"You fall!"
"You face-plant," one kid says.
Coach nods.
"Exactly. Because when your laces are loose, you're not ready. You're distracted. You're holding back because you might fall."
He lifts the skate.
"But when they're tight?"
Kids lean forward.
"You're ready to move. Ready to skate. Ready to go."
He pauses.
"In hockey," he says, "and in life, if your laces are loose you hesitate. But when you're totally laced up, you're ready to move."
"And double knotted too!" one kid yells from the back.
Coach nods thoughtfully.
"That's right," he says. "Because if your laces come loose halfway through the game, you're in trouble."
Dex slowly turns to look at me.
"Wow," he whispers.
Colby elbows me.
"Shelly. That felt personal."
"Shut up," I say.
Maddie raises her hand again.
"Can I say something?"
"Sure," Coach says.
She points to Natalie in the back of the gym.
"That's my stepmom."
The entire room turns.
Natalie freezes like someone just turned a spotlight on her.
Dex leans toward Colby, barely containing himself.
"Oh this is happening," he whispers.
"Dex," Natalie warns.
He lifts both hands. "I am quietly supporting this moment."
One of the teachers blinks.
