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CHAPTER 38 PAGE 145-148
Maniac Magee
The race was set up on Plum street, between Ash and Jackson in the east end of town that was occupied by the black people. By the time Mars Bar and I were ready to start the race half of the kid of the east end were there. From the tiniest children to the tallest people in town. The little kids ran their own races from curb to curb on the street, the bigger kids dug into their pockets for money to bet with.
Mother leaned of second story windows. Traffic was detoured from both ends of the block
Nobody could find a string for the finish line, so a second story mother dropped a spool of bright pink thread. Then there was another problem which I think is crazy, no one could seam to draw a straight line for the starting line. Finally, someone brought out a yard stick to do it right.
The next problem was when Bump Gilliam, Mars bars best bud, called, Get ready! and someone in the crowd yelled that aint what you say you say take your mark!
Then there was almost a fistfight over the proper way to start a race.
This whole time Im thinking well this is Marss territory and he wont let me win no matter what. When Bump called, get ready on your mark! of course someone screeched, Go Mars! then came a Smoke Im Mars! and Do the honk, Bar man! I was about to call oh you underestimate me huh and unexpectedly someone screamed, Burn Im Magee! and it was my bud Hands Down.
Bump then jumped to the let-up Get set go! and at long last, back stiff from my wait at the starting we ran. I didnt know how to run the race, I just wanted to win but what where the consequences if I did win?
Before you could say Burn Im Magee! I was in the lead the pink spool of thread bobbing in my sights; however, I never saw my self break the thread, I never saw my self cross the finish line, all I say was the face of Mars Bar straining, gasping, losing.
They went crazy. They went wild. They went totally bananas!
You see him!?!? He turned a-round!
He ran backwards!
He did it backwards!
He beat Im going backwards!
Mars bar tried. He shoved Bump You started too fast! He shoved the thread holders You moved it up so he could win! and he shoved me You bumped me, you cheated! But all his protest was drowned out by all the pandemonium.
Mars Bar
The race was set up on Plum street the block between Ash and Jackson. By the time we were ready to start the race half the kids of the east end were all here to watch me beat that fish belly. Oh yeah more people to get me motivated and watch me win oh yeah. From the littlest pipsqueaks to high-schoolers. The big kids dug into their pockets to beat on me with, the Bar man.
No one could find a string for my body to break to call my win. Eventually a second story mother dropped down a spool of bright pink string. Perfecto! I thought. And of course, another problem occurred, no one could draw a straight line for the starting line. The start of my victory against fish belly over there. Finally, someone got a yard stick and did it right.
The next problem was when my best bud, Bump Gilliam, called, Get ready! and someone yelled, That aint what you say, you say on your mark! Then there was nearly a fistfight over the proper way to start a race. Finally, there was a compromise and Bump called, Get ready on your mark! Oh, I was ready to toast Magee! Then someone yelled, Go Mars! and smoke Im Mars! then Waste Im Mars! and Do the honk, Bar man! oh yeah. Burn Im Magee! It was Hands Down, oh how I hate that kid.
Bump jumped to the let-up Get set go! and I ran. No way Mr. white boy Magee aint winning I know that for sure. This is the east end my territory aint no way Im losing to a white fish belly. Then it went so fast, I saw Magees face. NOOOO IM LOSING!
You see him?!?! He turned a-round!
He ran backwards!
He did it backwards!
He beat Im going backwards!
I tried to tell everyone Magee cheated. I shoved the string holders, I shoved Bump, I shoved Magee. They all cheated but my protest were drowned out by all the pandemonium.
