Closer Than A Brother: A Story of Friendship: Mini Milagros Collection, #2

By Torema Thompson

"Marlon mustered a fake smile, but inside he felt trapped. Only twenty minutes ago he had been excited to have been invited to lunch with these boys, but now he felt out of control and… scared."

 

The "Fast Friends", Marlon & Sharon, are selected to attend a special summer camp called Track Talent.

 

They must both develop their athletics skills and overcome the pressures of competition to be crowned Track Talent Champion.

 

But will their friendship survive these challenges?

 

Will Marlon's pride get the better of him…?

Will Sharon be the friend Jesus is asking her to be…?

What are the Turnpark boys really planning to do...?

 

GET YOUR COPY TO FIND OUT!
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pura Kids Books
• Release date: Mar 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781739845544

Torema Thompson

Torema Thompson is a London-based athlete, author, and adviser, creatively sharing her journey (on & off the track), and encouraging others in their athletics, business, faith & fitness. To find out more, visit: www.toremathompson.uk.

Book preview

There are friends who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

(Proverbs 18:24, NLT)

~ INTRODUCTION ~

Marlon rocked onto the back two legs of his chair, his hazel eyes hazed and his mind drifting half an hour ahead into the school summer holiday. The last day of year 5 had seemed to drag for Marlon. He had heard when his teacher, Miss Fitz, had reminded the class of who their new teacher would be when they returned, but her voice had since become a distant echo. His thoughts were preoccupied with Track Talent, the athletics sports camp that he would be attending, starting on Monday.

Marlon was quite like most ten-year-old boys. He was an average height and had a wavy ginger mop for hair. He wore an oversized hand-me-down school jumper, courtesy of his older sister, Tia, who had left Mayberry Primary School two years before. Marlon had always liked sport and deeply desired to one day make it to the Olympics. For him, Track Talent would be his first step to success.

Still in thought, he peered around the classroom until his eyes landed on his best friend, Sharon. She was attentive to Miss Fitz and appeared to be laughing at a joke that Miss Fitz had just made. Sharon was a pretty mixed-race girl whose coils were always presented as two big plaits: one at either side of her head. Although small in stature, Sharon was a no-nonsense, sometimes bossy, but loyal friend.

Their friendship had begun two years earlier when they were in year 3. Sharon had been the new kid on the block back then because she had started at Mayberry in year 3, as opposed to in reception. Nevertheless, that hadn’t stopped her from laying down her sporting authority on her first day in the school playground. It had been a year 3 football day in the games cage and Sharon had lined up amongst the boys to play. The lunchtime sports leader had selected Marlon and Sharon to be on the same team, but after Marlon protested that he didn’t want a girl on his team, Sharon made it clear that she didn’t want to be on the same team as a rude fat head and swapped teams with a little boy named Max. She soon showed up Marlon as she managed to kick the ball between his legs during the game, leading him to acquire the nickname Nutmeg for the next two weeks. It was after that incident when Marlon decided that maybe Sharon was alright and that she could be on his team whenever she wanted.

Now at the end of year 5, Marlon and Sharon had come to be known as the Fast Friends. Having maintained their victories for three years running, she was the fastest girl in their year group and Marlon was the fastest boy. She was actually the faster of them both, but Marlon had to keep some pride so keeping them in their gender categories was the way that he always described the facts. 

Sharon looked over at Marlon when she realised, he was looking at her, and made hand gestures that told Marlon to stop daydreaming and to listen to Miss Fitz. Still swinging on his chair, he turned his attention back to Miss Fitz who had just asked the class to share about anything exciting they would be doing during the summer holidays.

We know Marlon and Sharon are very lucky to be going to Track Talent this summer, she said brightly.

Miss Fitz was relatively round and always cheerful. She had frizzy dark brown hair that bounced against her caramel complexion and had a unique ability to make everything sound fun. Although Marlon had always found it difficult to concentrate in class, when he had gotten around to listening in year 5, Miss Fitz had always been able to make him interested.

Ah, Miss! Yeah! We’re starting on Monday! Marlon shouted out in response. My mum’s gonna take both of us!

Really!? Miss Fitz replied in a tone just short of