Clotheslines

                                                                Clotheslines

                                                          By Daryl Campbell



         “Clothesline!” Kristofer yells, flying over the wire.

         Behind him, Tony and Mandy avoid the clothesline too.

         “Good thing we decided to practice for the races,” Tony says.

         “This is gonna be the last race.” Kristofer lands on the clothesline.

         “Could've cost someone first place.” Mandy lands too.

         “This is the backyard for the championship,” Kristofer says.

         “We have to tell somebody.” Mandy flaps her wings.

         “Not yet.”

         “Why not?” Tony asks.

         “That brown bully, Neal, can be beat through this backyard,” Kristofer answers.

         “Good idea.” Mandy flies higher.

         “I wanna beat him,” Tony agrees, “and that yellow and black friend of his.”

         “Cordula?” Mandy asks.

         “Yeah, Cordula.”

         “Then we keep this secret.” Kristofer flies away.

         The three blue and black dragonflies fly out of the backyard and sign in for the races.

         Kristofer's in the first race against Ruby, a dragonfly with a red tail and wings, Lance, a big black and brown, and Cordula.

         The race starts and Ruby and Cordula jump out to big leads with Lance right behind. By the time the dragonflies get to the top of the wooden fence, Kristofer is closing in on the other three. He lifts over the fence and swoops down near the ground on the other side. Ruby and Cordula make a quick turn around a giant tree, then spin around the wires of a black clothesline.

         As they circle the tree, Kristofer flies close to the trunk and passes Lance before they reach the clothesline. He goes under the clothesline and flies for the fence at the far side of the yard.

         Ruby and Cordula reach the fence first, flying up and over, but Kristofer's fast and enters the next yard almost even. The dragonflies weave around trees and twist between blue and red clotheslines. The race returns to the fence, over it, and then to the finish line. Cordula wins, but Kristofer passes Ruby near the end and lands in some tall grass to catch his breath.

         “Second place.” Mandy lands.

         “Yep, second place.” Kristofer smiles. “I started slow.”

         “But you're in the next race,” Tony says.

         “I'll have to do better. You're race is gonna start.”

         “Wish us luck.” Mandy flies for the starting line.

         “Wish me luck.” Tony laughs.

         “Good luck to both of you.”

         In the second race, Tony and Mandy are racing against Amanda, a green and yellow dragonfly with red eyes, and Neal.

         The race starts and Neal takes the lead. He's over the first fence and flying through clotheslines before the other three get into the backyard. Tony nearly catches up at the second fence, but Neal rolls sideways and bumps him. Tony misses the turn, flies through some low branches, and tumbles to the ground. Mandy flies over the fence, between two trees, and turns around the clothesline pole. She's too slow to catch Neal, but beats Amanda to the finish line. The dragonflies clap and yell for Mandy.

         “Maybe next time,” Mandy tells Tony.

         “If Neal wouldn't have pushed me,” Tony says.

         “At least you have an excuse. You would've lost to me in the final anyway.” Kristofer laughs.

         “The next race is starting,” Tony says.

         The third race is as exciting as the first two. Amber, a new girl, is in her first race. She's a big, black and yellow dragonfly with gold eyes. Hunter, a black and yellow with green eyes, and Slaty, a small dragonfly with black and white wings are in the race too. Only the winner goes to the final and its Slaty.

         Kristofer heads to the starting line early. He and Mandy know about the new clothesline in the final yard and he knows he can win. Kristofer, Mandy, Cordula, Neal, and Slaty take their places and wait for the race to start.

         “On your mark, get set, GO!”

         Neal's in the lead quick, but Kristofer's right behind him. The two fly as hard as they can, reaching the fence to the first back yard at nearly the same time. They're up and over the wooden fence before Cordula and Slaty get there. Mandy stops and lands on some red and pink flowers.

         Neal turns around a large tree then another before flying along a red clothesline. He spreads his wings, rolls over the line and under a purple one on the other side. Kristofer goes through the clotheslines and heads for a tree on the other side of the yard. He and Neal are breathing hard by the time they get to the tree, but Kristofer makes the turn quicker and is in the lead going into the next backyard.

         Neal bumps Kristofer, forcing him into the branches of a nearby tree. Kristofer avoids the branches, and flies for the middle of the yard. He sees the green clotheslines and knows Neal doesn't.

         “There's a clothesline, Neal!” Kristofer yells.

         “Don't try to trick me!” Neal yells back.

         “I'm serious, Neal! A clothesline!” Kristofer yells again.

         “Out of my way, Kristofer!”

         Kristofer doesn't want Neal to get hurt and has an idea. Before they get to the clothesline, he spreads his wings and slows down. Neal flies under him, missing the clothesline. Kristofer lands on the clothesline and waits for Cordula and Slaty to get there. They see the danger, thanking him when they fly by. Jumping off the line, Kristofer flies around the trees and over the fence. Neal's holding a trophy when Kristofer gets to the finish line.

         “You did the right thing,” Tony tells him. “And you didn't finish last.”

         Mandy flies over the fence holding a pink and red flower.

         “I did do the right thing, didn't I?”

         “There's always next week's races.” Tony flies to the finish line to wait for Mandy.

         “Yes and I'll win next week.” Kristofer smiles.