Skateboard Tough by Matt Christopher

Author:Matt Christopher [CHRISTOPHER, MATT]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV001000
ISBN: 9780316045803
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2008-11-16T05:00:00+00:00

It took a few more days for the workers to finish the blacktop, because special bumps, curbs, and banked sides had to be included. Then a six-foot-high chain-link fence was built around it. Mrs. Weatherspoon was wise to do that, Brett thought, to keep every kid, cat, and dog in the neighborhood from overrunning the place.

Brett was there when the last bolt was tightened, when the men cleaned up the mess they had made and drove away, leaving the blacktopped arena looking clean, shiny, and ready for action.

But that wasn’t all. Two more men arrived, each carrying a wooden ramp. “Where do you want these?” one of them asked Brett.

Brett thought a minute, then said, “One on each side.”

The men placed the ramps on opposite sides of the rink. One of them said, “Have a good skate,” as they walked out.

“Well, it’s ready, Brett,” Mrs. Weatherspoon said, admiring it alongside him. “It’s ready for you, and for your friends.”

His heart thumped like a clock gone mad. “Oh, Mrs. Weatherspoon, I can hardly believe my eyes. This is what I’ve dreamed about, what I was wishing somebody would do. Only I never dreamed it would be you, Mrs. Weatherspoon. You’re the best.” He paused, tears choking his throat. “I’ll call up some of my friends, and I’ll be back with my skateboard.”

Mrs. Weatherspoon gave him a pat on the back. “You do that,” she said. “Meanwhile, I’ll bring my chair back here.”

He sped home, phoned a few guys—even W.E.—then got The Lizard and skated over to Mrs. Weatherspoon’s backyard.

The brand-new blacktop was terrific to skate on. Brett did a dozen various freestyle tricks while Mrs. Weatherspoon sat on the stoop, watching him. He was alone so far, the first kid ever to skate on her rink, and it looked as though she was enjoying herself as much as he was. Who would’ve known that behind that quiet, solemn face lurked one of the kindest, most generous persons he’d ever known?

He did a Gymnast Plant on a ramp, then a High Air, launching as high as he could off the edge of the ramp; his landing was greeted by an explosion of sound from the entrance of the rink. Wheeling to a stop, he saw that some of the guys had arrived and were giving him a hand for the High Air.

He laughed, and waved them in.

“Hey! This is great!” one of the guys cried, pushing off on his skateboard and going into a trick. Others echoed the cry.

“Thank that lady over there!” Brett yelled, pointing at Mrs. Weatherspoon. “This is her place!”

“Thanks, Mrs. Weatherspoon!” the guys all yelled at the same time.

She just sat there, answering their thanks with a pleased smile and a gentle wave of her hand.

“Just be careful,” she cautioned.

“Don’t worry! We will!” they replied.

Brett wasn’t surprised when he saw W.E. introduce himself to Mrs. Weatherspoon and sit down beside her. No doubt, knowing W.E.’s talkative nature, they’d become good friends in no time.Mrs. Weatherspoon would probably learn more about skateboarding than she ever cared to, Brett mused.

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