“It’s like a carnival, and a picnic, and a big party thingie,” Suzie said, too worried to twirl on the walk to Plunkett’s Field.
Kids were everywhere, sitting on blankets, doing tricks on their bikes, eating, drinking, and throwing water balloons. Dogs ran around having a great time barking out the most exciting messages they didn’t want anyone to miss.
“How are you feeling? I still think we should just turn around and go home!” Suzie asked Mac.
“I’m okay. I’ve been practicing, thanks to you.” He grinned. “I’m feeling good, really…”
His voice trailed off as he caught his first glimpse of the two barrels, with fire in them, and the rough planks that made the rickety ramps. He had never liked being around fire but there was no way he was going to show any fear.
Suzie grew pale. Rani ran over and hugged Suzie.
“No, Mac, no way. Fire!” Suzie was screeching.
“This is way too ddddddangerous. No wwwwwway are you doing that!” Rani told him.
Rhett came over. “Well, well, well. It’s orphan boy. And idiot girl. I didn’t think you’d show. I see you have your cousin’s bike. A girl’ s bike.”
“It’ll do. She was nice enough to loan it to me.”
“My bike is expensive. Top of the line.”
“Great. We’re all happy for you. You should be able to jump no problem then.”
Rhett had a strange look on his face and Mac instantly realized that the big, bad bully was scared.
“Look, since I’m an experienced jumper, I’ll go first,” Mac offered.
“Experienced, eh? Ok. Give it a shot. Hey, everybody, orphan boy is ready to go!”
The crowd got quiet.
Mac got on the bike and rode around the barrels three times for dramatic effect. He was getting the hang of riding Suzie’s bike and he was beginning to think he could actually make the jump.
He rode far away from the planks, by the old tire and the rusty peanut oil cans. Suzie was scared and she had all of her fingers crossed. She and Rani hugged each other.
Finally, he took off. Rhett was standing behind the barrels announcing the action to the crowd. 6 Mac peddled as fast as he could, hit the ramp, and flew into the air.
Over the barrels.
Over the fire.
But his front tire hit the down ramp and slid off.
He was thrown on his side about ten feet from the bottom of the ramp and, as if in slow motion, the ramps and then the barrels crashed over.
The fire spread so fast the terrified kids ran for the road. Mac was in the grass, watching the flames snake their way through the field in spine-chilling speed. Then he heard a voice.
“Help! Can’t…can’t breathe!”
Mac crawled toward the voice through the heavy smoke. It was Rhett.
When he reached Rhett he saw that he had his inhaler out, trying to breathe.
“Asthma…smoke…can’t breathe!”
Mac tried to drag him but Rhett was panicked and fought him. Just a few feet from them was an old quilt and a few water balloons. He ran to it, the flames coming closer and closer, the heat burning his face. The smoke was toxic, black, and smothering and he was coughing so hard he could hardly breathe.
He broke the water balloons on the quilt getting it as wet as he could, grabbed it, and ran back to Rhett. Covering them both with the wet blanket. He was terrified as the flames grew higher. Mac knew he had to get them out of there, fast.
They crawled toward the street, wrapped up under the quilt. Within seconds a fireman was hovering over them.
“Asthma!” Mac told the man. “He’s got asthma. He can’t breathe! ‘Gotta help him!”
The fireman lifted Rhett up and rushed him to an ambulance.
Mac looked down. He was shocked to see blood. His side had a puncture wound, the blood bubbling out. He hadn’t realized he was hurt at all and he fell back suddenly struggling to breathe. Suzie reached him, screaming for help, and then Mac’s world simply went black.