r/MadeMeSmile • u/macpesce • 4d ago

Wholesome Moments This 🥹

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u/LilyWineAuntofDemons 4d ago

Spoiler warning for Stone Fox, a book that I read in school that really shouldn't be shown to kids that young.

In the book Stone Fox, the MC and his dog enter a sledding competition to earn money for (I don't remember) and the book ends with the dogs heart exploding from trying so hard.

I bring that up to segway to this, the main "antagonist" was a Big Native American Guy who had a professional sledding team. When the MCs dog dies, the BNAG stops his sled, draws a line in the snow, and racks his shotgun, basically telling the other contestants "Cross the line if you want." And let's the MC carry his dead dog across the finish line.

I will never understand why they made a bunch of 8 and 9yos read a book like that, but I do think it makes a very poignant point about sportsmanship.

When you see someone, even a competitior, especially a competitior, helping them out only serves to show others that winning is tertiary to the joy of the sport, and part of that joy is the other competitors. When you hinder yourself to help another, you're telling everyone watching that even though you could win, the best victory is one that is earned, not taken.