I spend the next day thinking about my routine. I have only ten days to practice before the big gymnastics showcase!
My first idea for the showcase is a balance beam routine. It will be perfect for me, since I will be performing solo. The balance beam is totally new for me, but Courtney Bell made it look pretty easy. Over ham and cheese sandwiches, I tell Momma about my idea.
“You’d better practice first,” she warns. “I’ll bet it’s harder than it looks.”
“I know, Momma,” I reply. “But I need Daddy to help me with one little thing when he gets home.”
Momma asks, “Can I help?”
“Yes,” I answer, “but we’ll need Daddy, too.”
Momma nods. The potato chips in my mouth go CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH. Ugly Brother whines because he wants some, too. He loves chips! I give him a few, but he doesn’t crunch them. Instead, he swallows them without even chewing. Silly doggie!
All afternoon Momma watches the Olympics. I don’t want to watch because I am busy learning gymnastics and sign language.
Ugly Brother and I go upstairs to read. I sit on my bed reading my special library book, Sign Language for Beginners. My doggie brother takes a nap. The clock by the bed seems to be broken because the hands move slower than a turtle in tall grass. I read, I watch the clock, I wait. Finally the door to Daddy’s truck bangs shut in the driveway. I run down the stairs lickety-split with Ugly Brother right behind me.
Daddy shouts, “Hello, anyone home?”
“Me! I’m home,” I yell.
Daddy and I share a big squeezy hug.“What have you been up to?” Daddy asks.
Before he can put down his briefcase, I reply, “I’m working on a plan, and I need your help!”
“What’s up, buttercup?” Daddy asks.
“I really need to borrow an old landscape timber from the garage to use as a practice balance beam,” I reply.
Daddy smiles. “All right, then,” he says. “Let’s get you set up in the backyard.”
Ugly Brother and I watch while Daddy and Momma move the timber to the backyard and set it down in the soft grass.
“Is it ready?” I ask.
“Yes, it is,” Daddy says. “Are you ready?”
“I guess we’ll see, because I’m going to try out this beam!” I say.
Daddy and Momma walk over to the deck. They sit down to watch me pratice on my new balance beam. It is finally cooling down outside.
Carefully, I try to walk and turn gracefully on the beam. I try to stay on my toes, using my arms to help me balance. It’s tricky, but I won’t give up yet. Momma always says, “Practice makes perfect!”
Ugly Brother tries next. He is not graceful at all! He slips around like a pig in mud. I must admit, I wiggle and wobble quite a bit, too. Unfortunately, I can’t walk backward or on my tippy toes without falling off the beam. This is much harder than it looks on TV!
T.J. joins our parents on the deck. He begs, “Lil’ Bit, please stop. I can’t look! You’re going to twist your ankle, I just know it!”
“Maybe you’re right,” I reply. “I don’t have enough balance for the balance beam after all. But Carters are not quitters, so I will just have to think of another event that I can do. Besides, Coach Amanda is counting on me to represent our class. The other girls are too scared or shy.”
“That’s the spirit!” says Daddy. “I know you’ll come up with something fantastic.”
Momma says, “You still have time. Maybe your coach can help you.”
Every day for the rest of the week, I go to lessons at Gold Star with Coach Amanda. On Thursday, I see Paula there, and I have something really important to tell her. I run over to meet her on a blue mat.
“My solo idea is not working out very well. No matter what I do, it doesn’t seem very exciting.”
“I know what you mean,” Paula agrees. “Making it fun is harder than it looks.”
Just then, we see Abby Golden. She’s stretching out on a mat that’s across the gym from us.
“I have a secret surprise for Abby!” I tell Paula. “I have been practicing sign language, too. Each afternoon, I work on spelling out the alphabet with my hands. I can already spell K-Y-L-I-E.”
“Now that’s exciting!” Paula replies. “You are a really good friend!”
* * *
On Friday, Coach Amanda has Abby demonstrate tumbling for the beginner class. When she finishes, we all clap and cheer.
Abby takes a bow and says thank you in sign language.
I make a sign like a sliding scoop, and Abby’s eyes pop open wide. She knows I have learned another word. It is welcome, as in you are welcome. I smile, and Abby smiles back.
Paula turns to me and says, “Hey, I have an idea. Maybe we can do a routine together — a partner routine!”
Abby gives us a thumbs-up and waves her momma over. She has been reading our lips and has a good suggestion. She thinks that since we are beginners, we should focus on moves we know.
It’s a fabulous idea, so we ask Coach Amanda for help.
Coach teaches us two more moves to add to our routine. First, we learn how to do a bridge. It’s kind of tricky. We lie on our backs on the floor and push our stomachs up toward the ceiling. I like the next move, the back bend, much better. We start standing up and bend backward until we can touch the floor with our hands.
Coach Amanda joins us. She stands next to me and quickly does a back bend. We are two bridges next to each other! With all my new moves, I feel like I am learning how to be a real, true gymnastics queen!