The Long Run

For Thomas, the thing he wants most in the world is to get his dad's approval. When he realizes that he has a gift for running, he decides to go out for his high school track team. Thomas hopes that by joining the team, and winning races, he can impress his dad. Within the first few weeks of joining the team, he realizes that he's far better than his other teammates. Thomas' blows away his competitors in his first few races, and he's finally getting his dad's attention. Just when things are starting to look up for Thomas, things take a turn for the worse. When Thomas suffers an injury that puts him out for the season, he needs to accept the fact that his dream of becoming a professional runner is out of his reach. As Thomas is at his lowest, injured and alone, his uncle comes to him with a proposal. Taking his offer seems like the best option for him, it provides him money and gets his mind off everything bad in life. Although, this job turns out to be more of a negative effect on his life than positive. When things are looking the worst, Thomas' life a changes altogether, when he meets Mary. Throughout the story, Thomas struggles with doing the right thing or finding shortcuts, which can lead to trouble in the road ahead. Through the counsel that Mary gives him, he realizes that getting his dad's approval is not as important as being happy.