CHAPTER 7

BALANCE, SWING, AND HOLD ON!

Nearing the completion of the half-mile run, Tanisha and Derek were in second place. They were making great time on the course so far.

Around the bend was a volunteer water station to make sure the contestants stayed hydrated. As they ran toward the station, Tanisha saw a familiar face standing there, holding cups of water.

“Terrell?” she exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

“Trying to be supportive,” her brother said, handing her a cup. “Now, don’t get distracted by me. Go, go, go!”

Derek and Tanisha both gulped some water and kept running. Soon they arrived at the next obstacle station, the stability beam and swing. It had sets of extended balance beams and a rope swing at the end. A pool of water had been set up underneath the whole obstacle.

“The first-place team is only halfway across the beams. We’ll catch up with them for sure!” said Derek.

Tanisha began to make her way slowly along the balance beam. Behind her, the other teams were starting to catch up and test their skills on the beam. Most of the kids went too fast and fell in the water, meaning they had to start all over at the beginning of the beam.

Tanisha was almost to the end of the balance beam. She grabbed the rope to swing toward dry land when she heard … SPLASH!

Derek had fallen into the water right before reaching the end of the balance beam. He now had to go back to the beginning of the beam and start all over.

“Oh no!” Tanisha cried out after landing on the ground. The teams behind her raced to the next station, putting Tanisha and Derek out of second place.

“I’m sorry, T!” Derek shouted. He crossed the beam again, making it to the end this time and grabbing the rope. He swung to dry land and landed next to Tanisha. “I’ve messed up everything!”

“No, you haven’t. Stop beating yourself up, and let’s move!” Tanisha yelled as they raced to the next station, the push-ups of doom.

Each team member had to do one hundred push-ups before being allowed to move forward. Most of the teams were struggling. Everyone was exhausted from the course.

Tanisha grinned. This was the perfect opportunity to catch back up.

An adult watched as they each did one hundred push-ups and were cleared to go to the next station. Their training was paying off!

“We’re not too far from the fourth-place team. We still have a chance!” Tanisha said as she and Derek ran down the trail.

“Get ready for the infinity monkey bars!” Derek warned.

Derek started on the monkey bars. Tanisha was right behind him. Halfway through, she started to tire. She tried desperately to hold on.

Like the balance beams, if a contestant fell before completing the bars, he or she had to start all over. Instead of a pool of water below, however, it was a pond of mud.

“All those push-ups wore my arms out,” Tanisha said, panting. “I’m having trouble holding on—”

Suddenly she lost her grip. Tanisha fell, waiting to hear the splash of the mud before her. Instead, she was hanging in midair.

Derek was clinging to the monkey bars with one hand. He’d used his other hand to save Tanisha from falling!

“You didn’t quit on me when I fell, and I’m not quitting on you!” Derek said.

One of the cameramen moved closer to Derek and Tanisha, capturing the moment. Derek rocked Tanisha back and forth until she could reach the monkey bars. Together, they finished making their way across.

On the sidelines, a judge said, “Teammates can prevent their partner from falling, so she’s clear!”

Derek and Tanisha smiled. Then Derek said, “Take a quick breather, T, and let’s keep going!”