next time he gets an idea. Jamesâ either. I just hope I can get them to listen to me.
Mum puts our cups on the table and we all sit down.
âGuess what, guys,â Ranga says. âThe contest was postponed to this weekend âcause of the storm. Mum says I can go in it.â
James gives a hoot so loud that I jump.
23
Ranga is about to win the skateboard contest and weâre all here to watch.
I canât wait to watch him go off in the final battle round! Heâs already blitzed the heats. No one came close even though Ranga was playing it safe. He only did the moves he can pull off one hundred per cent of the time. In the early battle rounds he pulled out some of his more technical moves. He was the best by miles but heâs still got heaps left in reserve. That bully kid, Luke, has been blitzing it too but I reckon heâs been skating at his limit. I donât think he can step it up from here.
Jess squeezes my hand. Iâve been rocking back and forth and saying, âCome on, Ranga!â under my breath. My legs are jiggling. Jess smiles at me and I feel the grin on my face grow wider. I canât stop it, it just spreads andspreads. Could today get any better? My grin is probably at my ears by now. James must feel the same because his face is nearly splitting in half except for when one of those random expressions comes and goes.
Rangaâs mum is sitting next to Mum and Dad. I think sheâs happy. Sheâs smiling but her eyes are full of tears. Parents are funny like that â kind of mixed up. Mumâs looking a bit teary too, but everything makes her teary, even birthdays.
Jess looks like sheâs about to say something when they announce the start of the final. Ranga and Luke are standing up there on the edge of the track with the officials. The judges are all there with their pads waiting. When the announcer says their names, Ranga and Luke raise their arms like they are boxers or something. Then they shake hands.
I breathe out. I kind of expected Luke to do something, but he looks okay â even friendly! Ranga is smiling too, as though heâs not nervous at all, but heâs scratching his arm. Thatâs what he does when heâs worried. All of a sudden a little dark cloud of doubt comes sneaking into the back of my mind. Iâm trying to push it away when Luke starts his first run.
I hate to admit it but Luke goes off. He seems to havefound a new level. Everything is working. Today his airs are higher and he sticks the landings. For the whole minute of his run he flies all over the place like a pro. The judges are nodding and when he finishes everyone claps.
Then itâs Rangaâs turn. He stands on the edge and licks his lips. Then he tips over the edge and heâs off. I feel myself relaxing. Ranga has lifted his level too. Not just one level either. He looks like something from the future. Itâs not just his moves, how technical they are or how high his airs are, itâs how he links them together. Iâm just thinking Ranga has it in the bag when he falls â hard! Heâs up straightaway but heâs hurt his arm. He finishes his run and stands there holding it across his body. I feel sick.
When the scores are read out Luke is in front. Only by a little, but heâs full of confidence. Iâm thinking about what a jerk he is when he turns to Ranga. I canât hear what they are saying but Ranga shakes his head. Then Luke says something else and Ranga smiles and nods.
Then Luke starts his next run. Itâs almost the same as the first. He does the same moves, just in a different order. There might not be that much diversity but he kills it. Heâs going to get another great score.
Ranga looks nervous this time. Heâs flexing his hand,making a fist and then stretching his fingers out like a starfish. He steps up to the ramp, then he looks across at all of us. We all cheer our faces off. He nods and
Mum puts our cups on the table and we all sit down.
âGuess what, guys,â Ranga says. âThe contest was postponed to this weekend âcause of the storm. Mum says I can go in it.â
James gives a hoot so loud that I jump.
23
Ranga is about to win the skateboard contest and weâre all here to watch.
I canât wait to watch him go off in the final battle round! Heâs already blitzed the heats. No one came close even though Ranga was playing it safe. He only did the moves he can pull off one hundred per cent of the time. In the early battle rounds he pulled out some of his more technical moves. He was the best by miles but heâs still got heaps left in reserve. That bully kid, Luke, has been blitzing it too but I reckon heâs been skating at his limit. I donât think he can step it up from here.
Jess squeezes my hand. Iâve been rocking back and forth and saying, âCome on, Ranga!â under my breath. My legs are jiggling. Jess smiles at me and I feel the grin on my face grow wider. I canât stop it, it just spreads andspreads. Could today get any better? My grin is probably at my ears by now. James must feel the same because his face is nearly splitting in half except for when one of those random expressions comes and goes.
Rangaâs mum is sitting next to Mum and Dad. I think sheâs happy. Sheâs smiling but her eyes are full of tears. Parents are funny like that â kind of mixed up. Mumâs looking a bit teary too, but everything makes her teary, even birthdays.
Jess looks like sheâs about to say something when they announce the start of the final. Ranga and Luke are standing up there on the edge of the track with the officials. The judges are all there with their pads waiting. When the announcer says their names, Ranga and Luke raise their arms like they are boxers or something. Then they shake hands.
I breathe out. I kind of expected Luke to do something, but he looks okay â even friendly! Ranga is smiling too, as though heâs not nervous at all, but heâs scratching his arm. Thatâs what he does when heâs worried. All of a sudden a little dark cloud of doubt comes sneaking into the back of my mind. Iâm trying to push it away when Luke starts his first run.
I hate to admit it but Luke goes off. He seems to havefound a new level. Everything is working. Today his airs are higher and he sticks the landings. For the whole minute of his run he flies all over the place like a pro. The judges are nodding and when he finishes everyone claps.
Then itâs Rangaâs turn. He stands on the edge and licks his lips. Then he tips over the edge and heâs off. I feel myself relaxing. Ranga has lifted his level too. Not just one level either. He looks like something from the future. Itâs not just his moves, how technical they are or how high his airs are, itâs how he links them together. Iâm just thinking Ranga has it in the bag when he falls â hard! Heâs up straightaway but heâs hurt his arm. He finishes his run and stands there holding it across his body. I feel sick.
When the scores are read out Luke is in front. Only by a little, but heâs full of confidence. Iâm thinking about what a jerk he is when he turns to Ranga. I canât hear what they are saying but Ranga shakes his head. Then Luke says something else and Ranga smiles and nods.
Then Luke starts his next run. Itâs almost the same as the first. He does the same moves, just in a different order. There might not be that much diversity but he kills it. Heâs going to get another great score.
Ranga looks nervous this time. Heâs flexing his hand,making a fist and then stretching his fingers out like a starfish. He steps up to the ramp, then he looks across at all of us. We all cheer our faces off. He nods and
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