The day of the race came. The sled dogs were lining up on the track, which was just a run around the block. Aleu got in line between Kirby and Kodi.
"You ready for this," asked Kirby.
"Bring it on," said Aleu with a grin.
"Remember the plan," said Dusty. "We let Aleu win so she gets on the team."
"Right," said Kodi.
The musher fired his gun into the air and the dogs took off. Everything was going according to plan. Aleu was in the lead, followed by Kodi in second, then Kirby, Dusty, and Ralph, and then the rest of the dogs behind them.
Aleu grinned to herself. She was almost to the finish line. Suddenly Aleu slipped on a patch of ice and tumbled down. Before they could stop themselves, Kodi, Kirby, Dusty, and Ralph passed Aleu and crossed over the finish line.
Aleu pounded her paw on the ground in frustration as the musher clicked his stopwatch, ending the race.
"Darn it!" she growled.
"Well that didn't work," said Kirby.
Aleu walked over to them.
"Sorry," the four of them said.
"It wasn't your fault," she said. Then she groaned. "Oh, this day can't get any worse."
Just then the musher walked over to Kodi and petted him on the head.
"Looks like we have a new lead dog," he said.
"WHAT?" exclaimed Kirby.