Free Snowboard Showdown by Matt Christopher Page B

several spots that would be good jumpoff points.
    But Devil's Ravine also had lots of blind turns, andin places there were fallen trees and sharp rocks jutting up from the ground. Now, in winter, those rocks and fallen trees
     would be half hidden and doubly treacherous.
    Freddie looked at his alarm clock. It was 4:15 A.M. He had to get back to sleep or he'd be too tired to handle his math test later in the day. He lay down again and shut his
     eyes. But his heart kept pounding, too fast and too loud. And the image of the rock speeding at him wouldn't fade from his
     mind.
    He wound up rising at 5:30, unable to stand it any longer. Yawning, he got washed and dressed and went downstairs to make
     himself breakfast. He watched early morning cable TV as he ate and waited for Dondi.
    Around 7:15, Dondi came down the stairs, toweling his long hair dry. “Hey, you're up early,” he said when he saw Freddie.
    “Dondi, I've got to talk to you,” Freddie said.
    “What? You chickening out again?” Dondi asked. Freddie thought his voice sounded just a little bit hopeful.
    “Dondi, just listen for a minute. I was there once, during the summer. I saw the slope and the rocksand stuff. And I'm not sure I can make it down Devil's Ravine without getting hurt. I mean really hurt. And, well, I don't
     know how to say this, 'cause you're not going to like it… but if I can't do it, how are you going to do it?”
    “What are you saying?” Dondi asked. “Are you saying you're better than me?”
    “Dondi…”
    “'Cause if that's what you're saying, you're just wrong, man. Especially in downhill. I've been practicing.”
    “Once, you practiced.”
    “Twice,” Dondi corrected him. “But that's not the point. I'm good, man. You should see me going down the intermediate slope.”
    “This is Devil's Ravine. It's a little different.”
    “You are chicken,” Dondi said.
    “Aren't you?” Freddie said. “Or are you so stupid that you think you're Superman or something?”
    “Look, you want to back out, back out. I don't care. Just say you're chicken and get it over with.”
    Freddie grunted in sheer frustration. Why wouldn't Dondi listen? “I'm trying to do you a favor, you idiot!” he bellowed.
    “Don't do me any favors, okay?” Dondi said. “And don't waste my time. You have two choices—you can back out and be a chicken,
     or you can race me down Devil's Ravine and be a loser. Ha! Yeah! That's your choice!” He flicked his towel playfully at Freddie
     and turned to go.
    “You're wrong, big shot,” Freddie called after him, white with anger. “I've got a third choice. I can race you down Devil's
     Ravine and win!”
    Freddie grabbed his book bag and went out the front door, slamming it behind him. As he walked down the street toward the
     school bus stop, he was sure he felt his father's eyes on him.
    Freddie turned to see if his father really was looking through the window. But the shade was down. Esteban was still sleeping.
     But Freddie could see those eyes in his mind, accusing, pleading, and finally, disappointed.
    Freddie trudged on toward the corner. The guilt was overpowering. But there was no way out now. The race would have to go
     on.
    “I can't believe you're doing something so incredibly stupid!” Eric Schwartz said, clapping his hands tohis head. “What is wrong with you? Have you totally, once and for all, lost your coconut?”
    “I know,” Freddie said miserably, cradling his chin in his hands as they sat at the lunch table. “It really bites, but trust
     me, it's too late. There's no way I can back out now.”
    “I don't believe you,” Eric said, shaking his head. “There's got to be a way out. I know it's hard, but try to use your withered,
     pathetic brain and come up with a solution, okay?”
    “Hey, I've got an idea!” Freddie said, a little too brightly. “I can lose on purpose, admit Dondi's better than me at absolutely
     every single thing in the entire universe, and for a bonus, I can