CHAPTER 5
Amir’s heart sank. He didn’t really care that he hadn’t beat William to the top. After all, he had let William go ahead of him. He had almost expected William to reach the top first.
The problem was, he suddenly felt like he couldn’t make it, like he couldn’t go on. It was the same feeling he’d had when he climbed the building and felt Officer Roberts’s hand grab his ankle.
Suddenly, Amir’s grip slipped. Since he wasn’t holding anything, he slid away from the climbing wall. As he began to free-fall, he let out a yell.
Before he could really scream, the rope attached to his harness went tight. Ben’s belaying worked perfectly.
Amir hung in the air, a few feet away from the climbing wall. He felt his face get hot. It seemed like the whole world was staring at him.
Slowly, Ben let out the rope. Amir gently dropped down, closer and closer to the ground.
He glanced over to the other side of the wall. There, William was slowly rappelling down the wall. His instructor was telling him he’d done a great job.
Amir couldn’t believe it. He felt like a terrible climber. The day had been a total waste.
Amir reached the ground. He unclipped himself from the belay rope.
“That was great, Amir!” Officer Roberts said. “You almost made it.”
“Yeah,” Amir said. He looked at the ground and repeated, “Almost.” Then he stepped back and watched William rappel down the wall.
“Aren’t you going to try again?” Ben asked. “Most kids don’t make it as high as you did on their first try.”
Amir just shrugged. William got to the bottom of the wall and unhooked himself from the rope. He started to take off his harness.
“You should go again,” William said. “You can do it. I didn’t make it my first time.”
“What do you mean?” Amir asked. “This wasn’t your first time?”
“No,” William said. “My uncle brings me here whenever I want. I’ve been up there a bunch of times. You really should try again. I bet you’ll make it!”
“I’m too tired,” Amir said. “Maybe next time.”
Ben walked over, smiling. “That was a great first day, Amir,” he said. “I hope you can come back sometime. Before you leave, stop back by the counter. I have something for you.”
“Okay,” Amir said. “Thanks for everything.”
Amir, William, and Officer Roberts spent the next hour walking around the store. Officer Roberts wanted to pick up some tennis balls, and they looked at fishing and camping gear, too.
Soon, it was time to head back to the city. On their way out, Amir, William, and Officer Roberts stopped at the climbing wall.
“Here, take this,” Ben said. He handed a colorful piece of paper to Amir. “We’re having a climbing camp this summer,” Ben went on. “It’s here at the store, eight hours a day for a week. The price includes all the gear you need. You guys would love it. Lots of rock climbing!”
“Awesome!” William said, looking at the piece of paper. “I really want to go.”
“Me too,” Amir said.
* * *
When Amir got home that night, he had forgotten about being disappointed that he hadn’t reached the top. He found his mom in the kitchen.
He told her about climbing the wall, and how he had almost reached the top. He told her what a great climber William was. He asked if he could go back with Officer Roberts again someday.
Finally, he told her about the climbing camp. He nervously handed his mom the piece of paper.
Amir’s mom looked at the paper. “It looks fun, but it’s a lot of money,” she said. She looked at Amir and saw the excitement in his eyes.
“Mom, I’ll earn money to pay for half of it myself,” Amir said. “And I’ll get all my homework done without having to be asked. And I’ll keep my room clean. And—”
Finally, his mom smiled. “Okay, okay,” she said. “We’ll figure out a way to pay for it.”
Amir leaped in the air.