Free Showdown in Crittertown by Justine Fontes Page A

announced, “Grayson of Team Post Office wins by a whisker!”
    At first General History looked angry. Then he smiled and shook Grayson’s paw. “Good race,” he said loudly. In a whisper he added, “I’ll beat you next year!”
    Grayson laughed. “Maybe you will—and maybe you won’t!”
    The library clan won the volleyball and basketball games. Grayson shook his head. “I told you we needed more team practice!”
    Our clan took home the gold for pencil vaulting and the long jump. Grayson’s chest puffed with pride to display his three gold medals. There would be no end to his bragging now! But it was nice to see my friend so happy.
    Charlie tugged my fur. “Don’t you want a gold medal?”
    I touched the paw print necktie given to me as the Postmouseter. I said, “This is all the prize I need.”
    Charlie’s skinny friend snickered. “Cheddar won’t get a gold medal until they add a cheese-eating contest.”
    I decided to ignore him, although I couldn’t help imagining the “Cheeselympics”: a mozzarella pull, a slicing contest, a grating relay, a nibbling race…
    Charlie squeezed my paw and pulled me out of my cheesy dream. “It’s Nilla’s event, the javelin toss!”
    After the first round of throws, the contest came down to Nilla and General History. She looked so small standing next to him. My breakfast started jumping in my belly all over again.
    Nilla had been practicing every day since General History gave us those sharpened paper clips. I’d seen her hit the bull’s-eye many times. But would she win today? No one could know! Now I understood why humans made such a fuss about sports.
    Nilla’s paws shook. I hadn’t seen her this nervous since that horrible day we visited the Crittertown Market.
    Her first toss hit the target, but nowhere near the bull’s-eye. Nilla bowed her head in shame.
    The library mice cheered as General History prepared to toss his paper clip. Charlie nudged me again and whispered, “They don’t have pom-poms or a rhyme.”
    General History wiped his eyes and then tossed his javelin. Had the cheer distracted him? Or was he just tired from the other events? For whatever reason, his paper clip was no closer to the bull’s-eye than Nilla’s.
    The garage grew quiet before their second throw. Charlie opened his mouth, but I shook my head and whispered, “Let’s save our cheers until after the toss.”
    Nilla flung her javelin. It sailed through the air and hit the center with a solid THUNK!
    I leaped to my feet and cheered. The recruits shook their pom-poms and squeaked at the top of their little lungs. So did the rest of the post office clan. The third graders cheered, “Go Nilla!”
    Once again, the garage fell silent. General History looked grim and very determined as he picked up his second javelin. He drew back his paw and tossed the sharpened paper clip. Every muscle of his body rippled with the effort. Even his toes clenched.
    The paper clip flew through the air toward the target. It pierced the bull’s-eye with a loud THUNK! The library clan cheered.
    Charlie emitted a low “boo” until I put my paw on his shoulder and whispered, “Only cheers.”
    He understood. “Only happy thoughts.”
    I nodded and then took a deep breath. Nilla looked scared. I knew how much she wanted to win.
    Charlie squeezed my paw. His little eyes shone, and he held his breath. I held mine, too!
    Nilla flung back her paw and tossed her third javelin. As she completed the throw, one of her feet slipped. I knew even before it hit the target that she hadn’t made the bull’s-eye.
    Charlie slumped. Nilla paced. Maybe General History would miss on his third toss, too. I crossed my fingers the way I’d seen the humans do when they were worried and hoping for good luck.
    General History’s eyes narrowed. His