Chapter Five
When the girls got to the gym, it was empty. There were no signs that the Superiors had been there.
Dana took in a deep breath. “Just pure sweat,” she said. “No Sumner stink at all.”
Mallory laughed and said, “Like you can really tell when they’ve been here.”
“I can,” said Paula. “The air feels cold and evil after they’ve practiced.”
“It’s not evil you smell after their practice,” said Mallory. “It’s the awful perfume they wear.” She pretended to gag.
Connie’s eyes lit up. “That’s it!” she said. “I always wondered why I stunk like daffodils after I left this gym.”
Dana did a middle split and leaned forward, elbows touching the ground. “Who wears perfume to work out?”
Connie stretched her thighs and hamstrings. “People who want us to know they were here,” she guessed.
Paula bounced on the springboard and somersaulted in the air over the vault. She wobbled on the landing and made a face. “I thought we were going to play by new rules, Dana,” she said. “Don’t you have ideas?”
Dana ran to the mat and did two back handsprings. She stumbled a little on her landing. “Not until we’ve given this practice our all,” she said. “I don’t know about you, but I can use all the focus I can get.”
The girls split up to work on their own equipment. Dana turned on her music and practiced back handsprings until all her landings and releases were perfect. Then she walked over to the uneven bars to watch Mallory.
As much as Dana worried about whether she would succeed, she never worried about Mallory. Mallory always appeared to be in control. This calmed Dana.
Dana stood far enough from the bars not to distract her friend, but close enough to see all of Mallory’s tiniest moves.
Dana watched as Mallory mounted the bar. Her shoulders were open like they should be, and her legs looked straight. Dana knew the handstand was next. She held her breath until Mallory finished her count.
Dana knew that the release was next. But she wasn’t worried. Mallory released and flipped twice in the air. Mallory stuck the landing and raised her hands high in a V.
Dana clapped. “That was amazing, Mallory,” she said.
Mallory blushed. “My legs were a little bent,” she said.
“Just barely,” Dana said.
“It’s still a deduction,” said Mallory. “We can’t afford that.”
Dana wanted to tell her not to worry, but Mallory was right. “You’ll get it,” Dana said. “You always do.”
Mallory smiled, and she and Dana walked to meet the rest of the team. They looked sweaty but satisfied.
“Nice work today,” said Dana to the team.
“Thanks,” said Paula. “Do we get to have fun now?”
Dana slapped her hand to her forehead. In all her concentration, she had forgotten about her little plan. “I almost forgot,” she said. She grabbed her bag and gave all the Raiders scissors, construction paper, and markers. Then she explained her plan.
“I feel like I’m in kindergarten again,” said Mallory, giggling.
Connie followed Dana’s lead and cut out an R. Then she drew pink polka dots on it. “Perfection,” she said, smiling.
Paula cut out her R and frowned. “You don’t think we’ll get in trouble for this?” she said.
“We’re not doing anything bad,” said Dana grinning. “Just marking our territory.”
“All done,” said Mallory.
Dana gathered the other girls’ Rs and slipped them places around the gym: one beside the balance beam, another under the mat used for floor exercises, and others at the foot of the vault and uneven bars.
“I think the Superiors will like the new decorations,” said Paula with a laugh.