Olympic Dream Read Online Free Page A

sitting.
    “Uh-huh.” Doug nodded.
    “Doug’s signed on as an all around house helper for the summer,” Kate explained.
    “Too bad he’s stuck here,” said Red. “We can use all the help we can get on our Rails to Trails project. We’re always looking
     for volunteers. Maybe you could give us some of your time now and then, Doug.”
    Mrs, Cannon had overheard this part of the conversation.
    “I’ve heard something about that project. It’s going to connect Lakeridge to two other towns. And I think it’ll pass close
     by your middle school, Doug.”
    “That sounds like a good idea to me,” his fathersaid. “You’d probably go stir-crazy just hanging around here all the time, Douglas, wouldn’t you? And, working outside will
     give you an opportunity to get some real exercise.”
    Doug had trouble keeping from groaning. Leave it to Dad to find a way to lecture him! Why should he go off and work on some
     dumb project anyhow? “What could
I
do to help?” he asked. “I can’t use a chainsaw or anything like that, yet.”
    “Oh, there are plenty of little jobs that don’t require using power equipment,” said Red. “Sometimes it’s great just to have
     someone around to deal with the small stuff.”
    “If you really think so,” said Doug. “But how would I get there?”
    “By bike,” said Red. “It’s not that much farther than the ride we took today.”
    Doug remembered the pounding of his heart when he’d finally reached the carriage house. He wasn’t so sure he was up for a
     regular workout like that.
    “Oh, and I can drive him over once in a while,” said Mrs. Cannon.
    “Or I can,” said Kate.
    “And I’m sure his father can pick him up if one of us can’t,” said Mrs. Cannon.
    “Of course,” Mr. Cannon said. “Although I think the biking idea is the best.”
    “So, it looks like it’s settled,” said Red. “Okay, Doug?”
    “Well, I guess so,” he said. “When would I start?”
    “Monday,” said Red. “First thing in the morning.”
    Doug sighed. He looked over to where his bike was parked. He’d never realized how much it looked like an instrument of torture.
    The bike trip to the Rails to Trails project wasn’t quite as bad as Doug had imagined it would be. Luckily, the last part
     was on a flat stretch of reclaimed railroad bed that provided for a nice, smooth ride.
    When they got there, Red introduced Doug all around.
    One woman, who said her name was Sally, handed him an orange T-shirt with RAILS TO TRAILS in big green letters on the front. A lot of the others were wearing them. Doug went to put his on, but it didn’t fit. He
     looked at the label. It said “Large,” but heknew it was too small for him. He hung it over his handlebars and put his own T-shirt back on.
    Most of the workers were Red’s age or older. Doug thought he’d be the youngest person on the job. Then he spotted another
     kid who looked about his age leaning against one of the trucks. He was tall and skinny, with pale skin and jet-black hair
     that flopped over his forehead.
    There was no time to find out who he was, though. People had started unloading equipment and it looked as though work would
     begin right away.
    Doug was starting to feel a little weak in the knees about joining up with this group, when he noticed the open back of a
     station wagon to one side. In between the people who partially blocked his view, Doug could see a coffee urn and cartons of
     what had to be doughnuts.
    “That’s for later, when we get hungry,” said Red, following his gaze. “Right now, there’s work to be done. How about giving
     me a hand carrying these tools?”
    For the next hour, Doug stayed pretty close to Red. He handed him tools and fetched small pieces of equipment, and once he
     went over to the open station wagon to bring him back a tall cup filled with plain old water. A whiff of doughnuts made his stomach rumble, but he
     tried to ignore it.
    The tall, skinny kid was chugalugging a