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every time we run by. Show him we’re out here working hard.”
    The guys had stuck together loosely as a group. Sam and Jake, then Shawn, Tony and Paul close behind. Jake had been ready to pass Sam but wasn’t sure of the route they were going to take. Now they were on the way back to Cedar Grove, a hundred meters or so from the entrance to the parking lot, and Jake was ready to make his move. He wanted to show Dave what he could do. A cyclist zoomed by on his left. A flash of fur flew in on his right. A little dog, leash and tongue flapping, ran right in front of him. Jake had to jump to avoid trampling him and came down sideways. He rolled onto the grass and made a grab for the leash. A woman came running up.
    â€œOh, I’m so sorry! Bitsy, you naughty dog!” she cried. “He saw that bike go by and started to chase it,” she explained. “He’s ridiculous with bikes. He got away from me. I’m so sorry. Are you all right?”
    â€œFine,” said Jake, handing her the leash.
    â€œAre you sure?”
    He nodded. The woman went off, scolding Bitsy. By now, Sam had come back and Paul, Tony and Shawn had caught up.
    â€œOh, no!” said Paul, shaking his head. “Torpedo Dog. I’ve met up with him before. He sure sabotaged your run.” He reached out a hand to pull Jake up. “You okay?”
    â€œFine.” But when Jake stood and put weight on his left ankle, it didn’t exactly feel fine.
    â€œSure?”
    â€œYeah. Just got the wind knocked out of me for a minute.” He walked with the others back to Cedar Grove.
    â€œHere’s my team,” said Dave as they turned in. “Good to see you, guys.” Dave clapped each of them on the shoulder. “Everyone feeling good?” Everyone looked at Jake. He nodded. They all nodded. “Okay. Do a light run sometime Saturday if you can. Maybe run off that birthday cake and ice cream.” He winked at Tony. Tony groaned. “Take Sunday off. Your body needs a rest. See you Monday.”
    Jake shook his head. Light runs were not his style. Neither were days off. He’d continue with his own schedule. He went to unlock his bike.
    â€œHey, Jake?” called Dave.
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œAre you limping?”
    â€œNo.”
    Dave looked at him with one eyebrow raised.
    â€œMaybe a little.” He explained about Bitsy.
    â€œLet’s have a look.”
    Jake gasped softly as he took off his shoe, but he tried to cover it up by clearing his throat.
    Dave felt the ankle. “Hmm. Not too bad. Stay off it for the weekend though. Should be okay by Monday.”
    â€œOkay,” said Jake. But he had no intention of taking the weekend off. This would be the perfect test to see if he could tough it out.

Chapter Thirteen
    At Monday’s practice, Dave had all the boys sit at the picnic table next to the fence. Jake was glad to sit down. He stretched his legs out under the table. He wondered what Dave would ask them to do today. Mixed-up Monday. Could be anything. He could feel his ankle throbbing. He’d thought about taping it but knew that would give him away. He figured if he just tied his spikes tight enough, he should be okay. Tough it out, he thought. But it hurt.
    Dave stood at one end of the table, put a foot up on the bench and started by asking each of them how their weekend had gone. Tony had survived the twins’ birthday party, but just barely. Shawn had had a video game-and-pizza party. Sam had gone to his brother’s high-school science fair. Paul had nailed his rendition of the Star Wars theme at the recital and then spent the rest of the weekend making a log cabin for Social Studies. He showed them the poison ivy on his leg from collecting sticks in the woods and the two burns on his fingers from using a glue gun to stick them together. Dave shook his head. “Guess we’ll have to take it easy on you today,” he said with a laugh.
    Jake let