The Hodgepodge Racer
    
Once, not so long ago, there was a boy named James, who desperately wanted a bike. As his parents were, sadly, too poor to buy him one, he went to the nearby junkyard and pieced together a hodgepodge bike from the leftovers of junked cycles.

One day, word reached him about a race. He decided to enter, because first prize was a new bike. He practiced hard, learning all sorts of tricks like sharp turns, riding with no hands, and even riding on one wheel.
    
At the starting line, James glanced around at the other riders. All of their bikes were shiny and new. He looked down at his own rusty, hodgepodge bike and felt his cheeks grow hot. Although he knew that his chances of winning were slim, he felt compelled to try.

As the racers lined up, the judge began speaking through a megaphone. “There will be three stages of the race,” he said, “the track, the off-road, and the obstacle course.”

Because of all his practice, the track and off-road were no problem for James, and he easily overtook all the others riders. Then, he heard a hiss. He glanced down and gasped. His front tire had popped!
    
Oh no! thought James. I can’t stop now! Recalling the one-wheel training he’d done back home, he pulled himself together. With a grin, he jerked the handlebars up and charged toward the first obstacle: the ramp. Because it wasn’t too steep, getting up it was easy, but the landing nearly shattered what was left of his bike. As he squeaked and creaked through the other obstacles, he could hear the other riders gaining on him.

The final obstacle was a narrow bridge across a stream. James wobbled precariously and almost fell, but he righted himself and broke the finish line with his flat, hodgepodge tire in the air!

As the judge shook his hand and congratulated him, James grinned from ear to ear. He had won!