Love for the Sport

Chapter 10

I'm still sitting in the car with Coach K when I let out the most excited giggle. Coach K looks back at me and laughs. "I am so proud of you Kammy. You did it. I knew you could." I smile in return.

"Thanks! But how am I gonna be on the team? My Momma doesn't want me to. I don't know why."

"Oh Kammy, don't you worry. I'm not positive what we're going to do yet, but I will absolutely make sure that you get to be on the team. I see a huge amount of potential in you."

"Thanks," I say. "What's potential?"

Coach K laughs. "It means that I think you are very good."

"Oh," I say. "Thank you."

"Anytime," she says.

We pull up to my house. Coach K comes over to my side of the car and opens the door.

"Thank you again," I say. "I really hope I can do gymnastics."

"Me too sweetie."

As I start walking up to my front door, the front door opens, and there is Momma standing there. I look down at my little leotard and shorts. I look back up at Momma. She doesn't look too happy.

Coach K comes up behind me and pats me on the back.

"Hello Mrs. Divinci. My name is Karen, Coach Karen. I'm sorry for just leaving you a voice mail and taking Kamri like that, but you have to understand that she has pure talent. I know that she comes from a soccer family. I know that you don't want her to do gymnastics. I know all of these things and more. I think she could go so far in this sport. She is already making friends at the gym. She fits in perfectly. Please please please consider again. She has such an amazing talent."

"I want to do this Momma. I really do."

"Kamri, I know you want to do this. I know. And it's hard to say no. It's also rather hard to say yes." my mom says.

"I understand Mrs. Divinci. But I am willing to drive her to all of the practices, meets, and to pay for her tuition. I am very serious about getting your daughter into this sport." Coach K says.

My mom looks down at the ground, then at Coach K, then at me.

"What's that paper in your hand Kammy?" Momma asks.

"It's my practice schedule. I made the team."

"You made the team?" Momma asks.

"Yeah. I made it. I made the TOPs team too. And I made a friend. Please Momma. Coach K says I have perspential."

Coach K laughs. "Potential."

"Yeah that." I say.

"Mrs. Divinci, please. I'm begging you. This is so important to your daughter."

"Please Momma. I want to so bad."

"Yes." Momma says.

"Yes?!" I almost scream.

"Yes. I know that it's a Divinci tradition to play soccer, but you do seem to enjoy gymnastics more than you have ever seemed to enjoy anything before."

I run to my mom. I jump into her arms. She lifts me up off the ground. I squeeze her as tight as I can. "Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you." I say. "I love you."

"I love you too." Momma says.

As my mom is holding me, I turn and look at Coach K. She has the biggest smile on her face. I wave her a goodbye and mouth the words, "Thank you." She mouths back, "You're welcome." I blow her a kiss and wave. Coach K gets back in her car, waves one last time, and drives away.

"So you made the team?!" Momma asks.

"I did!" I say as I hand her the schedule. She looks over the schedule and smiles.

"I know I should've said this before, but I am so happy that you are happy with gymnastics."

I smile, still in her arms.

"I love you Momma."

"I love you too Kammy."