Up the Creek by Natalie Hyde

Author:Natalie Hyde [Hyde, Natalie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781443175753
Publisher: Scholastic Canada Ltd
Published: 2021-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

HEARTBREAK HILL

It seemed like everyone in Dawson was out to watch the Midnight Dome Run. The yearly foot race to the top of Dome Hill, which rose up behind Dawson, had been postponed twice because of all the rain that had rolled in across the Ogilvie Mountains in July. It had been pretty wet so far this summer. Dawsonites are tough, but the road was too slick for runners, race officials and spectators to get up to the top safely, especially with no guardrails on the sharp turns. So, today was the re-race. Luckily even though it was August, it was still light out at midnight. We all gathered downtown by the Palace Grand Theatre to see the runners off. Then we were going to drive to the top of Dome Hill to wait at the finish line. Anna had baked some scones for post-race refreshments and we had to deliver them.

“Did Anna say what kind of scones she baked?” Neils asked me quietly, when Anna was busy talking to Mrs. Simms, the volunteer coordinator.

“Cranberry something or other,” I said.

“Ooooh, cranberry-lemon, I bet.” He looked over at the truck, where Anna’s scones were in a box on the seat. “I wonder if she’d notice …”

As if she sensed what Neils was thinking, Anna turned around and stared at him. She strode over, a steely look in her eye. “If you try to scoff one of those scones, Neils Amundson,” she said, “I’ll cut your hands off.”

“Would they really miss just one scone?” he wheedled.

“Okay, you can have one …”

Neils’s eyes lit up.

“… if you run the race. They’ll be on the ‘Runner Recovery’ table at the finish line.”

Neils’s face fell. “Are there any left at home?”

“Nope.”

“I’ll see if I can borrow some running shoes,” he muttered, walking away.

Anna leaned over to me. “I kept a few back for his lunch,” she said, in a low voice. “But don’t tell him that. I would give anything to see those pale white legs of his in a pair of shorts.”

We both laughed at the thought of it. Neils had a huge stride with his long legs, but I had never once seen him break into so much as a jog, except when trying to get away from Lucy Goosey, of course. And I’d also never seen him in anything but jeans and workboots.

Then I saw Shard in the crowd. “Where’s Vinnie?” I asked, catching up to her.

“He’s back at his house looking for running shoes for Neils. Any idea why Neils needs Vinnie’s shoes?”

“Cranberry-lemon scones,” I said, and told her what Anna had done.

“I would pay to see that,” Shard said, giggling.

A few minutes later, we were standing with Neils and Anna when Vinnie trotted over. In his hands were a pair of brown suede running shoes that had seen better days.

“Look what I found!” he said, holding them up. “You’re in luck, Neils! I found my runners, and look what else …” He held up a pair of bright red short-shorts with white piping on the seams.

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