“Kurt’s like that to everyone,” Artie replied. “You just have to know how to handle him.”
Torry may have lost the race, but he’d gained a friend, something far more important.
Bill explained what had happened to Bill and Kenny.
Unknown to them Mr. Trim had followed them in. After looking around, he found $9000 and a color TV. Mr. Trim knew he couldn’t leave quietly with a color TV, so he left with the $9000. After Torry explained what had happened, Mr. Trim returned the money to its rightful owners.
They had to buy new furniture and were still short one TV. With the remainder of the money, they bought a new TV. The rest was put in the bank.
The couple went out to look for an insurance policy. They weren’t taking any more chances.
Several days later Jack, Bill, and Kenny found out what had happened. This made them mad.
“It was planned perfectly. How did they know who stole it?” wondered Kenny.
Jack, Bill, and Kenny made yet more plans to steal Mr. Trim’s inventions. They were still unaware that they had to deal with Artie too.
Three weeks went by. It was a cold October day. Torry was walking along when the same 7-year-old kid started tugging on his arm.
“Not again,” gasped Torry.
“Thank you, Torry,” the 7-year-old cried out.
Torry was very relieved. He’d had enough races for one year.
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