“Oh, she’s so close! If she didn’t rush the takeoff, she would’ve landed it,” Frankie said.
“That’s the best her double loop has looked.”
Richelle brushed the stray pieces of white snow from her black skating pants and returned to her two coaches.
“Slow down your takeoff. Your goal is to press deep into the ice enough that you can spring up and off of your toe pick like a bunny.” Charlie walked her through the jump drills again.
“You’ve told me that before, Mr. C, but I don’t get it.”
He puffed his cheeks out.
“Richelle, can you jump up and down for me?” Frankie asked. She nodded and jumped in place. “Did you feel how you had to bend your knees, and push through your skate as if you were going up onto your tippy toes when you jumped? That’s what Mr. C is trying to get you to do.”
Richelle’s eyes were glazed over. Words weren’t helping.
She must be a visual learner. It worked well when she was able to feel what she was supposed to do.
“Watch what my legs do on my double loop.” Frankie took a few steps, set up, and exaggerated her takeoff. Loops had always been the easiest jump for her. Even with so little speed, she could crank out a double without any problems.
Frankie stroked over to Charlie. “Nice one,” he said.
She didn’t think he was capable of giving her a compliment.
Richelle looked at her in awe. “That was so high and floaty. Can you do a triple?”
Frankie nodded.
“Cool! Can I see?”
Charlie cleared his throat. “If you want to try one more double loop, you have one minute left.”
“Times up already?” she huffed. “I wanna do one more. I think I get what you’re supposed to do now.”
“This is your last attempt, Richelle; make it count.” Charlie held out his hand and offered her a fist bump. Frankie watched in amusement. Taking his phone from his pocket, he discreetly started recording her.
“Good speed,” Frankie mused aloud.
Tracking her movements, they watched and waited, collectively holding their breaths. The tiny skater jumped, spun around two times, and landed on a strong edge. Her mouth dropped open.
“Yes!” Charlie shouted and raced over to Richelle. They hugged. “You did it! I am so proud of you, tiny mite.”
“Wait until I tell Mommy and McKenzie!”
Frankie thought maybe she was wrong about him. Did he have a soft side hidden under all the layers of grump?
Charlie released Richelle.
“Miss Frankie, did you see? Did you see?” Richelle clapped her hands together.
“I did; that was so good!”
Richelle skated over and hugged her. “Thank you, Miss Frankie! You are the second-bestest coach ever!”
An Asian woman in a tan parka coat and plaid Burberry scarf rushed over to the door of the rink and pointed to her watch. “Richelle, we have to go. We’ll be late for your piano lesson.”
“Mommy, guess what?”
“You can tell me about it in the car. Let’s go!”
