The Forgotten Shoes
by T. Herlinger
Kurt had been looking forward to Track and Field Day all year, and it was finally here. All around him, the playground and field had been completely changed. The gym teacher, Mr. Ferris, had marked off chalk tracks in the gravel for the running races. The high jump pit stood at the ready with its thick red mat. The sandbox was raked and smooth for the long jump and triple jump. Everything on the school grounds seemed to be tense and waiting for the competition to begin, as Kurt and the other young athletes burst out the school doors and made their way toward their events. Kurt was just about to go get warmed up for the long jump, his best event, when he noticed his little brother, Jeff, sitting on the basketball court crying.
"What's up, buddy?" he asked, sitting down beside him.
"I forgot my gym shoes at home," Jeff whined, and then sniffed loudly. "Mr. Ferris won't let me run in my school shoes. He says I'd get hurt."
"He's right, you know," Kurt said, and sighed. Then he had an idea. "Hey, when is your race?"
"In about 15 minutes," Jeff answered sadly.
"Well, that's plenty of time for me to get home and back, if I run," Kurt announced and began tightening the laces of his running shoes.
"But, you'll miss your event! You love the long jump!" Jeff cried.
Kurt shrugged. "There'll be other years, and besides, I'll be back in time for the triple jump. No worries!" he said. And with that, he ran back inside the building to let the people in the school office know where he was going.
When Mr. Ferris found out what Kurt had done—that he had given up his place in the long jump to help his brother—he was impressed. He even held off starting the competition until Kurt came back, holding his brother's gym shoes and grinning from ear to ear.
The setting for this story is
A.
a school playground and field.
B.
the inside of a school building.
C.
the road from school to Jeff's house.
D.
the street where Jeff and Kurt live.