A Figure Skating Story

Discovery

"Come on Lizzy, we don't want to be late!" Her mom called out to her, carrying the birthday present wrapped in shiny red paper with a light blue bow on top.

Lizzy, five years old, ran from the kitchen out the front door, following her mom to the car. They were heading to the ice rink for her best friend, Lauren's birthday party. Lizzy knew Lauren started skating a few months back, and while she was a little curious, she never had a huge desire to try it out. She was excited for the party, but a little nervous about skating. She'd never done it before, and it looked hard.

They arrived at the rink and quickly spotted her friends. They were gathered in the lobby, and Lizzy ran to her friends, while her mom set the present on the cart with the rest of the gifts. Lizzy's mom, Terry, and Lauren's mom, Kristen, were friends, so Terry had offered to stay and help with the ten five year olds. The two moms gathered the kids into the party room once everybody was there, and started with the cake. Next was presents, and then it was time to fit the children with rental skates.

Terry stepped onto the ice before Lizzy so she could help her daughter get on the ice. Terry had skated when she was younger, but didn't have much talent in it, and quit when she was ten. It had been a long time since she was on the ice, but she was still decently steady on her feet, enough to help her daughter, anyway. Lizzy was more nervous, now that she was on the threshold, about to step on the ice. But she wasn't one to give into her fears, so she took a breath, watching the cloud of condensation escape her small, numb lips as she exhaled. She grabbed her mom's hand that was extended out to her, and stepped onto the ice for the first time.

It felt slippery underneath her feet. Before she knew it, her feet had disappeared from under her and she fell backward, her eyes widening in surprise. Her mom was still holding her hand firmly, catching her before she hit the ice. Lizzy regained her balance, and they started slowly around the rink. A few times around, and Lizzy gained confidence, going a bit faster. She saw Lauren practicing her one foot glide, and wished she could do that. She suddenly got a burst of confidence, and started going as fast as she could. She took her mother by surprise, yanking her hand from her mother's grasp. Lizzy lost her balance and fell, but it didn't faze her. Before her mom realized what had happened, Lizzy was up and going again. She raced over to Lauren, stumbling every few steps, but managed to stop without falling.

"How do you do that?" she asked Lauren.

"You skate, forward, and then you pick up your foot." Lauren told her.

After a few attempts, Lizzy had snow all over her, and was shivering and numb from falling, but she eventually was able to lift up her foot without falling. Not as good as Lauren, Lizzy thought, but she was still proud. She soon got bored of that, though, so she started skating around with the rest of the people. It wasn't crowded, so her mom went to sit on the bleachers and watch her daughter. Lizzy just loved skating. She loved how she felt out of control on the ice, yet in control of what she could do. She loved going fast because the cool wind felt nice, she felt free and relaxed. Then she would glide, and feel the slipperiness of the ice, and was amazed each time how she could stand completely still, yet be moving forward so fast at the same time. And when she fell, she loved how it didn't hurt much like she thought it would, but instead she slid across the ice and slowed to a stop, then got up and did it all over again. This is so much fun! she thought.

Kristen came over and sat next to Terry. She looked in the direction Terry seemed so intent on, and started watching Lizzy, too. She was a little amazed by how well Lizzy was skating. It had only been an hour, and already Lizzy was racing around the rink. Most of the other kids were still clinging to the wall. The ones brave enough to venture off were stumbling and barely getting around. But not Lizzy.

"Wow, she really took to the ice didn't she?" Kristen commented.

Terry smiled, still looking at her daughter. "Ya, I guess she did."

Kristen nudged Terry playfully. "You should sign her up for lessons with Lauren. She would have fun."

Terry dragged her eyes away from her daughter. "That's what I was thinking. How much do they cost?"

Kristen told her the details and where she could get more information and sign up. They moved on to other topics, talking about their lives, like friends do. After a half an hour, it was time to get the kids off the ice and go back to Lauren's house for a sleepover (only her three best friends were staying for the sleepover- Lizzy, Katie, and Alexis).

Before they left the rink, Terry kneeled next to her daughter and and said to her, "Hey, Lizzy, how would you like to take ice skating lessons with Lauren?" She watched her daughter's eyes light up, smile wide, and start jumping up and down screaming "Yes yes yes yes!"

"Okay, okay, okay, sweetie" her mom smiled, watching her run off with Kristen and her friends, heading to Lauren's house. She headed over to the front desk to sign her up. She was set up for Friday night group lessons.

And that's how Lizzy's life turned from a normal childhood into a skating obssession.