Hand-Me-Down Dreams
Mikey
pressed her cheek against the cold windowpane and watched
the gray clouds roll across the winter sky. She was imagining
herself at the Olympics, spinning across an ice rink in
a sequined red skating dress and white figure skates. The
crowd threw bouquets, and the judges stood to applaud her.
Her brother, Robert, slapped her on the back. “I’m ready, Mikey. Let’s go skating.”
“An ice storm is due later tonight,” warned Mom. “If the weather should get worse, come right home.”
“We’ll be home early,” said Robert. “This is Mikey’s first time on skates. Her ankles won’t last long.”
“You just don’t want to be seen with your little sister,” teased Mikey. Robert pulled Mikey’s hat down over her eyes and strode out the door. Mikey picked up her skates and followed him, her snowsuit swish-swishing as she walked.
Leaning against the wind, brother and sister walked on hard, packed snow to the edge of town. There they crossed the railroad tracks and slid down a long, steep hill to the Mill Pond. Two of Robert’s friends, Brian and Ron, were already there playing hockey.
“Where is everyone else?” Robert asked, putting on his skates.
“The storm warning must have scared them,” Ron said.
Mikey pushed her feet into her cold black hockey skates.
“I’ll lace them for you,” Robert grumbled. “You’re too slow. Hey, aren’t those my old skates?”
“Yes. Mom wouldn’t let me get white figure skates,” said Mikey. “She wouldn’t let me wear a short skating dress either. How can I be a beautiful skating star in black hockey skates and a puffy old snowsuit?”
“Maybe you’ll be a professional hockey player!” said Robert, laughing.
“No way!” Mikey said. “I’m going to be an Olympic figure skater.”
When Mikey stood up, her ankles caved in against each other. She hobbled across the snow, but as soon as she stepped onto the ice, her feet flew out from under her.
“Maybe the snowsuit was a good idea,” she thought, lying on her back looking up at the gathering dark clouds. Robert helped her to her feet.
“Go play with your friends,” she said, pushing him away. “I’m fine.”
With great effort Mikey kept her ankles straight. She skated pretty well until she tripped over a clump of frozen cattails and sprawled on her belly.
“It doesn’t look this hard on TV,” she thought, getting to her hands and knees. She tried to stand, but every time she put a skate on the ice, it took off with a will of its own.
“Dig your points in,” called Robert from across the pond. She dug the point of one skate into the ice, then the point of the other, and stood up. Mikey staggered around the pond with her arms outstretched, looking more like Frankenstein’s monster than an Olympic figure skater. Then, above the howl of the wind she heard Robert call, “Come here, Mikey. We need a goalie.”
“I don’t know how to play,” said Mikey when she had worked her way over.
“All you have to do is keep the puck from crossing the goal line,” Robert said, pointing to a line scratched into the ice. “Just stand here. At least they’ll have to shoot around you.”
“I brought an extra mask and stick,” said Ron, pulling a heavy wire mask over Mikey’s head. “I see you wore your own padding.”
A freezing rain began to fall. Squinting, Mikey watched Ron shoot the puck toward her. She lunged for it with her stick, but she slipped and fell.
“Way to go, Mikey!” Robert cheered.
“Don’t make fun of me!” Mikey shouted back. Then she noticed that she had fallen on top of the puck.
“Great save!” said Robert, lifting her up.
“Beginner’s luck,” muttered Ron.
The boys skated off again. This time Brian took the puck and skated straight at Mikey. Forgetting her freezing feet and aching ankles, she focused on the puck sliding through the sleet and ice. Just when she thought Brian would hit her, he swerved, aiming the puck between her feet. Mikey dropped to her knees, trapping the puck in front of the goal line.
“Another great save!” Robert spun her around. “Come on guys, admit it! She’s got guts.”
Suddenly Mikey noticed the sharp needles of ice stinging her face. The wind was whipping waves of sleet across the pond.
“We’d better go,” said Brian.
The edge of the pond was barely visible. Before Mikey reached the shore, the boys were out of their skates. A layer of solid ice had formed on top of the snow.
“I’ve
never seen anything freeze so fast,” said Brian. He
tried to climb the hill but kept sliding back down.
Mikey’s soggy laces tangled around her ankles. Blinking sleet from her eyelashes, she struggled to get out of her skates.
“Let’s try crawling,” Robert suggested to Brian. “But first toss up your gear.”
The three boys threw their hockey gear to the top of the hill and tried crawling up the path, but the sleet had created a smooth glacier with nothing to hold on to.
“We’re stuck here!” cried Ron.
Mikey remembered Robert’s words: Dig your points in.
“I know what to do!” Mikey shouted, retying her skates. She jabbed the points of her skates into the ice to keep from sliding backward and climbed slowly up the hill. When she reached the top, she tossed the boys’ skates down to them, and they inched up the hill after her.
By the time they reached the top, the sleet had changed to fluffy snow. The street lights came on, transforming the ice-coated world into a dazzling winter fairyland. Robert and Brian held Mikey’s arms, Ron carried the equipment, and they skated home right up the middle of the street. Mikey imagined that they were skating a victory lap around the Olympic rink and she was a member of a gold-medal hockey team.
