State Race

June 4th, 2044- Saturday

The boy with slick straight, black hair looks over at Rise as the runners line up by the white line. They stand next to each other, their bodies radiating heat from the hot black track and into the warm air around them. There is little room between all the high school runners in formation for the 3200-meter race in a running stance, their bodies still and ready like springs. There is a pounding in Rise’s ears and a turning in his stomach. The turning in his stomach feels like pirate ships battling in ocean waves as he feels sick, not the normal nervousness, but truly sick. Perhaps he has caught the stomach flu or seasonal flu, but Rise thinks it is perhaps only something he ate that upset his stomach. He wipes sweat off his brow. Does it feel hot? Yes. It couldn’t possibly be a fever deduced from Rise convincing himself to shake off the sick feeling inside. Regardless he stands ready to run with the rest of the competitors to race for the finish line.

The light breeze blows through the quiet in Rise’s ears. He lets out a breath through his mouth on the last exhale the track gun pops.

Bam!

The teenagers' bodies are off onto the track, their feet striking the ground with quickness and grace. The first turn comes up fast in a blink of an eye. The unease of his stomach is forgotten for the first two laps of the race. Rise stays close to the front of the pack right behind the boy with straight black hair- Han.

An hour before the race Rise walks into the white bathrooms of the event into the small shining stone building. Similar to the exterior beauty, the bathrooms are clean and pristine with a sparkle. Inside the bathroom is a heavy scent of cleaning chemicals. Because of the scent Rise’s stomach does a flip inside his already upset stomach. A lump of something came up in Rise’s throat, the half sandwich he ate some minutes ago. He quickly rushes to the nearest stall, pushing the red door open, not even bothering closing the door. The door bounces off the hinges in a booming sound while Rise throws up the contents in his stomach. Emptying his insides until there is nothing left. He flushes down the contents without taking a second glance.

At the sink Rise rinses his mouth with splashes of cold water. There are other runners nearby.

“Hey, are you alright?” asks a voice on the sink next to Rise.

Rise looks up to see a runner with jet-black hair that covers his eyebrows like curtains. The runner stands a few inches taller than him in a white outfit.

“Yes, I am alright thanks bro,” says Rise.

The boy wipes his hand on a paper towel and extends his hand in a fist bump saying, “The name is Han.”

Rise bumps his fist and says, “It's Rise.”

Han smiles and nods heading out of the bathroom. Rise wipes the last drops of water off his hands and heads out the door. Out into the blinding sunshine Rise walks until he finds Coach Duke among the crowd of people. He asks him for some stomach medications. They sit down in the bleachers made of metal under a shaded portion of the tent. Coach Duke pulls open his duffle bag retrieving the medication in a small pink bottle.

“Can you still run?” asks Coach Duke, dropping the circular tablets into Rise’s palm.

“Yes, Coach,” says Rise, forcing a smile through the uncomfortable rumble in his stomach. His throat seems to squish from the inside giving him a taste.

The first mile of the race is finished when Rise feels the same nauseous feeling in his throat. He tries to focus his attention elsewhere in his body. The green grass blends with the gray of the bleachers as Rise runs in a blur with the runner around the track. Rise and Han advance to the lead of the front pack. They pull apart from the other runners as they turn up the speed on the last lap and a half. Han is two steps ahead and is closer to the track’s inside than Rise on lane number one. Seeing Haan’s black hair from behind him, Rise follows on the last lap. They run faster and faster until turning the corner of the last lap’s homestretch. Han breaks into a full sprint which Rise follows after just a few inches behind. The race finishes with Rise in second place. Rise takes a few steps into the infield. The feeling of nausea overtakes his senses and Rise doubles over on the side of the track. He heaves the water he drank before starting the race. Although he tries to heave more there is nothing left inside him. His mouth swallows the little saliva left a sense of relief floods him. Rise looks back at the finish line, Han is shaking the hands of the other competitors.

Away from the field, Rise walks to meet his parents. Kevin, his friend, has also made it to the state meet.

“Wow, that was exciting!” says Kevin.

“Yeah, it was,” says Rise, catching his breath.

Man gives Rise some water. Rise only takes a small sip. the water feels refreshing in his throat. Pa is waiting in the bleachers for them having set down a sweater to save a spot for them.

“Good job kiddo!” says Pa beaming at Rise.

Rise sits next to his Pa and waits for the awards ceremony. The events wrap up shortly after on the track. Soon after it is time to give out medals and ribbons.

“Rise Prongs!” says the booming voice overhead.

Rise walks down across the field to receive his second-place red ribbon and a small metallic medal. Han stands next to him with his own blue ribbon and medal. Han turns to Rise as they head back to the bleachers walking across the grass. Han stops at the end of the track to extend his hand.

“Until next time,” says Han.

“Bet on it,” says Rise as their brown eyes interlock, shaking hands firmly.

Coach Light, the head coach, talks to all the athletes from Bakersfield High School who participated along with Rise. They stand under the white lights of a lamp post outside of the stadium. Rise moves his feet in circular motions to feel the blood circulating after sitting down for long minutes. The athletes are called into a small circle around the coach.

“Even though it is summer, have fun and practice at your pace,” says Coach Light.

The state meet ends in the late afternoon and all the cars pull away from the parking lot and nearby parking areas.

In the car with Kevin next to him in his Pa’s truck, they talk about the start of the summer. Country music fills the back of the truck with steady, cheerful tunes. With the windows down it helps ease Rise's lingering nausea. With curiosity Kevin asks to look at the medal, tracing the metal groves on the front with his index finger.

“It’s cool!” says Kevin.

“Yeah, I’ll hang it in my room,” says Rise. Kevin hands back the medal into Rise’s hand. The weight of the metal presses on Rise’s throat, and he tucks it under his light jacket. A silver windbreaker that regulates body heat well. His jacket blows with the wind from the window, the wind blowing from the night is refreshing. From the window look into the setting sunset of pink hues among the blue backdrop. He is ready to run in the summer. Rise wonders about the boy Han and if he will see him again.