Theme: Good character

The race

Carlos liked to play sports and was training hard to participate in school games that would happen soon in his city. Many schools, including from other cities, would participate in the event.

Carlos trained athletics and was going to compete in long distance running.

The physical education teacher, who was his coach, took Carlos to the event site a few days before the competition. There, they trained the entire race, from the start to the finish, going over everything Carlos should do well and get a medal.

The big day finally come. Carlos was anxious, but confident. He knew he was a good runner, because he was the best in his school.

Several athletes were called, each in their own category. The sporting event was conducted with a lot of support from colleagues and family members present.

When Carlos' turn came, several boys were called as well. They positioned themselves at the starting line, the signal to start was given, and they started running.

Carlos knew what to do. He took big strides, controlled his breath and measured the effort not to run out of breath at the end, since it was a long run. Early on, the boy has distanced himself from most of the other competitors, running ahead of them.

Only one participant ran close to Carlos, and he was an excellent runner too. He wore the uniform of a school in other city and Carlos soon realized that it would not be easy to beat him.

The two moved further and further away from the other corridors. The boy went ahead and Carlos a little behind. The crowd screamed and applauded that exciting race.

The boys, tired, forced their strides a little further as they approached the finish line, giving as much as they could.

Carlos realized that the boy was going to win, but he did not stop trying, because he also wanted to arrive as soon as possible.

Suddenly, something unexpected happened. There was a white line painted on the ground a few meters before the finish line, which served as a marker for another activity that would take place on that track. The boy from the other school, passing the white line, stopped running and raised his arms happily, thinking he had won the race.

Carlos, who was right behind, noticed the confusion that the competitor had made. He had trained on that track previously, but the boy had not.

Carlos, still running, reached the boy and put his hand on his shoulder. Gasping, he just pointed with his other hand at the finish line just ahead.

The boy got the message and ran a few more meters, finishing the run. He was the first placed and Carlos took the second place, arriving soon after.

Only then, the two stopped to rest and receive the compliments of the fans.

After composing himself, Carlos returned to his colleagues in the stands and one of them asked:

- Why did you do that, Carlos?

- Did what? - asked Carlos, not understanding what the other meant.

- You let the boy from the other school win! You could have taken advantage of his mistake and won in the end.

- No, I couldn't! - replied Carlos firmly - He actually won the race! I did my best and yet he was in front of me the whole time. Do you think it would be right for me to take the gold medal without deserving it, taking advantage of the fact that he is from other city and did not train on the track like me?

The colleague said nothing more. He knew that Carlos had acted correctly.

- Congratulations, Carlos! You did great! You did your best time! - said the trainer happily, giving him a hug.

Carlos was happy with the compliment received. He had been a little sad to have come in second, but his teacher's words reminded him that he had done everything he could, and so he was a winner too.

At the time of the award ceremony, the first-place winner, Carlos and the boy who came in third place, went up to the podium and received their medals.

The winning boy then took Carlos' arm and raised it in a gesture of gratitude, demonstrating that Carlos was a champion too.

The excited crowd made a lot of noise, applauding, whistling and shouting the name of Carlos, who felt very happy.

Carlos returned home with a state of weightlessness. Even with the silver medal, he felt like a winner. He had won in the test of life, which is the most important and which gives us real merits and triumphs.

(Story based on real facts.)

Translation:
Larissa Martine - larissa_am@hotmail.com

marcelapradacontato@gmail.com