Three Days

Three days before the Silverton Speed Cup, the track was full of clicking stopwatches. Zion had two, one on each wrist.

Click. Click. Click.

‘What is the second one for?’ Ava asked.

‘The other times,’ said Zion, holding both up.

A stopwatch cost four coins. Ava had four. Mum reminded her that she could count in her head.

‘Counting in your head doesn't CLICK,’ said Ava.

Louis pointed to the track's big clock. Ava wanted a clock of her own.

Then Bennie passed with a stopwatch too.

Click. Click. Click.

Ava's feet ran on the spot. She could spend her four coins, use the track clock or count without buying anything.

For a moment she listened: so many clicks, and three days still to go. Her decision could wait while she thought.