1. The Race By:Matt Kroesen

2. The Race By:Matt Kroesen

4. Once upon a time, there was a big race. All of the chickens wanted to race in it, but there was a problem. There could only be five chickens in the race.

5. Danny Matt Tommy Fred Julia Sammie

6. Of all the chickens that wanted to race, only five chickens were chosen randomly out of a hat by the mayor of the chicken race track. Matt, the mayor, picked out five names. The names he picked were Fred, Tommy, Danny, Sammie, and Julia.

7. One mile long

8. These five chickens had three weeks to get ready for the big race. The track was one mile long and the first three chickens who crossed the finish line would win prizes.

9. 1 st place prize 2 nd place prize 3 rd place prize

10. The first chicken to cross the finish line would win $1 MILLION. The second chicken to cross the finish line would win a car, and the third chicken that crosses would win a trophy. All the others would get a ribbon for trying and doing their best in the race.

11. Danny Tommy Julia Fred Sammie

12. During the first week of training, all the chickens wanted to get know each other better, so they went to dinner and talked about themselves. Fred was scared of Danny because Danny is the biggest chicken he has ever seen. Danny knew Fred was scared of him, so he started picking on him and making jokes about how short and small Fred was. Danny kept saying that Fred has no chance against anyone in the race.

13. Stop yelling at Fred, Danny! Don’t listen to him Fred you can do it. You aren't going to win!

14. Sammie and Julia overheard Danny say those mean things to Fred. They yelled at Danny and told him to stop being mean to Fred. Julia said to Danny, “You just watch… Fred is going to win this race and get the one million dollars!” Danny just sat there with a mean look on his face.

16. After dinner, Fred went home and started running. He wanted to win the race so bad. He wanted to prove to Danny that it doesn’t matter how short or small you are; it’s about how fast you can run.

18. There was one week left until the race, and Fred was very nervous. So nervous that he didn’t even want to race anymore. Fred was thinking, “What if Danny is right? What if I am too short and small?” Fred was discouraging himself and bringing himself down.

19. What's wrong Fred?I don’t want to race.

20. Tommy noticed Fred and how he was feeling down, so Tommy went to Fred and asked him, “What's wrong? Why do you look so down?” Fred said to him, “Because Danny's right, I can’t do this. I'm too short and small. I'm not going to win, so I'm just not going to race.” Tommy told Fred to not listen, “Danny's just scared and wants you not to race. He knows you’re fast and he’s scared that you’re going to beat him.” After Tommy talked to Fred, he started feeling better and wanted to race. He wanted to show Danny that being short and small doesn’t mean someone can’t win the race.

22. A week passed and it was race day! Everyone was ready and pumped for the race to begin. The five chickens lined up on the starting line. Danny was looking at Fred giving him dirty, mean looks, but Fred just ignored him and focused on winning the race. POW!! The gun goes off and the race begins. Fred stays in first place the whole time. In the end, Fred won the race! After the race, Danny went up to Fred, shook his hand and said, “Good job! You really proved me wrong. It really doesn’t matter how short and small you are, anyone can win a race if they try.” THE END

23. Matt Kroesen is a Senior at the Lawrence County Career and Technical Center where he is enrolled in the Machine Technology shop. His home school is New Wilmington. He would like to dedicate this book to his niece, Savannah.