As You Like It

as you like it

 

 

Two best friends, Mike White and Jack Hill did everything together. They walked to and from school, had loads of sleepovers at weekend and holidays and even played for the same football team. Every time it was one of the boy’s birthdays they had a huge party and invited a few other friends from school. That week it was Mike’s birthday and all the boys in school were getting very excited and hyper for the big day.

The big day had arrived! It was Mike’s birthday, his Mum and Dad given him their presents in the morning and his friends would give him more presents when they came for the party at 12 noon. They party was going to last 6 hours and Jack was sleeping at Mike’s that night as well. 12 noon came and all the boys flooded into Mike’s house with presents in their hands and giant smiles cross their faces. Mike had a badge on his shirt with a huge 9 in the middle.  He was lucky enough to receive an Xbox for his last birthday, and this year he got an expensive mobile phone. Mike opened all of his presents at the very start of his party, saving Jack’s one till last. He had invited 5 other mates, not including Jack, called Jamie, Tom, Ryan, Joe and Andy! So he was getting 6 presents altogether from his friends. Mike had opened everybody’s presents apart from Jacks. Mike picked it up, opened a little bit of the wrapping paper then glanced inside, he saw a green case. He then ripped all of the paper off the present and saw the new F1 2012 game on Xbox! His smile was the biggest smile ever, it covered the whole bottom half of his face. He jumped up off the sofa and gave Jack a massive high five. Mike had wanted the game ever since it came out 3 months ago in December. After all the food, dancing, gaming and music it turned 6 o’clock and it was time for all the boys at the party, apart from Jack, to go home. Mike and Jack said goodbye and waved their friends off until it was just them and Mike’s Mum and Dad. They ran straight into the lounge, they both knew exactly what they were going to do all night until it was time to go to sleep, play F1 2012 on Xbox, the game Jack had given Mike for his birthday. They were both just as good as each other at it, Mike and Jack’s dreams were to become  F1 drivers, in real life, and race in the biggest Grand Prix races around the world. They played on the game for 5 hours then went to bed having the same dream as always.

The next day the boys woke up at 8am and went on the F1 game again until it was time for Jack to go home at 11am. Jack had to go home at this time as Mike was going out with his family in the afternoon, then going for a meal afterwards.

Two months later, it was just a normal morning, and Jack was waiting on the path, leading up to the boy’s school, for Mike so they could walk. Mike didn’t show up so Jack had to run to school because if he walked he would be late, he made it just in time for the bell. At lunch time Jack looked all over the school for Mike and couldn’t find him anywhere! After school when Jack got home he texted Mike asking where he had been and 10 minutes later got a reply saying “Joe told me you said horrible things about me and called me nasty names! This is the end of our friendship. Joe is my best friend now”. Jack was devastated he cried for a whole hour non-stop. He told his Mum and Dad, they tried to comfort him but it was no help whatsoever. Jack’s life was going to be a lot different - but he still had the same dream and nobody could ever change that!

15 years later. “Hello and welcome to the biggest race on the F1 calendar, the World Grand Prix. 100 laps of the hardest course in the world, we always get a great race here every year don’t we, Jeff”.

“Oh yes, we always get the best out of every driver that takes part, but the conditions won’t help today, Andy, as it is pouring with rain down there on the track. My money is on Jack Hill today as he is the reigning world champion and, in my opinion, the most consistent driver out there”.

“Well I would agree but there is also a very strong contender called Mike White who finished 3^rd in the last Grand Prix that took place in Japan”.

“Look, Andy, here are the drivers driving out onto the track now, I simply can’t wait for this one to get started”.

As the man waved the flag the race was on Jack and Mike the 2 best friends from school had worked hard and made it to the top, now it was time to make all of that hard work count! 80 drivers were competing in the race and in the 1^st 50 laps 34 drivers dropped out, so only 46 remain and could still win the title. Jack was leading with Mike in 4^th place. 14 more intense laps passed by with Mike now in 3^rd and Jack still in 1^st, sadly, 6 more drivers dropped out due to the terrible conditions. 40 remain only half of those who started. Another 16 laps had been completed which took the total to 80. Now 34 drivers remain. This had been the best race the world had ever witnessed, with Jack now in 2^nd and Mike leading - it was anyone’s title.

Only 5 laps remain! With Jack and Mike basically neck and neck nobody could separate them. 1 lap remaining showed the giant electric board in the middle of the track. 29 drivers remained but they were half a lap behind the 2 leaders - Jack and Mike! Jack was just edging it with half a lap remaining, the Mike was slightly ahead. Now coming into the last lap they were neck and neck once again. Both of the drivers turned their wheels left directing the car into the home straight then…they crashed in a dramatic style, everybody that was watching the race were shocked! They were so sad that 2 of the greatest drivers ever had crashed on the last corner of a 100 lap World Grand Prix race. Both of the drivers, Jack and Mike helped each push their way out from underneath the F1 cars, they held hands and put their hands up towards the crowd, it was a great sight. Later that day Jack and Mike sat down and spoke about their childhood days. They spoke about the fall out they had and how their friend Joe had got in between them and separated them from each other, they decided to put that in the past and carry on from where their friendship left off.  Jack and Mike had been the heart of the best F1 race ever, they certainly achieved their dream!