Tough Trade and Fast Wheels

I was hanging out on the wide concrete steps outside the community hall when this kid set his backpack down right beside me. He had a battered red pickup truck clutched in his hand and gave my die-cast car a hard look. I didn't blink. I crossed my arms and told him straight out: 'Mine took a high-speed launch off the store ramp today, but let's see which one takes the bottom step faster.' We lined them up side-by-side on the top step, counted down, and shoved them together. Mine hit the gravel first with a loud scrape, and we ended up trading trail tips right there under the porch light.