Racing the Moon

Katherine Warner
EVWP Summer 2009



The sun had already sunk below the horizon. The sky’s blue grew deeper and darker. It caught my eye, the orange sphere over my father’s shoulder as he drove. My father made a left turn that placed the illuminated ball directly before us. As he began to pause for a stop sign the moon came to life. It got low in the sky, scarcely touching the trees, playfully about to pounce. My eyes watched with wonder. Then the moon whispered to me, “Do you want to race?” Unable to break my gaze I nodded my head. Its auburn color seemed to intensify. Delighted I accepted the challenge.

As my father turned left down the road the orb moved to my side of the car and rustled in the trees rushing to keep up. My heart began to pump quickly. “Go Dad!” my heart called out. The bubble of joy was honorable and fair. Each time my father paused for a stoplight it paused and waited too. When the light turned green it would dash off gleefully. I beamed watching it sprint through the trees. Blissful and happy the moon began to win. “Oh no!” my heart cried. The glowing sphere was so far ahead we might never catch it. My father turned down our street and pulled into the drive way. Unbuckling myself I jumped out of the car searching the sky for a sign of the luminous globe. It was gone.