by
Lynn Hansirisawat
"
orry, no improvement." Dr. Humphrey said. My parents looked disappointed. Beth looked so sad that she thought she might cry. Beth was extremely sensitive. She had learned several days ago that she was diagnosed with cancer. She had been in and out of the hospital all week long.
I, Liza Johnson was shocked, surprised, and scared at the horrifying truth, it was as if someone had turned off a bright light that I was used to.
Was she going to die? No. The doctor had promised us that Beth had a curable type of cancer. We were happier, but the world was still a blur. My friends were still and quiet. All the houses on our block were empty and dark. My house, once small and cheerful was big and gloomy. Life was getting tough.
Every day I'd pour my feelings into my diary. It's green cover was worn. The pages were wrinkled. The lock was tricky. Today, I had come home so tried I just wrote. The drive home from the hospital seemed endless. Mom and Dad were upstairs talking quietly. Beth was in here room sleeping. So, I pulled out my diary and wrote:
Dear Diary,I'm so tired! I didn't get any sleep last night. I fell asleep in class today. Mr. Reed went crazy! If only he knew how hard this past week has been! But I can't tell the class that my older sister had cancer! I'm already in a mess!
Soon, I fell asleep. I hadn't done homework or eaten dinner. What was in store for me tomorrow?
"This is not naptime, Ms. Johnson!" I jerked my head upright. I was not in a cozy bed or even at home for that matter. I was at Foreston Elementary School at my desk. Mr. Reed was beside me and everyone was laughing. Everyone except Mr. Reed, that is. He had a big frown on his face. I squinted at the blackboard. It was a bit hard to see tiny letters from the third row. N? A? T? H? Nath? No, that couldn't be right. I peered at the board again. Oh, math. Wait, there's something else. Math test! A locker burned inside my stomach. I didn't even study! My stomach churned as I copied down the division problems.
The rest of the day didn't go any better. I "ate" lunch alone. Actually, I didn't take a bite. I just picked at my sandwich and chased the slimy, disgusting beans around my tray with my plastic fork. During art, I dropped a jar of glitter and had to pick every little sparkle up. No one stopped to help me. At recess, a boy liberatingly hit me in the face with a basketball. On the walk home, I stared at the sidewalk, not bothering answer Beth's noisy friends who questioned me all the way home.
Of course the next day didn't go any better. Another miserable day. Another day. But the following day wasn't "just" a day. It was great! Mainly because I had made a WONDERFUL discovery. Of course I had wanted Beth's illness to be cured. I was in the library, reading out of the encyclopedia when I saw an article: P; Pendleton Relays, the. I read and read and by the end of the library period I had learned that the Pendleton Relays was an annual bicycle race that earned money for the Pendleton Hospital. (My sister's hospital!) The money would be used on complex diseases such cancer and AIDS.
I had to get an entry form. This was my golden opportunity to help! After 3 weeks of searching the internet, looking for Pendleton Relays infomercials on TV, calling strange hotlines and waiting for the form in the mail; now finally, I was holding one in my hand. The race was 5 miles long. In order for money to be donated the winner of the race had to beat last year's time which was… 5:49! I began to feel uncomfortable. Even so, I was amazed that it didn't hold me back. Usually, I wasn't very self-confident. So, the race was on April 13th. April 13th. April 13th. April 13th. 13th. The words echoed through my mind like a ping pong ball bouncing against the paddle. Going back and forth. Again and again.
I practiced day and night. I kept pushing myself to go faster. Every day it was the same thing. Wake up, practice, eat breakfast, practice, go to school, come home, practice, eat dinner, practice, go to bed. Over and over again. It seemed as if the day of the race would come. February. March. April 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. April 9, 10, 11. April 12…April 13! The big day had finally come! Mom and dad were watching in the stands. I lined up exactly behind the white line along with 20 other people. I skimmed the track with my eyes. In the distance, exactly 5 miles from starting was Pendleton Hospital. The finish was going to be the hospital's parking lot. I looked at my surrounding space. I gripped the handles of my bike. I clenched my teeth. They would start soon. Ready, get set, GO! The whistle blasted. I took off. I was doing well. I had gotten a good start. There were 6 people ahead of me. Now 5, Now 4. Faster! Faster! I commanded myself. Acros! s fields, through mud piles over the trail. Now 3. Now 2. I pedaled so hard that my legs ached. Now 1! I nervously glanced at the clock. 4:51! Oh, no! Faster, faster! FASTER! For a brief moment, while I was passing the competitor, it almost felt like a dream. I was in the lead! Sweat streamed down my face. M heart began to pound. I was gripping so tight, my knuckles turned white. I could hear the crowd yelling my name. Johnson, Johnson, Johnson! I zoomed across the track, daring to hope. Suddenly, everything was in slow motion. Nearing the finish line. The ribbon tearing. The crowd standing and cheering. I had never felt so happy! I looked at the score board, 5:32! Then, I looked at the building from the window, Beth had actually watched the race! She smiled. At long last, she could sleep peacefully. I had done my part. I loved her. I looked up to her too.
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