CHAPTER 3
WHEN HOOPS FALL

Several weeks had passed since Tobias told Declan about his hoop dancing. Most mornings Declan would come over and help with the equipment and music.

This morning Tobias was alone working on a routine he was putting together. Declan had homework he needed to finish before school.

Sweat poured down Tobias’s back, despite the cooler weather. His legs ached, and he was breathing hard. He yanked the hoop over his head for the fourth time, and it slapped him in the back.

“Ugh!”

Hoop jumps were like jumping rope. But instead of ropes, dancers used hoops, squatting as they jumped. Tobias hadn’t gotten more than three hoop jumps in a row before he fell, fumbled, or slapped himself.

Tobias threw the hoop. It rolled a foot before it tumbled over.

To shake off his anger and frustration, Tobias grabbed three hoops and worked through a series of hoop moves. The movements always gave him peace.

He closed his eyes and listened to the steady beat of the drums. Starting with three hoops interlocked across his back, he popped up two more hoops, one in each hand.

His hoop moves were clunky. The magic of the dance came in the illusion of the hoop movement. His steps weren’t perfect, but they were even.

He spanned the hoops across his back and arms but dropped one when his hand cramped.

When he was done, he noticed his mom watching him from the back porch.

“Looking good, Tobias. Your time practicing is starting to show.” Mom smiled and stepped toward him.

Tobias smiled back. He felt the compliment down to his toes. He couldn’t remember the last time his mom had watched him practice or encouraged his dancing.

She put her arm around him. “If you want, I can help you work on your balance and footing,” she offered. “That should help with the hoop jumping. Fancy footwork takes a lot of practice.”

“I would like that. Maybe tonight?” Tobias asked with hope in his voice.

Mom patted him on the head, pulling off his bandana. “Time for breakfast. Come inside before your eggs get cold.”

His sisters, Mary and Anne, were already at the kitchen table eating cereal. They were eleven and five years old. Mom beelined to the counter and poured herself a cup of coffee. Tobias sat between his sisters and dug into his eggs.

Anne sang at the top of her lungs while crunching her cereal, “Twinkle, twinkle little star…”

“Anne!” Mom said. “Can you sing quietly?”

“Mom? Mom?” Mary repeated, trying to get Mom’s attention. “I need new piano sheet music. Anne and I are doing a duet for the annual Spring Show. She’ll sing of course.”

Mom didn’t answer. She was scrolling on her phone.

“Mom!” Mary yelled, spraying milk out her mouth. “Can you take me to the store after school? Sheet music is on sale this week.”

“I’m sorry. There is a big project at work due today. I’ll be at the office late getting it wrapped up. Maybe this weekend,” Mom responded.

She looked at Tobias. “Can you take care of dinner tonight? I’ll leave money on the table for a pizza.”

“Sure, Mom.” Tobias’s head dropped.

It looked like he wouldn’t get a practice session with his mom after all. He wished his mom had more time for them. Lately, she was always working. He didn’t mind taking care of his little sisters, but it was a lot of responsibility. And he missed his mom too.