Sophia bounced around in her seat while her teacher gave a boring lecture about Peter Minuit. She was nervous to stand up to Coach Brown after school. It was he who was in charge of who went on the track team and who didn’t. If Sophia got on the team, she would become the first girl in the school to run track.

The bell rang loudly just as Sophia’s teacher started talking about Peter Minuit’s relationship with Native Americans. Sophia got up slower than usual and headed toward the school gym instead of the regular exit.

She met Coach Brown in the gym doorway. His eyes looked at her as if to say, “What are you doing here?”

Sophia gulped and said, “Would you mind if a girl joined your track team?”

Coach Brown said, “I’m sorry, but girls can’t join my track team. My track team is for strong and fast boys.”

Sophia suggested, “If a girl goes in a race against everybody on your track team and she beats all of them, would you consider letting her on the team?”

“Oh sure, because I know a girl couldn’t beat my track team. You want to run, right?” Sophia nodded. “What distance?”

“Two hundred meters,” Sophia said hopefully.

“In about an hour?” Coach Brown asked.

Fifty minutes later, Sophia walked into the gym. Coach Brown came up to  her to explain, “Everyone’s in heats. You’ll be in one heat. We’ll see what you do.”

Sophia stepped onto the track. She looked at her opponents and bit her lip. She got into position stiffly.

Coach Brown called, “Set,” and then “Go!” Sophia was off. She did not think until she crossed the line.

She beat all the boys easily. She saw Coach Brown gasping.

“Now can I be on your team?” Sophia asked Coach Brown.

“Maybe, just maybe.” But then he winked at her.