Five Girls - Chapter 47: The Great Race

Campus Field - Morning

Alice was bouncing with excitement. "GUYS! I HAVE THE BEST IDEA EVER!"

Chima groaned. "Here we go again."

"We're going to have a RACE!"

Wony raised an eyebrow. "A race? What kind of race?"

"Any kind! We'll each pick a vehicle and race across campus!"

Fatimah sighed. "Alice, this is a terrible idea."

"It's a GREAT idea! Fun, competitive, and slightly dangerous!"

"Exactly why it's a terrible idea!"

Naila was lying on the grass. "I'm not racing. Too much effort."

"YES YOU ARE!"

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are!"

"No."

"YES!"

Naila closed her eyes. "I'm not moving."86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetref6d1AT

"UP TO YOU!"

***

A few moments later, Alice had set up a small "lot" with different vehicles. She was very proud of herself.

"Okay, everyone! Choose your vehicle!"

Fatimah looked at the options. "Alice. Why is there a scooter?"

"Because it's a vehicle!"

"Alice, that's a kick scooter. For children."

"It's for everyone!"

Chima pointed at a motorcycle. "Is that yours?"

"Yes! I borrowed it from my cousin!"

"You borrowed a motorcycle?"

"He said I could!"

Naila looked at the bicycle. "That one is fine. I'll take the bike."

Wony looked at the moped. "I'll take the moped. It's elegant."

Alice grabbed the car keys. "And I'll take the car!"

Fatimah stared at the remaining vehicle: a small kick scooter.

"Alice. This is what's left?"

"Yep!"

"So I'm going to be on a scooter. Against a car. A motorcycle. A moped. And a bike."

"Life isn't fair!"

"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!"

Chima laughed. "Fatimah, you're going to lose so badly."

"I know! That's what I'm saying!"

***

Campus Field - Starting Line

They were all lined up. Alice was in her car, revving the engine. Chima was on the motorcycle, looking fierce. Wony was on the moped, looking elegant. Naila was on the bike, looking half-asleep.

Fatimah was on the scooter, looking defeated.

Alice stuck her head out the window. "ON YOUR MARK!"

Chima revved the engine. "This is stupid."

"GET SET!"

Wony adjusted her helmet. "At least I look good."

"GO!"86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYlIP2pzGh

They took off.

Alice shot ahead in her car. "WOOOOO! I'M GOING TO WIN!"

Chima zoomed past on the motorcycle. "NOT FOR LONG!"

Wony followed on the moped. "This is surprisingly fun!"

Naila pedaled slowly. "This is too much effort."

Fatimah was at the back, pushing her scooter with one foot.

"This is humiliating," she muttered.

Alice was still ahead. "I'M THE BEST! I'M THE CHAMPION!"

Chima was catching up. "YOU'RE IN A CAR! THAT'S NOT FAIR!"

"LIFE ISN'T FAIR!"

"It should be!"

Wony passed Chima. "Elegance wins!"

"BUT YOU'RE ON A MOPED!"

"STILL ELEGANT!"

***

Alice was still ahead when she hit a speed bump.

Her car bounced. She screamed. "WHAT WAS THAT?!"

Chima laughed. "KARMA!"

Wony passed her. "Bye, Alice!"

"NO!"

Chima passed her next. "This is for all the times you were annoying!"

"THAT'S EVERY DAY!"

"EXACTLY!"

Naila pedaled past. "You're losing, Alice."

"I'M NOT LOSING! I'M JUST... STRATEGIZING!"

"You're losing."

"SHUT UP!"

Fatimah was still at the back. "This is the worst day of my life."

***

Campus Field - Finish Line

Wony crossed first. She parked the moped elegantly and posed.

"I win," she announced. "Elegance prevails."

Chima came second. "I let you win."

"You did not."

"I did!"

"You're a sore loser."

"I'M NOT LOSING!"

Alice was third. She jumped out of the car. "I WAS CHEATED!"

"You were in a car!"

"SO?!"

"You had the best vehicle!"

"AND I STILL LOST!"

"THAT'S YOUR FAULT!"

Naila came fourth. She got off the bike and collapsed on the grass.

"I'm never doing that again."

"You came fourth!"

"I came. That's enough."

Fatimah came last. She pushed her scooter across the finish line.

"I'm done," she said flatly. "I'm never racing again."

Alice pointed at her. "You were last!"

"I was on a CHILDREN'S SCOOTER!"

"That's an excuse!"

"It's a valid excuse!"

***

Campus Field - After the Race

They were all lying on the grass, exhausted.

Wony was the only one still sitting up. "That was fun."

"For you!" Fatimah said. "You won!"

"I know. It was very elegant."

Chima shook her head. "I can't believe Alice had a car and still lost."

Alice pouted. "The speed bumps were unfair!"

"The speed bumps were there the whole time!"

"I didn't see them!"

"That's your fault!"

Naila was still on the grass. "I'm never moving again."

"You said that last time."

"I mean it this time."

Fatimah sighed. "Next time, I'm choosing my own vehicle."

"There won't be a next time," Chima said.

"There will be!" Alice insisted. "Next time, we'll do a swimming race!"

"I can't swim."

"Then you'll lose!"

"THAT'S NOT FAIR!"

"LIFE ISN'T FAIR!"

"I HATE YOU!"

"I KNOW!"

***

Campus Cafe - Evening

They were all sitting together, recovering from the race.

"I can't believe I lost to a moped," Chima muttered.

"I can't believe I lost to a car," Alice muttered.

"I can't believe I came third," Naila said.

"You came fourth, actually," Fatimah corrected.

"Same thing."

"No, it's not."

Naila shrugged. "I don't care. I'm tired."

Fatimah looked at Alice. "Alice. Next time you have an idea, please run it by us first."

"I'll run it by you!"

"No, like, actually run it by us."

"Same thing!"

"It's not!"

Alice grinned. "I'm already planning the next race!"

Chima groaned. "I'm going home."

"ME TOO!" Fatimah stood up.

"I'm going to sleep," Naila said.

Wony stood gracefully. "I'll accompany you."

Alice watched them leave. "This isn't over! We'll race again!"

"No we won't!" they shouted in unison.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCkfZV7VyM

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