“You guys have worked hard, and now all you have to do is stay focused and stick to the routine,” adds Coach Gabriella.
“What if we mess up? What if something happens?” Brie panics.
“Well, well, well, look who’s nervous,” teases Melissa. “This is my first time and I can’t wait to get out there and show them how awesome we are!”
“Great attitude, Mel,” encourages Coach Gabriella.
“Yeah, we’re not going to mess up! Don’t even say that!” Tina adds.
“I have to go to the bathroom,” Ivy says nervously. “Do I have time?”
“Really? Are you serious?” asks Sally. I giggle. Sally pulled the same thing not too long ago. “This is not funny, Kayla!”
“It’s just that they’ve acted like they were so big and bad in their small little town,” I say.
“Don’t be such a jerk, Kayla,” Brie retorts.
“I’m not being a jerk! You guys don’t make any sense. You were mad at my cousin because she messed up your chances to get here, and now you’re scared? Welcome to the big leagues, Belles. It’s time to step up!”
Brie sulks. “I just didn’t know it was going to be like this!” she admits. “Look at these teams! Look at this place!” She crosses her arms and scrunches up her face like she’s going to cry. Coach Gabriella shoots me a sideways look.
“Okay, I’m sorry,” I apologize. “But this is no time to chicken out. We’re competing against the best jumpers in the country, including my team from Brooklyn—my friends—and they’re great. But as much as I don’t want to admit it, my new team is amazing and our routine is the best I’ve ever been a part of. We can do this.”
“All right, then! Are we ready?” Gabriella screams.
Kirsten throws her hand out to the center. “Fire Jumpers on three! One-two-three!” she yells.
“Fire Jumpers!” we all scream. Ivy tugs on Kirsten. She still has to go to the bathroom.
“Unfortunately, Ivy, you’re going to settle down and hold it,” says Kirsten. “After compulsory, then you can go.” Ivy winces, but it seems Kirsten has seen her act like this before. Something tells me she’s the type who will pee on herself just for attention.
Before we can finish stretching, the National Double Dutch Jump-off begins. My stomach is in knots, but I put in my earbuds and play my favorite beast-mode song to get in the zone. I start speed-jumping with an imaginary rope while Sally and Tina are jumping single ropes to warm up. Melissa is warming up by doing push-ups. Wow! And she sure can do them perfectly. Brie is trying to stay distracted by jumping around with her eyes closed and earbuds in. Ivy…well, she’s pacing.
Every now and then I peek up to see where we are in the order of teams. It looks like the six- to eleven-year-olds are up first. They’re so cute. I remember when I started jumping double Dutch. I was as serious about it then as I am now, and I still hold the record for the most jumps in a minute in that age group.
Today, since I don’t have the solo, the least I can do is top my own record and put my new team ahead in the scores. We’re up next! I look up for my mom and dad but still see only my uncle, aunt, cousins, and Cameron. I also see my friends on their feet, cheering us on. I’m so happy they came, but where are my parents?
We take the floor to pass the compulsory test. Even though everyone takes this part lightly because it’s so easy, if you don’t pass, you don’t move on to the next phases: speed and fusion. So if we make one little mistake, all the practices, arguing, and rivalry will be for nothing. With two new jumpers, I am praying hard…on the inside. As we pick up the ropes, I squint at Ivy as if to say, You better not mess up.
Sally and I turn first while Brie and Ivy jump to lift their legs high and then put one foot over the other, hop around on one foot, and jump out. Seamless. While the ropes are still turning, Brie and Ivy take them from us and turn for Tina and Melissa. I’m a little nervous because Tina wasn’t allowed to have her earbuds this time. Tina gives me and Sally a reassuring nod, while Melissa keeps her eyes focused on the ropes. As they get going, they count every step together. Hey, whatever works, do it! And they do. Perfect. Thank goodness! Then they turn for me and Sally, and without fail we complete the compulsory test. Piece. Of. Cake!
I look up. No Mom and Dad. Again, I try to hide the disappointment, but it’s too hard. I can’t help thinking that they just don’t care about how much this moment means to me. How could they not show up? Why would they do this to me? I’m here! I’m here, at Madison Square Garden! As always, I’ll just bury the hurt under my feet, stomping out the pain with each fast and furious step I take.
But first I watch the speed competition, especially Jesse, the new guy. I hear a judge say, “Three thirty-five, a new record!” Wow! Okay. I take one last look in hopes that my mom and dad finally showed up, but I don’t see them. I concentrate on what I have to do. The arena quiets as soon as I take the floor for the speed test. It’s cool that the judges recognize me and add an extra judge to count. They must know that I hold the novice record. I give Sally and Melissa my game face.
“You can do this, cuz,” Sally says before the ropes. I nod without saying a word, but it feels great to hear her say something encouraging. Thanks. Out of the corner of my eye, I see two of the judges hunch over
