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“Great. Becca, can you do Ciana’s part?” Becca was a minor part of the pyramid, so this would be a bump up. I had to arrange a few more things and by the time I was done, I had no idea if this was even going to work.
“Let’s do the first part up until the toss with Ciana.” Two stunts went up and down on the side as Ciana flew high in the back in a basket toss. Pyramids were designed to dazzle you with so much chaos that your brain couldn’t figure out what was going to happen next because it was always moving, always changing. The more ups and downs and tosses and levels you could add, the better.
I made them count it out a few times first, basically mocking up the stunt on the ground so the flyers knew what they were supposed to do when. Once I was sure they had it, I made them run through the first section. It was a little wobbly, but no one fell. I made them run it three more times before I added on a second part. Originally, I wanted to be doing full outs today, but plans had changed. I needed to get this pyramid nailed before I could move on to anything else. Tomorrow would be all about putting the new people into the formations that we’d already established.
We made it through about half the pyramid, and my spotters were extra vigilant, which made things go better. I was proud of them.
“Okay, let’s call it,” I said. I knew them well enough to know when they’d had it, and when I could squeeze just a little more out.
“Good job, everyone. I know that it wasn’t the day we’d planned, but I’m really proud of you all for stepping up, especially our flyers for rolling with it.” I made them all give themselves a round of applause and sent them on their merry way. Dom started clearing up the detritus from a bunch of teenagers being around all day, and I sat down to take a minute for myself. I had the sudden urge to cry. When I saw one of my kids hurting, it was one of the worst feelings in the entire world.
A few tears dripped down my face. The Bulldogs were still practicing, and I just wanted them to leave. Couldn’t they leave me to cry in the gym in peace?
“You okay?” a voice I almost didn't recognize said. Somehow she’d traipsed across the gym floor without making a sound. Guess she could be unobtrusive when she wanted to be.
I refused to look up at her and let her see me cry.
“I’m fine,” I said, hoping my voice didn’t sound like it was full of tears.
“It’s hard, seeing them get hurt.”
Was she trying to be nice to me? That shocked me so much I looked up.
“Are you being serious right now?” Her team’s music was still going so one of her assistants must have been running things.
“Yes?” she said, as if she wasn’t sure herself. “You don’t have to be so hostile just because you lost.”
It wasn't just about that.
“Yes, yes, you’re better than me and always will be, blah, blah, blah.” I made my hand into a fake mouth and pretended to make it talk to say the last part.
“So it’s not just about the competition,” she said, as if my reaction was some sort of confirmation.
“Can you just go away and leave me alone?” I had to wipe my nose so it wouldn’t drip. I hated that she was seeing me like this. I didn’t want to be even remotely vulnerable in front of Echo.
“Fine, fine. I was just trying to be nice.” She couldn’t even do that without being sarcastic.
I bit back a scream and got up and went to find Dom. If I didn’t, I was going to yell at her and make a fool of myself in my own gym. Cam was calling me, so I took it.
“Hey, how’s it going?”
“Can you stop breaking your athletes? It’s really starting to get old.” I heard the exhaustion in her voice.
“We’re the only athletes in school that are still practicing, Cam,” I said.
“That’s true, but in a few weeks fall sports start and this used to be my quiet time of year. My time of rest and relaxation and prep.”
“I’m sorry?”
She gave me a tired laugh. “I love my job, I swear.”
“I know you do.” She really did. No one could doubt that.
“At least I didn’t have a parent threatening to strangle me.” That had happened more than once. Police had been called.
“Be thankful for small blessings.”
“You said it. Listen, I have to go, but we’ll talk Monday, if not sooner. Don’t break any more people!” she said.
