'Whirling Dervish'

Franklin Fisher "Ish" Fitzgerald and his dad lived in the big city. But one day they were in the country for the Lyon family's town fair. Wonderful smells and sounds filled the air. Kids in jeans and T-shirts ran everywhere.

Ish was in his Sunday best. He felt like an alien.

"Come on," his dad prodded.

Just then, a boy with two huge front teeth ran up. "Hey, Ish, I'm Buck Lyon! Remember me? C'mon, let's go!" Buck tugged him away and ran to the top of a grassy green hill. Ish lagged behind.

"Try to stay clean!" his dad called after him.

Mr. Lyon and his mane of hair stood at the top of the hill with a stopwatch.

"The new leader has 52 seconds!" he called to kids at the bottom. Cheers erupted as a blond boy strutted around like a rooster.

"OK, Pop, we're in! Time us!"

Ish watched intently as Buck quickly lied down in the grass, log-like. Then, he crossed his arms over his chest and crossed his legs at his ankles.

When Mr. Lyon yelled, "Ready! Set! Go!" Buck rolled side-over-side, super fast, to the bottom of the hill.

"We have a tie!" Mr. Lyon yelled.

Buck smiled and bolted back up the hill as his friends whooped and hollered.

"Why didn't you go, Ish? You were supposed to race me!"

Ish blinked, confused. "I don't know how."

"Oh!" Buck said. "It's easy! Just stretch out on the grass, but start on your side instead of your back. It's faster. Also, it helps if you point your toes and cross your arms over your chest. Come on, Ish, try it!"

Buck's enthusiasm was catching. Ish found himself on his side in the grass, toes pointed, arms crossed.

When Mr. Lyon yelled, "Ready! Set! Go!" Ish rolled down the hill.

He stood up unsteadily at the bottom. He brushed the grass out of his hair and off his clothes. Would his dad be mad?

"Awesome, Ish!" Buck beamed.