Lisa was the best jump roper in the whole village. Some of her friends spent time playing with dolls, or doing puzzles, or coloring with crayons, but Lisa spent her time jumping rope. She could jump high and fast and could go on forever without getting tired.

One day Lisa and her friends, Jack and Mary, were in the park playing on the swings. Lisa saw  a sign stapled to a tree. "Look, Jack and Mary. Wilson's Toy Store is having a contest. It's a jump rope contest. The winner gets a brand new jump rope and a  years supply of chocolate bars."

"You should enter," Mary said. "You can jump rope better than any person in the village."

"Yeh! You're the best, Lisa," Jack said.

Lisa thought about it all day. When Saturday came around, she went to the park. There were a lot of other people there. Jack and Mary ran up to Lisa. "When it's time for double jumps, we'll hold the ropes. We've practiced a lot," Mary said. "You'll win. I just know it."

Lisa wasn't so sure if she'd win or not. She saw a lot of other girls and even some boys practicing and they were good. The contest began. Lisa was relieved when Jamie tripped and fell. She thought he was a good jump roper. Annie lost count and stepped on the rope. Olivia's foot got caught and she fell right on her face. Soon there were only two people left, Lisa and Lizzie. Lisa went first. Jack and Mary turned the rope. Lisa didn't make any mistakes. When it was Lizzie's turn, her two friends turned the rope. Lisa thought Lizzie would win, but then she tripped. The rope was torn from her friends hands. Lisa was the winner.

"Yahoo! Lisa won!" Jack ran around shouting.

"Yeah! Lisa won!" Mary danced up and down with excitement.

Lisa went to get her prize. She loved her brand new jump rope. Lisa didn't like chocolate that much, so she gave it to Mary and Jack for helping her. Every day Lisa practiced so that next year, when the contest came around, she'd be able to do her best!