***
“Hey, buddy. Good to get back into the grind, isn’t it?” Newton Conrad said, stifling a laugh.
“I can hardly wait,” Frank Turner answered, rolling his eyes.
“These summers with nothing to do are sooo boring for us teachers.”
“Maybe for you, but I’ve painted houses for the last ten summers. The wife enjoys the extra money.”
“I probably should do something like that too. Might score a few points with Gianna. But listen, I have a question for you.”
“Shoot.
“The girl who ran for you last year who’s going to be a freshman, is she as good as she sounds?”
Frank smiled. “Linda Baker? Better. Way better.”
“How’s that?” Newton, the high school track and cross-country coach, asked, a puzzled look crossing his face. “Her times already seem a little beyond belief.”
“They are, and your main job will be to keep her from hurting herself.”
“Wait, are we talking about the same long-legged blonde, kind of pretty too? She looks a little like a party girl.”
“She would stay on that track, running herself to death, until it got too dark to see if I’d let her.”
“Holy shit. No kidding?”
“Yeah. You keep her healthy, and she’ll win you more state championships all by herself than you’ve had in your career.”
“Come on, Frank. I’ve had, let’s see, six already, and I’ve got a nearly sure shot in the high jump this year for seven.”
“You just remember, and in four years, you’ll be telling me how right I was. She may cover that seven by the end of her sophomore year. Two in cross-country, two each in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter runs, and if you get a couple more girls to run, she’ll anchor a relay or two for you as well. Plus, you might sneak her into the 800 meters one or two years too.”
“You’re awfully damn optimistic, Frank. That’s a hell of a future you’ve laid out for her…and me.”
“Just keep her healthy, and she’ll do it.”
***
“Hey, Linda. Have you got a second?”
“Oh, hello, Mr. Conrad, um, Coach Conrad.”
“Did you have a quiet and restful summer?”
“Sort of, sir. I mean, I didn’t have a job or anything, but I did a lot of running.”
“That sounds good,” Newton, who most people called Newt, said with a laugh. “Getting ready for cross-country season?”
“Trying to, I guess.”
“How much running have you been doing?”
“Oh, five or six miles at a time.”
“At a time?” Her saying it that way piqued Newt’s curiosity.
“I ran twice a day as often as I could. Cross country is new for me, and I’d like to do well.”
“Wait, wait. You say you were running five or six miles and twice a day sometimes?” Those were numbers Newt had never encountered in a high school runner.
“Yes, sir. Is something wrong with that?”
“How old are you, Linda?” Coach Conrad had a concerned look on his face.
“I just turned fifteen. Is that bad?” She looked frightened.
“Turning fifteen is good, but running that far at fifteen might be, well, dangerous, I guess.”
It was Linda’s turn to look concerned, and she looked away from Coach Conrad.
“I don’t want to do anything dangerous.” Linda didn’t feel like she was doing anything dangerous, but training for cross country was new, and she wasn’t sure.
“I’m sure there’s no other girl in the state that’s running that much or that many miles. But that many miles can be tough on muscles and joints, particularly for someone your age. Tonight is our first team practice, and we’ll talk a little about that. What’s done is done, and I assume you’re okay?”
Linda shook her head in assent. “Oh, yes. I’m feeling great and ready to start racing.” She paused for a second, then looked at Coach Conrad. “I want to win four state championships, sir, so my parents will be proud of me.”
“My guess is that they’d be proud of you if you won three,” Newt replied, chuckling.
“Oh, no. I need to win four.” The look on her face spoke of grit and determination, a look he’d soon become accustomed to seeing.
Newt wondered if her parents were pushing her to do that or if she had decided that for herself. He’d certainly be happy with three, but he remembered Frank Turner, her junior high coach’s words. He’d predicted four.
“I’ll do my best to help you do that, Linda, but sounds like you’re well on your way already. Are you running with the other girls or by yourself?”
Linda looked at the ground. “No, sir. I run by myself. Um, the other girls say I run too fast. Maybe I can run with the boys.”
She was only fifteen, but if she ran like he thought she would, the boys might not want to run with her either. Crawford High was devoid of outstanding male runners this year, so Linda might be out of luck there also.
“Don’t worry, we’ll work something out, and we’ll know a lot more after practice starts when we see how fast everyone is running.”
“Okay, Coach Conrad. That sounds good.” Linda gave a little wave, smiled, and headed off…at a jog.
“I know that was a teacher, but which one?” Adel, Linda’s best friend asked as the blond came to a stop.
“Mr. Conrad, the cross country coach, too.”
“He getting you ready to run?”
“He didn’t have to do that–but he did want to talk to me. I have my running–you have Jeremy.” Linda chuckled.
“I hope I can keep him when he sees all the new girls here at Crawford. You need to get a guy so we can double-date.”
“Too busy running and studying for that. Maybe some day.”
“You’re a pretty girl, Linda. Guys will be after you.”
“Not gonna happen,” Linda replied decisively. “Let’s get to class.”
***
“How’s practice going, honey?” Wendel Baker asked, taking a big bite of roast beef, dipped thoroughly in the mashed potatoes and gravy.
“It’s good, Dad. Coach won’t let me run as much as I want, but I need to run a lot if I want to be a state champion.” She was shaking her head, looking discouraged, something they saw more of since school and practice had started.
“Honey, I’m sure the coach is just looking out for you, so you don’t hurt yourself. You’re running way harder than I did when I was in high school.” That was certainly an understatement. He had gotten to the state meet as a senior, so he certainly wasn’t a slacker. But this near-obsession with running more and being the very best was something he wasn’t used to.
“I’m going to win four state championships just in cross country and more in track. You’re going to be SO proud of me.” A huge smile spread across Linda’s face.
There it was again, a nearly impossible dream that could lead to overwhelming disappointment, but her confidence was amazing, as was her dedication. Both parents wondered where this had come from.
“Honey, we’re proud of you right now, whether you win or not.” Molly Baker had said this to Linda more than once, but it never seemed to make an impression on her. It was all or…well, actually, just all.
“I know, Mother,” Linda answered, frustration in her voice. They obviously didn’t understand how important it was. “But, I mean…never mind.”