The Magical Flight of Dodie Rue by F.C. Shaw

you’re mad!” Dodie braced himself for the hit.
    When the punches came, they weren’t that hard. Dodie swung back, connecting with the racer’s shoulder, causing the racer to stumble back. With dark eyes flashing behind his mask, he charged at Dodie again and this time knocked him to the ground. The two tumbled over each other in the soft sand. Dodie felt the boy’s arms as they wrestled, and they did not feel very muscular.
    â€œHold on!” Dodie tried to get up, but the racer gripped him around the neck.
    Dodie reached up, feeling for the boy’s head, and grabbed the boy’s head mask.
    The racer shrieked as Dodie ripped it off.
    Dodie gasped at the unmasked racer. “You’re a .  . . a girl!”
    The racer stood panting, her cheeks flushed and an angry scowl across her face. She had thick black hair cut short just below her ears.
    â€œWhat’re you doing—you’re racing?” Dodie stammered.
    The girl rolled her large brown eyes. “Not anymore!”
    â€œSo sorry for crashing into you! Don’t worry, your racer rug’s gotta be around here somewhere.” Dodie started searching the dunes.
    â€œDoesn’t matter anymore! You know I’m a girl.”
    Dodie stopped to look at her. “So?”
    â€œSo I’ll be thrown outta the Grand Flyer once they find out. Girls aren’t allowed to race!”
    Dodie’s eyes widened. “How did you enter the Flyer?”
    â€œI registered under another name,” she huffed in annoyance. “I went to a lot of trouble to be here, and now it’s over!” Her eyes blazed with a fierce fire that Dodie found both intimidating and fascinating.
    Dodie stared at her a minute. “Well, maybe I won’t say anything right away.”
    Her expression softened. “Why not?”
    â€œIt’s none of my business,” he shrugged. “Let’s find your carpet.”
    â€œIt’s no use,” she said, her voice catching. “We’re way behind now.”
    Dodie spotted her racer rug rolled up on the other side of a gentle slope. He trudged through the sand and picked it up.
    â€œI’m Dodie from Turah,” he said as he passed off her rug.
    She eyed him a moment before saying, “I’m Zinnia from Alsta.”
    â€œNice to meet you, and good luck.” Dodie got back on Phoenix .
    Zinnia muttered, “ Amethyst ,” and her racer rug unrolled, its graceful fuchsia, cerulean, and silver swirls gleaming.
    Dodie was about to take off, but he didn’t feel right about leaving her behind, especially since it was his fault she would now be in last place. “I have an idea of how we can both catch up.”
    Zinnia pulled her head mask back on. “You shouldn’t help me. I’m a competitor.”
    â€œIt’s my fault you’re behind now. The least I can do is help you catch up, then you’re on your own,” Dodie said matter-of-factly.
    â€œWhat’s your idea?’ asked Zinnia as she knelt on her carpet.
    â€œHold onto the back of my carpet. I mean, really hold on.”
    Zinnia grabbed one of Phoenix’s back tassels with one hand, and gripped Amethyst’s braided loop with the other.
    They took off instantly. Zinnia squealed in surprise, which made Dodie laugh. They streaked through the sky, and within minutes they passed two racers, then three more. An hour later they spotted a bright red yurt pitched in the sand below. Other racers were already parked there, and more were arriving. Dodie skidded to a stop.
    Zinnia stepped off her carpet. “Normally I’d say I owe you one, but this is a competition. I mean to win.”
    Dodie could see that fire in her eyes again. “Me too.”
    She leaned in closer to him. “And just because I’m a girl don’t think I can’t beat the best of you.”
    Dodie felt slightly annoyed that she was being brisk with him after he just helped