THE RACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22030, 9 February 1935, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE RACE

By BETTY SOAK (ago 1 Billie sped down the cliff path. "So that's where you are, Jan! I've been looking everywhere for you. ,We have planned for a trip in the launch this afternoon and the girls next door want you to come with us. They said that they'd hardly ever seen you and they would just love to be friendly with you, Janet Curlow! Are you listening?" "It's utterly impossible, Billie 1 You know Uncle is coming to-morrow and I simply must finish this poem. You know ■

he is a journalist and that if he considers my poetry good, enough I'll put in for the position of writing for the " Times " that I saw in the paper." " Why, Jan, you're only fifteen! You haven't a ghost of a chance find —not with that trash—" he muttered under his breath. - " I say, Jan, do be a sport. Come on!" But Jan wasn't listening. She was,'gazing out beyond the sea with a far-away look in her eyes. "Janet!" But Janet didn't hear. Billie was disgusted, so with hands in his pockets, which was a bad sign for Billie Curlow, and a pout on his lips, he walked awav kicking the stones as he went. "The silly. She was praised far too much when she won that Prose Prize at school. Uncle was foolish enough to tell her that we'd make a poet out of her yet. Now she has a swelled head and she thinks that she will grow into a genius. No one s game to tell her that she's only wasting time." Billie trudged on, frowning. "Hey, son, look where you're going! With a start Billie looked up. "Uncle! You here?. When did you arrive? We didn't expect you until to-morrow." " I was fortunate enough to get ott a day earlier. I wanted to see you, Billie bov, and the rest of the family. I couldn't wait when I knew you were by the sea." " Did you bring that cricket bat you promised me? Remember, I've got to beat you this time. You will have to play some, too. I've bean practising '• real,.hard!" ~ , „. , , " Ha-ha! Do you think you II beat me? We'll see! Where's Jan?" " She'll be in shortly for tea. She s taken up the poetry craze." "Jan! Poetry?" " Yes, and its atrocious! It was not until tea. was nearly oyer that Jan appeared. She came bounding into the breakfast room. " Mumsie • I've finished it at last. I think Lnde will like it." It was not until then that she saw her Uncle. " Uncle Joe! You hero already? '' Yes, m'dear. I hear you've taken to writing?" " Er-yes," blushed Jan, with a meanins glance at Billie. " Wait, until I co up and change. I'll be down in a second and I'll bring my works on the « Briny Ocean ' with me. It took less time than usual to get ready for tea, and when she came down she' handed her Uncle a rather dilapidated exercise book. " However am I to get through all this? Is it all one er—poem?" " Yes, Uncle." Jan anxiously watched his face while he read. After a few pages she saw him shake his head, and as he went on r further she saw that now and again he would smile, and towards the end a broad smile kept on appearing. _ It was hard for Uncle Joe to hold a smile, and when he had finished he_ burst out laughing. " Oh, Jan, it's---it's— But Jane didn't wait. Hot tears *. were blinding her eyes, and grabbing the book she ran from tho room. Her ' rr uncle had practically told her that she was a failure! Dashing across the room she Hung herself on her bed and sobbed. "I'll never write again! I wish that I were dead. I'll starve myself to v death. I shan't touch another morsel of food," she added fiercely. "No one will miss me." She must have been there for over an hour when she heard a knock at the door. " May I come in?" It was Uncle Joe's voice. Couldn't he - go fiway just when she wanted to be v alone. Bother! She wouldn't answer

i), Piriaka.— (Original). " Look here, Jan, don't be foolish. I know you are angry and disappointed. If you hurry up we shall have time for a walk." It was lovely walking along the cliff edge. The cool breeze was delicious, and far below they could hear the sea as it washed gently against the rocks. " Now, Janet, I'm about to give you a lecture. I may hurt your feelings, but one has to be cruel to be kiud. Listen! Your poetry isn't so terrible, but I" wouldn't care to see it in print.

People would want to know what had happened to the paper. You've been neglecting everything lately. Poor Billie complains of insufficient practise of cricket." " That's only because you beat hira the other night. Billie practises with the boys around here." " But the trouble is not only with Billi 3. Mother seems to do most of the work, father never has his slippers and spectacles brought to him of an evening, you seem to have no friends here. Theiti are other things I could mention too. Get about more, child. You used to be good at tennis. I don't believe you ever play now. This is a funny way to spend your holidays! Thero is plenty of t:ime to write at school; but in the holidays, oh, Jan!" " There's nothing else to do here." " There is swimming, tennis ? fishing, boating and hosts of other things. As I was passing through the village I noticed an announcement of a coming bicycle race for girls twelve to eighteen. Jan, would you be game to enter?" " Oh, uncle, I couldn't!" "Why not? I'll train you. We won't tell a soul. Let's keep it a secret. If you come either first, second or tiird I'll promise you a bound book of Byron's poems!" " Byron's? Oh, uncle, he's my favourite. I-I think I will enter, but pleaise don't tell Billie." " No; we shan't tell anybody." " I wonder where' Uncle Joe and Jan get to these days," mused Billie. " I only hope to goodness ho isn't teaching her how to write poetry. One thing, Jan is much cheerier. Jean, Myra and Pan are always with her now, but it beats mo where Jan gets to these evenings. I wish she would enter for the race, though. Still, she wouldn't have a chance. She doesn't know the first thing, concerning a bike." The day of tho race had arrived. Everyone was extremely excited; especially Jan. So far the secret had beer:, strictly kept. " Jan, be careful, please! That's the second saucer you have broken this morning." " Sorry, mums. Are you going to watch the race? Pan, Jean and Myra are all entering. I wonder who'll win?" Everyone was lining up. Someone gasped " Why, there's Janet Curlow! Fancy her entering!" Billie nearly fainted. But when he saw his sister speeding past, a faint gleam of enlightenment came to him. So that was where she had been in her spare time. Practising. Well! well!" She flashed him a smile, and Billie threw his cap high in the air. Ten minutes later the crowd could see a girl in white shorts and jersey rapidly approaching. "It's Jan!" said someone. " Goodness gracious!" gasped Mr. Curlow, readjusting his glasses. "My word, I do believe it is Janet." " Come on, Jan!" called a chorus of Billie'a friends.

Jan flashed past the winning post, quickly applied tho brake and neatly jumped off.

A girl from the village came a poor second and Pan a good third.

"Bravo, Jan! You've done it!" Thai; was Uncle Joe. Jan was carried, amidst cheers, shoulder high through tho village. She was so happy. No more poetry for her. She'd challenge Uncle Joe for a set of tennis to-morrow, although she hadn't played for months.

" And to think," she said to her delighted family when they reached home, " that I had made up my mind to starve myself to death! Why, I do believe I'm hungry now. We'll have supper at once, please."