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"Hurry up, Pen! We're going to be late!" Colin shouted from the bottom of the stairs. "Just a minute!" Penelope called back from their bedroom, putting the finishing touches on her makeup. She grabbed her tote bag, gave herself a quick look in the mirror, and headed out the door.
She made her way down the stairs to where Colin was waiting, already tapping his foot. He soon smiled the moment he saw her.
Today is the junior school division's track and field competition, and Elliot, their eldest son, will be running in the 4x100m relay. As parents, Colin and Penelope couldn’t be more excited—or proud—to see him representing his school’s track and field team.
Elliot has been training hard with his teammates for months, and today is the day all their effort comes together. This is the moment they’ve all been looking forward to.
"Come on now, Pen. We’ve got to be at the track in 30 minutes," Colin called out as he grabbed the car keys and headed out the door to start the car. Penelope scooped Agatha up from her high chair and made her way outside.
She gently buckled their daughter into the toddler car seat in the back, then slid into the front passenger seat beside Colin.
"Okay, let’s go," she said with a smile.
And with that, they drove off towards the competition venue.
Less than 30 minutes on the road, they have arrived. After parking the car, Colin and Penelope stepped out and made their way through the crowd. The place was buzzing with excitement - spectators everywhere. Students and teachers dressed in their school colors, and proud parents cheering from the bleachers as the current race unfolded.
"Why don’t you find us a seat while I grab some drinks and snacks from the food stand?" Colin said, tossing a quick smile to his wife and walked towards the food stand.
With Agatha nestled in her arms, Penelope climbed up the bleachers and found a spot in the third row. Thankfully, the weather was just right—not too hot, not too chilly. Agatha, who has been playing with her toy phone, settled quietly on her mother’s lap.
A few minutes later, Colin returned, carrying two bottles of water, a bag of chips, a pack of nuts, a pretzel, and a cookie.
"That was quick," Penelope said as she reached for the pretzel.
"Apparently there's not much people at the food stand. Looks like most people have already settled in," Colin replied, taking a seat beside her. "I have checked the race schedule. Elliot’s race is after the next two. I can’t wait to see him in action. He’s going to win, I just know it."
Penelope gave him a subtle smile. "Win or lose, Elliot’s already made us proud, Colin. Not everything has to be taken so seriously. What matters the most is that he have tried his best and had fun."
Colin chuckled. "Did you forget how competitive we Bridgertons are? We always strive to be the best."
"I know," she said with a grin. "But even the most competitive Bridgerton needs to come down from his high horse every now and then."
Colin looked at her, for a moment. He was in awe of her ability to keep things in perspective. He smiled, once again reminded how lucky he was to have Penelope by his side.
The next two races flew by quickly, the crowd growing louder with each event. Colin and Penelope kept their eyes on the schedule board while Agatha, content with her cookie, sat happily.
Then came the announcement.
“Next up: the Junior Boys’ 4x100 meter relay.”
Colin sat up straight. “This is it! Elliot is up next." Penelope smiled, reached over to squeeze his hand. “Let’s hope he runs well today.”
They watched as Elliot and his teammates stepped onto the track, wearing their bright blue school's sports jersey with matching shorts. He looked focused, standing at the starting block for his leg of the race. His eyes scanned through the crowd. And then he spotted them.
Colin stood up, waving. “You’ve got this, Elliot!”
Elliot gave a quick smile and a nod, then turned his attention back to the track, focusing on the race. He took his position as the third runner.
Bang!
The starter pistol fired, and the race began.
The first two runners sprinted forward and the baton handoffs were clean. When it was Elliot's turn, he took the baton, he exploded forward, running with everything he had. Penelope held her breath, eyes fixed on her son’s determined face as he raced down the curve.
“Look at him go. He's flying.” Colin said, beaming with pride.
Elliot passed the baton to the final runner, who dashed towards the finish line. They were neck-to-neck with another team. As the runners crossed the line, it was clear—they had placed second.
Cheers erupted. Some teams were celebrating wildly. Elliot’s team on the other hand huddled together, catching their breath, giving each other a pat on the back.
“Second place,” Colin said, a little surprised, but not disappointed. Penelope nodded with a proud smile. “And not a single baton dropped. That itself is a win.”
As the boys jogged off the track, Elliot looked up to the bleachers and spotted his parents again in the crowd. Penelope waved at him. “You did amazing!” she called out. Elliot just grinned back at her.
“You know,” Colin said as he sat back down, “I might have been hoping for a win, but I’ve never been more proud of him.”
Penelope leaned in to Colin and whispered, “Because it’s not always about first place. It’s about giving your best, and crossing that finish line.”
Colin glanced at her with a fond smile. “You always know the right thing to say don't you?” and gave Penelope a peck on her cheeks. She just blushed.
Agatha, unsure of what was happening, clapped her tiny hands, mimicking the applause around her. Penelope just laughed softly. “Looks like we've got two proud cheerleaders today.”, she said.
After all the races and award ceremony has ended, families and students began to gather around the track. While his teammates celebrated, Elliot lingered at the edge of the track, his expression unreadable. The silver medal around his neck didn’t seem to lift up his spirits.
Penelope, with Agatha in tow, spotted him first. “There he is,” she said, gently nudging Colin. They walked over weaving through groups of parents and students. When they reached him, Elliot didn’t look up right away. He was staring at the track, his jaw tight.
“Hey there buddy,” Colin said lightly. “You ran a great race out there.”
Elliot finally looked at them, his face clouded with frustration. “I really thought we could win. I really thought we could do better.”
Penelope pulled Elliot into a warm hug. “Oh sweetheart, you were incredible out there. You ran your heart out and we saw everything.”
Taking a step back from his mother's embrace, Elliot muttered, “But we didn’t win. We trained so hard and I wanted us to be first.”
Colin crouched down infront of him and placed both his hands on his son's shoulders. "And that’s okay. Wanting to win is a good thing. But winning isn’t the only thing that matters. You tried your best, and the effort you put in is what truly counts."
Penelope nodded. "And sometimes, trying your best but still falling short is part of the learning process. That silver medal around your neck—you earned it. No matter what place you get, we're still proud of you because you gave it your all."
Elliot glanced down at the medal, then looked at Agatha, who was reaching out with her chubby fingers, trying to grab it. She babbled excitedly, which made Elliot crack a tiny smile.
"Hey, Aggie. Do you like this shiny medal?" Elliot asked with a smile, gently waving it in front of his little sister, Agatha. She reached for it with a happy giggle. "Guess she approves."
Penelope said with a soft laugh. “Yes and she is definitely your biggest fan. She doesn't care which place you came in. To her, you are already a champion”
Colin tousled Elliot’s hair. “One race doesn’t define you. But how you respond to it, that shows who you are. And if she is able to to talk properly, I'm sure she'd say you ran like a true Bridgerton. Fast, fierce and slightly dramatic.”
Elliot chuckled and nodded slowly. “You're right. Thanks, Mum. Thanks, Dad.”
Colin stood up and held out his hand. “Now, how about we go get some ice cream? I think you deserves a big scoop, don’t you think?”
“With extra sprinkles?” Elliot asked, a little more hopeful now.
“Of course,” Colin grinned. “Sprinkles are non-negotiable.”
As they left the field, the family walked not with just a medal, but with something far more valuable—resilience, support, and a reminder that love isn’t earned by winning, but by trying and never giving up.
Penelope smiled at Colin as they left the track hand in hand. The race might have been over, but the lessons they’d learned and the love they’d shared would last far longer than any medal ever could.