One bright and sunny Sunday morning, four friends raced to the finish line of their school's annual 5K race.   Last year's winner, Sam, sprinted ahead to the finish line and won the race.  Just as Sam's friends, Joe and Abram, ran to the 

finish line to congratulate their friend on his victory, Larry pushed through them... 

"Sam, you cheated!"  Larry angrily exclaimed.   "We were all together the whole time and then you just sprinted ahead. You didn't win this stupid race, you cheated!"

Sam's face immediately turned from excitement into tears.   His mom put her arm around him and they walked ahead towards the school with all of Sam's family and friends. 

Sam's family and friends left the race to go to Sam's house to celebrate his victory.   No one invited Larry. He was left all alone in anger. 

The next day at school, Sam, Joe, and Abram sat at a different lunch table to avoid Larry.  Larry sat by himself.  He had no one to talk to or play checkers with. 

Larry's friends continued to ignore him during recess.  

While his friends were playing basketball, Larry walked alone in the nearby field.  His teacher approached him and asked what was going on between him and his friends.   Larry's teacher listened as Sam explained how he was angry that Sam won the race so he got in his face and told him that he cheated. 

Larry's teacher explained that Larry's friends probably did not want to play with him now because they were fearful that he would be mean to them if he lost.   She also explained that it was so important to be a good sport and respond to failure in a positive way.   She gave him three steps to follow.