Chicken Soup For The Soul- Redone

Nine Gold Medals

The athletes had come from all

Over the country

To run for the gold, for silver

And bronze.

Many weeks and months of training

All coming down to these games

*

The spectators gathered around the

Old field

To cheer on all the young women

And men

The final event of the day was

Approaching

Excitement grew high to begin

*

The blocks were all lined up for those

Who would use them

The hundred-yard dash was the race to

Be run

There were nine resolved athletes in

Back of the starting line

Poised for the sound of the gun

*

The signal was given, the pistol exploded

And so did the runners all charging

Ahead

But the smallest among them, he stumbled

And staggered

And fell to the asphalt instead

*

He gave out a cry in frustration and

Anguish

His dreams and his efforts all dashed

In the dirt

But as sure as I'm standing here

Telling this story

The same goes for what next occurred

*

The eight other runners pulled up on

Their heels

The ones who had trained for so long

To compete

One by one they all turned around and

Went back to help him

And brought the young boy to his

Feet

*

Then all the nine runners joined hands

And continued

The hundred-yard dash now reduced

To a walk

And a banner above that said "special

Olympics"

Could not have been more on the mark

*

That's how the race ended, with nine

Gold medals

They came to the finish line holding hands

Still

And a standing ovation and nine

Beaming faces

Said more than these words ever will

*

-David Roth