“Court-ney! Court-ney!” the crowd cheered.

Courtney pulled herself out of the pool and raised her arms in victory.

“Great race, Court!” Her teammates slapped high fives. 

Courtney yanked off her goggles and took a deep breath. “That girl was fast, but I knew I could catch her.”

“That was the best race of the season!” a teammate shouted.

Courtney stood tall, grinning. “Thanks,” she said.

A race official handed her a blue ribbon. She stroked the satin fabric, and looked at her teammates. “Where’s Emma?” she asked.

The girls glanced around, but Emma wasn’t there.

Courtney looked at the bleachers. No Emma. 

“I’ll go find her,” Courtney said. “She races next.”

Courtney wrapped a towel around her waist and headed to the locker room. 

“Emma!” Courtney yelled, passing through the showers. No answer.

“Emma!” she hollered again, checking the dressing rooms. Still no answer.

Courtney walked to Emma’s locker. She lifted the handle and looked inside. “Hey,” she said softly.

Emma was squeezed in her locker, scrunched up like a ball. 

“I’m hiding,” she said.

“I see that.” Courtney sat on the floor. “Your race starts soon. You should get ready.”

“I’m scared,” Emma whispered.

“I’m always scared too,” Courtney said.

“You always win. I’m not good like you.”

Courtney reached out and touched Emma’s knee. She thought of their coach’s words when Emma first joined the swim team: “Emma almost drowned when she was two years old, and she suffered some brain damage. She’s small. Her movements are jerky. She speaks slowly, but she’s part of our team, so we’re all going to help her.” 

“Hey, Em,“ Courtney said, “think of your first race like swimming practice. Pretend you’re swimming right next to me.” 

“Will you swim with me?” Emma asked, her eyes widening.

“I can’t. I already raced.”

“Did you win?”

“I did!” Courtney said, holding out the blue ribbon.

Emma looked away and hugged her knees tighter. 

Courtney tilted her head back and bit her tongue.

“How long is my race?” Emma asked.

“50 yards. Just down and back,” Courtney said.

“What if people laugh?” 

“You just ignore them and keep swimming.”

Emma rocked her rolled-up body, forward and back. “I’m still scared.”

“I know. But be brave. You can do it.” 

Taking Emma’s hand, Courtney freed her from the locker and led her back to the pool.

The raspy voice on the loud speaker said, “Next event, 50 yard freestyle!”

Courtney felt Emma’s fingers tense. “That’s you, Emma.”

Still holding Emma’s hand, Courtney ushered her to lane seven. She pulled down Emma’s goggles, and adjusted her swim cap.

“Swimmers to your blocks!” the starter called.

Courtney coaxed Emma to her starting block. “Swim hard Emma!” Courtney said.

“Swimmers take your marks!” the starter yelled.

Courtney held her breath as Emma leaned over. Emma’s hands touched the block. Then suddenly, she rose. She stepped off the block and backed away.

“Wait! Don’t start!” Courtney hollered, moving toward Emma.

The starter frowned and lowered his arm. The other racers stood up. 

“It’s okay, Emma. You can do this,” Courtney whispered, squeezing Emma’s hands. She pushed her gently back to the block, gave a hesitant wave to the starter and crossed her fingers.

“Swimmers take your marks!”

Emma bent over. 

Courtney squeezed her fingers tighter.

BIP! BIP! BIP!

BEEEEEP!

Courtney watched the other swimmers spring forward, but Emma froze. She was a statue, locked in her starting position. 

Courtney heard snickers from the spectators. She tiptoed over to Emma and whispered, “Dive!”

Emma looked sideways. “Now?” she asked.

“Yes!”

Emma flopped forward, smacking the water squarely on her stomach. 

Courtney gritted her teeth as Emma churned her stiff arms in circles, like a windmill. 

Emma reached the far wall. She touched it, turned and headed back. 

Courtney cheered, “Em-ma! Em-ma!” Her teammates joined her, clapping to the chant.

Emma stopped swimming and waved at the crowd. Courtney heard more laughter.

“No, Emma!” Courtney hustled along the pool deck, waving her arms. “It’s a race! Keep swimming!”

Emma’s face went back down. She slapped at the water and struggled to the pool’s edge. Courtney jumped up and down. The whole crowd cheered now. Even the other racers, still in the water, clapped.

Courtney helped Emma out of the pool and hugged her.

“I did it!” Emma squealed.

“Yes you did!” Courtney said. 

She led Emma to the race official. The woman handed Emma a yellow ribbon with “Participant” written on it.

“Look, Courtney!” Emma said, flapping her ribbon in the air. “I got a ribbon!”

The crowd roared. Emma was mobbed with hugs from teammates.

Courtney glanced at her blue ribbon, thinking back on her race. She set the ribbon on the bleachers and gave Emma another high five. 

Emma’s race, she thought, was the best race of the season.