Mal Kennington Malone

Mal Kennington Malone

wasn’t good at games.

His classmates always laughed

and called him names:

dumb-chum, drophead,

you silly billy shark –

biggest flapfingers

in Bladestone Park.

I think I’ll try running –

I know I’m not bad.

I could really show ’em,

he told his Dad.

He trained and trained

around an old dirt track;

he trained every day,

ran to school and back.

He trained and trained

and ran like a hare,

even trained when it rained,

racing everywhere.

When sportsday came,

he was first off the mark,

became the fastest winner

in Bladestone Park.

© Katherine Gallagher