Kate’s Vermonth Adventure by Janice Hanna Page A

am a Snow-bot!
    On the other hand…she looked ahead. Sydney had almost made it to the bottom of the hill. Kate had almost caught up with her when something caught her attention. “Look out!”
    Kate swerved to the right to avoid hitting a baby fawn. She tumbled head over heels, hollering the whole way.
Thump!
She ran straight into Sydney, who also took a tumble. Thankfully, Kate wasn’t hurt. But when she looked up, Sydney was sitting in the snow, holding her ankle.
    â€œOh man!” Sydney’s eyes glistened with tears.
    â€œWhat is it?” Kate asked, drawing close.
    Sydney groaned. “My ankle hurts. I guess I twisted it.”
    â€œHow bad is it?” Kate knelt down in the snow, shivering from the cold. “Is it my fault? Did I hit you with my skis?”
    â€œNo, you didn’t hit me. It’s my own fault. I wasn’t paying attention.”
    â€œIs it really bad?”
    â€œI think I can walk on it.” Sydney took a few steps, groaning the whole way. Each step looked more painful than the one before it.
    â€œDo you think it’s broken?” Kate asked.
Poor Sydney!
    â€œNo. It’s just twisted. I’m sure it’ll be fine. When I get back to the inn, I’ll put some ice on it and elevate it.” After a few more steps, Sydney added, “Sure hope this doesn’t keep me from being in the competition.”
    â€œWe’ll pray about that,” Kate said. “The Lord knows you need that money for the mission trip. He’s going to provide it one way or another.”
    Mrs. Oliver arrived. She took one look at Sydney and apologized. “I’m sorry we got separated! I made it down around the next curve before I realized you weren’t with me. I took a little tumble, then came back up to look for you.” She looked at the tears in Sydney’s eyes and gasped. “Have you hurt yourself, honey?”
    â€œA little,” Sydney said. “My ankle hurts. I don’t think it’s very bad, but we should probably go back to the inn, just in case.”
    She hobbled beside Kate as they walked back to the car. Just as the girls reached the parking lot, Michael passed by. He gave them a funny look, but kept walking without speaking a word.
    â€œHey, there’s Michael again.” Kate watched as he disappeared into a crowd of people.
Something about that boy seems…weird
. Just as quickly, she was reminded not to judge him before knowing all the facts.
    â€œHe’s really going to beat me now, especially if I’m injured.” Sydney groaned.
    â€œDon’t talk like that!” Kate said. “You’ll be fine. And you were almost to the bottom of the hill when I knocked you down. It’s wasn’t your fault.”
    â€œNo, you don’t understand. It was already hurting before that. When I rounded the first turn, I think I twisted it!”
    â€œWhen we get back to the inn, we’ll elevate your ankle,” Kate’s mom said. “I’m sure it’ll be fine in no time.”
    They drove back to the inn, where Aunt Molly greeted them with hot chocolate and peanut butter cookies, straight from the oven. She scolded Sydney, her gray curls bobbing up and down. “Sydney, you need to be careful! You could have hurt yourself out there.”
    â€œOh, I’m fine.” She forced a smile, but Kate could tell her friend was really in pain.
    â€œStill, I’ve been skiing for years and I’ve never gotten hurt before.” Sydney groaned. “It would have to happen the day I’m trying to teach Kate.”
    â€œI’m not a very good student.” Kate shrugged. “I’m the reason she fell in the first place.” She buried her face in her hands, trying to stop the tears. “I told you I was no good at sports!”
    â€œOf course you are! You were doing a great job,” Sydney said. “And I think you would have passed me,