problem.

        “Nothing,” he replied, “I’m fine. There’s nothing to worry about.”

        “I don’t think so,” Kirby said, gazing thorough him, “You have a problem again with her, don’t you?”

        “How did you know?” Kodi looked startled, “I mean… it’s true that I have it.”

        “So, tell us, Kodi,” Dusty said, trying to get some explanation, “What’s the problem? Is it about yesterday?”

        “No, it’s not. It’s a new one,” Kodi explained, “This morning, I almost in quarrel again with her. She told me that I was so useless. I then felt so mad to her…”

        “Okay, hold it off!” Dusty cut off, “We got the point.”

        There was a moment of silence between them. His friend had expected this that Kodi would easily jump to trouble again.

        “So, Kodi,” Kirby started, “Do you want us to help you?”

        “Us?” Ralph looked surprised while Dusty and Kirby were gazing at him, making him became hesitated, “Okay, it’s us.”

        “No, that’s fine,” Kodi answered, looking to them, “I will solve it alone. If I took my friends with me, she would tease me more.”

        “Fine, Kodi,” Dusty replied, starting to change the topic, “By the way, ready for the race? You couldn’t race if you were still like that.”

        “Of course, I can,” Kodi answered, his eyes were glimmering, “I can run with any condition.”

        “Hey, watch out, Kodi!” Ralph warned, surprised at Kodi’s attitude, “I thought you still had a problem.”

        “Never mind…,” Kodi answered, “Race is first, problem at last.”

        His friend was smiling and laughing due to him, changed in a sudden. They must admit that he was always attracted when it came out about the race.

        “What’s the matter?” Kodi asked, confused of why they were laughing.

        “Oh, nothing,” Kirby answered, still laughing, “Now, c’mon. The race is going to start.”

        With it, they were running fast through the alley to the main street where the race would be taken. Together, they could feel the hot flowing around in their body, forcing them to push it more and more.

        Sometime later, the race was about to begin. With every second passed down, all of dogs became impatient, ready to run with full speed, giving the best for it. Kodi, instead of nervous, he felt so excited. His blood seemed wanting to explode, making him ready for anything.

        “Get ready, now!” the man yelled, warning every dog to prepare themselves.

        “Kodi!” Dusty called from the start line, “Ready to lose!”

        “Kodi, this time…,” Kirby added, trying to support Dusty, “It will be different.”

        “Whatever…” Kodi thought, glancing at them.

         He had already prepared everything just for this day, the day that was so important. His paws were ready to launch, running and leaving everyone in the dust. As soon as he was ready, the signal was being given.

        “This is it…” Kodi thought, full of confident, “I’ll do the best.”

        “Go!” the man yelled again, echoing his sound for the signal.

        Without wasting a time, Kodi and the others pushed themselves forward, going into the race.

        The race was going fierce. During it, Kodi was on the first while Dusty and Kirby were behind him, leaving Ralph and the others. Kodi didn’t notice that Dusty began to catch up until it was too late. Dusty was on the first now.

        “What?” Kodi thought, surprised, “How she could do it?”

One by one caught him up until Kodi was on the fourth, with Dusty on the first, Kirby the second, and Ralph the third. He began panicking, as far as they were starting to leave him, he felt he couldn’t win this race.

        “Oh, no!” Kodi thought, panicked and confused, “I’m going to lose now.”

        His spirit began to disappear in the middle of race, losing his own hope to win. Suddenly, he remembered what his father had said about the race, that he still could become the winner even he was on the last position. Kodi was realized from his frustration. He knew he could do the same thing too like his father had done, giving him a new hope.

        “Okay, Kodi!” Kodi thought, still running, “Time to use your head!”

        Thinking for a moment, he then smiled upon them who were in front of him. It looked like he had already gotten an idea.

        “Now!” Kodi thought, starting to make his plan work out.

        Instead of speeding, he shifted his speed into low level, making him vulnerable to be caught up. Slowly, he took the last position, but still keeping the distance with the others.

        “Balto, what he is doing?” Jenna asked, watching Kodi from the distance. “Why he is slowing?”

        “I’m not sure, Jenna,” Balto answered, glancing at Kodi, then back to her, “But, I’m sure he has a plan.”

        True to what Balto had said before, Kodi was sure to have something, hidden in his mind. The finish line was about to appear, but still, Kodi wasn’t going to push forward. It was going to be like that until suddenly, Kodi started run in unexpected speed, chasing the others from behind. The others, by the way, surprised at him that coming quickly to them.

        Since Kodi got more energy from the rest on the last position, he sped up, leaving the others behind without glancing back. All the dogs, included Kirby, Ralph, and Dusty, couldn’t after him, losing most of their energy at first. Finally, Kodi was on the first again, making a great distance between them until he felt the finish line.

        “Yeah!” he shouted, barking loudly, “I win!”

        Pride was felt by Kodi as everyone began to cheer him for winning the race. He seemed wanting to explode into a thousand pieces, happy for doing the best. At the moment, his parents came closer, starting to congratulate him. Kodi, by the way, didn’t notice them due to the cheers that still continued from many people who were standing at the distance.

        “Congratulations, son!” Balto said, making him realize from his fantasy, “I proud of you!”

        “Oh, dad…,” Kodi looked surprised, “Thank you very much.”

        By the time he was nuzzling his father, his friends were heading towards and congratulating him as well as Balto did.

        “Hey, Kodi!” Kirby said, “I thought you were lost.”

        “Yeah!” Dusty added, “I almost became the winner if you were still on the last position.”

        “But you didn’t, did you?” Kodi replied, kidding at her, “I’m the winner now.”

        “Okay, enjoy it!” Dusty answered, “But, someday I will beat you.”

        “I will be waiting…,” Kodi said, laughing to her.

        His friends were laughing too, knowing it wasn’t the matter again because they did the best that they could do. With everything they had done, they felt satisfied.

        “Kodi!” Ralph called, ending his laugh, “Do you want your medal? Because if you didn’t want it, I would take it.”

        “Of course, I want it!” Kodi answered, excited at this, “That will be my greatest satisfaction.”

        With that, Kodi launched himself towards to the place where the medals were given. He was so happy, even he couldn’t hold it for a moment because it was his first medal. The thing that could make him to feel like a real champion.

        “Look, Balto!” Jenna started, pointing at Kodi, “It looks like he is so happy.”

        Balto just gave a smile upon him.

        “Oh, by the way…,” Jenna continued, “I have something for you.”

        “For me?” Balto looked surprised, “What is it?”

        “Hold on, Balto,” Jenna answered, “I will give it tomorrow.”

        “Tomorrow? Why?” Balto asked, couldn’t wait for any longer, “Why not today?”

        “Balto…,” Jenna answered him, smiling, “You should be patient. Beside, you will know by the