CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY NINE – FESTIVAL GAMES

As they wiped their faces clean, laughing at their messy appearance, another announcement rang out. "The three-legged race will begin in five minutes! Find a partner and line up at the starting line!" Emily grabbed Jasmine's hand. "Come on, we're on a roll!" They joined the line of pairs having their legs tied together. Jasmine felt a flutter of nervousness as she looked at the determined faces around them. "Em, I don't know about this. I'm not exactly coordinated..." "Just follow my lead," Emily assured her. "We've got this." As the race began, it was clear they did not, in fact, "got this." Jasmine and Emily stumbled and wobbled, barely managing to stay upright as other pairs surged ahead. "Left, right, left, right," Emily chanted, trying to establish a rhythm. They were nearing the end of the course, solidly in last place, when fate intervened. The leading pair, just steps from the finish line, took a tumble. In the ensuing chaos, pair after pair tripped and fell. Jasmine a