Free Addy's Race by Debby Waldman

Stephanie and Emma. They looked surprised, but I think it was because Stephanie’s father had just showed up to drive them home. Usually it was her mother.
    Once they were gone, Joanne said, “We’re not done discussing this yet. We’ll talk more at home.”
    “Okay,” Lucy said, but from the way she said it, I had a feeling that for the first time Joanne might not get what she wanted.

Chapter 15
    That night I dreamed I lost my hearing aids and forgot my runners the morning of the next race. I was late to the starting line and couldn’t hear the starting gun. I had to run barefoot. All the other girls were wearing platform shoes. I had to hop around to avoid having my feet crushed. I woke up before the race ended.
    Mom took me to the audiologist before school. My hearing aids were fixed. At least that part of the dream wouldn’t come true. But the audiology clinic was so crowded, I didn’t get to school until recess. Lucy was hanging out by the monkey bars.
    “Guess who has to take swimming lessons?” she said.
    “But you know how to swim.”
    “My mother said if I quit running club, I have to do something.”
    “Maybe you should come back.”
    Lucy shook her head. “I like swimming. Maybe we can take lessons together!”
    “I have to take private,” I reminded her. My mother doesn’t believe I can hear the teacher without my hearing aids.
    “We can take private lessons together,” she said. “Anything is better than running. But I’ll come watch you race. I want to be there when you beat Stephanie and Emma!”
    “Don’t say that!”
    “Why? They didn’t hear.”
    “You’ll jinx it,” I said.

    At the first practice after Lucy quit, Kelsey said, “Stephanie and Emma think they’re better than you, but you can beat them. Our sister said so too.”
    They were being nice, but I wished people would stop saying I was a good runner. I’d only been in three races. What if sixteenth place was beginner’s luck?
    I was faster than Kelsey and Miranda though—fast enough that I couldn’t run with them during practice.
    So I ran alone until I caught up to Miss Fielding.
    She was telling Stephanie and Emma how she used to run with the Canadian cross-country team and compete all over the world. Stephanie and Emma gave each other knowing looks, like they were going to make the Canadian team some day too.
    “You ought to consider joining the Tornadoes, Addy,” Miss Fielding said. She turned toward Stephanie and Emma. “Aren’t you girls in that club?”
    From the length of time it took to answer, you’d think she’d asked them what they ate for lunch the fourth day of grade two. Finally they mumbled something. Then they sped off as if they’d heard a starting gun.
    “Not too far ahead, girls,” Miss Fielding called after them. She looked at me. “It’s better to keep a steady pace, like you’re doing.”
    “I don’t think I’ll join a running club,” I said. “I don’t know anyone in one.”
    Miss Fielding nodded toward Stephanie and Emma. “What about them?”
    “We’re not really friends.”
    “Well, you’ve definitely got a gift for running,” Miss Fielding said. “You should keep it up.”

    During science class, we had to show Mrs. Shewchuk our sketches and a list of supplies. When she saw dead hearing-aid batteries on our list, she looked confused.
    “For stars,” I explained.
    “That’s a good idea,” Mrs. Shewchuk said. “Very inventive!”
    “Addy wants to use tuna cans because we’re doing Pisces,” Sierra said.
    “No, I don’t,” I said.
    “You did,” Sierra said.
    “Last week. Not anymore.”
    Mrs. Shewchuk acted as if she hadn’t heard. “Can you think of a recycled item that looks like a fish?”
    I looked at the floor to keep from getting angrier. “Soles from shoes?” I said.
    “That’s creative,” Mrs. Shewchuk said. “With a bit of paint or trim, you can easily turn a sole into a sole.” She laughed at her own joke and moved on to Stephanie