Don't Mess Up Our Race

Don’t Mess Up Our Race

The crowd roared as teams gathered at the starting line for the annual university relay race. Among the competitors was Team Blaze, a group of friends determined to defend their championship title. Amaka, the team captain, adjusted her headband and gave her teammates a pep talk. “This isn’t just a race; it’s about our pride. Everyone stays in sync, no distractions, and we’ll win this,” she said. Everyone nodded in agreement—except for Junior, the newest team member. Nervous and fidgeting, Junior was the last-minute replacement for their star runner, and his unease was palpable.

The race began, and the first three runners delivered flawlessly. Amaka felt a surge of hope as she watched her team surge ahead. Then came Junior’s turn. He gripped the baton too tightly, his steps unsure as he took off. The cheers of the crowd seemed distant to him, drowned out by his pounding heart. Midway through his leg, disaster struck—he tripped, sending the baton flying out of his hand. Gasps rippled through the stands as Junior scrambled to recover, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. By the time he passed the baton to Amaka, the team had fallen into third place. Her glare said it all: Don’t mess up our race.

Amaka ran with every ounce of determination, pushing her limits to close the gap. They finished second—heartbreaking for a team accustomed to victory. As the crowd dispersed, Junior sat on the ground, head in his hands. Amaka approached him, her voice sharp but not unkind. “We all mess up, but it’s how we recover that matters. Next time, we train harder. Together.” Junior looked up, surprised at her words. Though disappointed, the team stood united, ready to fight another day. From that moment, Junior vowed to never let his team down again, and Team Blaze became stronger than ever.