Pass It On, Arlo!
Arlo is the last runner in the relay. Her team is behind, and the baton drops!
The Blue Bolts were in the final of the big relay. Four runners: Harvey, Oscar, Zoe and, last of all, Arlo. They had a golden baton to pass round the track. ‘Let’s do it for the team!’ said Harvey.
BANG! Harvey shot off like a rocket and handed the baton to Oscar. Oscar ran smoothly and passed it to Zoe. But another team was a little bit ahead. ‘Come on!’ shouted Arlo.
Zoe sprinted round the final bend. Arlo held out her hand. But the pass was too fast, and OH NO! The baton dropped to the ground. Everyone gasped. Arlo froze.
‘Pick it up!’ shouted Harvey. ‘It’s fine!’ shouted Oscar. Their voices were kind, not cross. Arlo grabbed the baton and ran with all her might. She passed one runner, then another.
She didn’t win. The Blue Bolts came second. But the whole team ran over and hugged her. ‘We lost together, we won together,’ said Zoe. And they had never felt closer.
The little lesson
A team wins and loses together.
Let’s talk about it
- What happens in a relay?
- How did the team react to the dropped baton?
Finish stories to collect Arlo as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
More Sports & Games stories
Match Point for Cleo
Cleo is playing in her first tennis tournament against a much better opponent.
Ivy Serves Up a Surprise
Ivy is playing in her first tennis tournament against a much better opponent.
Theo and the Big Pool
Theo is afraid of the deep water, but a patient friend helps him take one little step at a time.
You might also like
The Day Dev Roared Too Loud
Dev is a little monster who finds school very, very hard, until he discovers his own talent.
Rufus’s Match Day in the Meadow
The forest animals hold a football cup, but nobody can agree on the rules!
Aisha’s Bridge Over Bubbling River
A storm washes away the only bridge. Every animal has an important job to do.