Adam had been training for the big Memorial Day race for the past year. No one could outrun him. Not his schoolmates. Not his friends. Not his brothers and sisters. Not even his dad, whose nickname was Bolt, which is short for Lightning Bolt--a nickname he had earned while he was running track in high school. Running was the common bond Adam shared with his dad, and he never missed a chance to challenge his dad to a race. Dad used to win almost every time in the past, but now that Adam was bigger, stronger and faster, his dad could hardly keep up with him on most days.Adam was really excited about the Memorial Day Race because he would have an opportunity to show the whole community how talented he was and make his dad proud at the same time.On race day, Adam was more pumped than ever. His dad, mom and two sisters were all on the sidelines ready to cheer him on. After the starting horn sounded, Adam took off like a shot. He easily took the lead, and he planned to keep it. Then Adam turned his head slightly to monitor his competition and spotted Jon-Jon, a chunky neighborhood kid who had some learning challenges and wore thick bifocals. Jon-Jon was running the course in a bizarre zigzag pattern.
What's he doing playing around on a day like today? Adam thought to himself. That was before he noticed that Jon-Jon had a number pinned to his sweatshirt. Holy guacamole! Jon-Jon was in the race.Somehow Jon-Jon managed to catch up to the fringes of the pack, but he ran off-course when the trail forked near the forest preserve. Adam looked back, but Jon-Jon was nowhere to be found. Maybe he turned back. Adam thought. Seconds later, he heard the shrill screech of Jon-Jon crying "Help me. Somebody help me." From the direction of the forest preserve. Without giving the race—or his year's worth of training—a second thought, Adam took off in the direction of the voice. Almost immediately, he saw Jon-Jon with his leg caught in some brambles.
"Hold still, buddy, and I'll get you out of there," Adam said calmly. Jon-Jon nodded, relieved. Ten minutes later, Jon-Jon's leg was free, if sore and wounded. Adam held Jon-Jon around the waist and the younger boy leaned on his shoulder. Adam led Jon-Jon back to the trail and across the finish line.
Read this short story, looking for events that are part of the story's rising action.
Which sentence describes part of the story's rising action?
• Adam has been training for years for the Memorial Day race.
• Adam frees Jon-Jon from the brambles.
• Adam is leading the pack when he notices Jon-Jon is in the race.
• Adam apologizes to his dad.