The Running Dream

After school, Jessica is unsure whether she wants to hobble over to the track to watch the team’s meet against Langston High. Shandell Norwood sees Jessica standing uncertainly near the tennis courts. She tells Jessica that she can understand her hesitation to go to the match, asking: “But you’re not sure you can handle it?” (156). Shandell also says that if Jessica weren’t there, the team would understand how she felt. But for Jessica, since the meet is against Langston, Liberty’s archrival, missing out and not cheering on her friends trumps her sadness and fears. Shandell finally convinces Jessica to come over when she mentions that Vanessa Steele, the snobby runner who Jessica beat in the Westfield Invitational, right before the bus accident, will be there, expecting to win everything.

Jessica wishes Shandell luck in her events, but in her heart, she wants to “stand among them and somehow believe that I still belong” (159).

Jessica cheers on her teammates and consoles Fiona when she runs a 1600 six seconds off her personal record. Then Jessica heads over to the bleachers and tries not to suspect that people are staring at and talking about her. It is also equally difficult for her to watch the meet where she sees “legs, legs, everywhere” (161). Even worse, Gavin is there to watch Merryl compete in her events.

Hardest of all for Jessica is feeling her body react to the lead-up to the 400-meter dash. She grabs onto the rail in front of her and holds back tears as the race begins. Then she is interrupted by a woman who approaches her, who Jessica doesn’t recognize. The woman is well-dressed, with manicured hands and “She’s not one of our runners’ moms” (162). The woman introduces herself as Claudia Steele, Vanessa Steele’s mother. Stunned, Jessica shakes Ms. Steele’s hand, and the woman holds onto her hand afterward. She wants to tell Jessica that she is sorry but admits she doesn’t know how. Jessica realizes that “In her eyes I see […] sincerity” (163).

They both sit together and watch the remainder of the meet, including Vanessa’s race, which she readily wins. After her run, Vanessa comes up to her mother in the stands, complaining about the condition of the track. Jessica states that she “has an urge to flatten her” (164). Vanessa’s selfish behavior and dismissive greeting to Jessica infuriates Jessica’s mother. She apologizes to Jessica for “raising such a self-absorbed daughter” (165), then abruptly leaves.