Page 37 of Hyperspeed
But Korvi was different.
I guessed we’d shared similar experiences, because while our group had been accepting, he still kept some distance between himself and others. Yet here he was, brave enough to do what I couldn’t. I hoped Korvi had a family who loved him, and friends he could turn to.
Seeing Jeremy, Vaeri, and Lyla fuss over him, I had no doubt Korvi would settle in just fine.
“Okay, gang.” Kai placed his hands on Jeremy’s and Lyla’s shoulders. “We’ve got the egg-and-spoon race, and I know what you’re thinking . . . go as fast as you can.”
Jeremy bobbed his head, like that’s exactly what he planned to do.
“But the foam egg is light. If you go too fast, your hands will shake or there’ll be too much wind, and the egg will fall off.”
They hung on Kai’s every word, eyes wide with rapt attention. You’d think he was revealing the secrets of galactic peace instead of explaining the ins and outs of an egg-and-spoon race.
Annoying as he was, I had to admit he had a way with kids. Probably because half the time he still acted like one.
“Move quickly, but not so fast you can’t hold it steady. Got it?”
The kids ran to grab equipment from the volunteers, and Jeremy approached the starting line.
“I figure if anyone’s gonna stumble, it’ll be Jeremy,” Kai murmured. “He’s too excitable. But at least he’ll show the others whatnotto do.”
“Kind of like you do from the front of the race,” I retorted, shoving my hands into the pockets of my gym shorts.
“I never fu—” Kai glanced down at where Vaeri, Lyla, and Korvi stood close by watching Jeremy give himself a pep talk. “Fudge up.” Then he smirked. “But you’re right.”
I raised an eyebrow. “About what?”
“I’m usually at the front of the pack.”
“Of course you tookthatfrom the insult.”
“Ready?!” Elyn, the head volunteer, shouted from the starting line. She held up an air horn, and the piercing sound rang through the open campgrounds.
The other kids bolted forward, and I’d expected Jeremy to do the same. But just as Kai suggested, he held back, moving quickly yet holding his hand as steady as he could.
Foam eggs hit the ground, and kids dived to catch them before chucking them back on the spoon. In their haste, some dropped them again almost instantly, while others made it a few more steps before their egg fell.
Jeremy’s egg stayed perfectly in place. He watched it with rapt concentration, as though commanding it to stay with his mind. Most importantly, he remained calm while his competitors stumbled around him.
Unlike his teammates, who screamed like a pack of monkeys.
Lyla and Vaeri jumped up and down, bellowing their support as Jeremy edged closer to the finish line. Korvi’s grip on my hand tightened as he watched with wide eyes, wiggling on the spot while his tail flailed through the air behind him.Even Kai was clapping his hands, yelling like a pageant mum with a toddler on the stage.
When Jeremy crossed the finish line first, our team’s screams almost burst my eardrums. But when Jeremy yeeted the egg and spoon so he could pump his freckled fists in the air, I couldn’t fight my smile.
I nudged Kai in the side. “So much for your assessment.”
It was barely loud enough to carry over the commotion, but Kai still heard. He didn’t argue back, though, just shook his head and stared at Jeremy in awe, like a proud parent.
“He did good. That’s what matters.”
“And that they have fun, Kai,” I pressed.
“Yeah.” He nodded. “But if we can help them win, that’s even better.”
“Save the competition for the track, Kai,” I replied with a sigh.
Jeremy had a hero’s welcome when he returned to the group, receiving hugs and pats on the back. But there were three other kids to go, and it was Lyla’s turn to stand at the starting line.
