Lia had never seen a skateboard as cool as this one before. Her nose almost pressed against the window as she gazed in awe at the skate shop’s latest model: a bright red, shiny board signed by the recent World Cup winner and internet star, S-Kate Jack.
\nIt was not for sale, just on display.
\nWhat’s more, Lia couldn’t even skate.
\nWith a huge sigh, she turned away from the window to head for home just as a group of boys pulled up beside her, heading for a nearby field to practice.
\nLia followed them cautiously. For a moment she tried to pluck up the courage to ask them to let her join in, but in the end, she just stood at the gate and gazed at their jazzy moves, daring jumps and windy rolls in a silent wonder.
\nShe did not dare to go inside.
\nHer focus was on Andy, the most skilful racer, who was two years older than her. He had once managed a small salto, a feat that remained the talk of the school.
\nOf course, Andy didn’t notice her, and neither did the others. Girls don’t skateboard anyway.” “When the boys had finished their exercise and were getting ready to leave, Lia started walking too. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Andy going in a different direction than usual, and going into the corner shop. After a moment\u2019s thought, Lia ran after him; she wanted to buy another dairy bar anyway.
\nAt the checkout, she managed to get in the queue just behind Andy.
\n\u201cJust say something to him… Anything,\u201d she thought to herself. \u201cTell him, how awesome he is. Ask him to teach you to skate. Say something, come on! Then something unexpected happened.\u201d
\nAndy wanted to buy a bottle of juice, but apparently miscalculated his funds, as he was 50 cents short.
\n\u201cI have enough, here, have this one on me!\u201d cried Lia, hardly believing she had finally found the courage to speak. And just like that! How ridiculous,\u201d she felt annoyed with herself.
\n\u201cWow! That\u2019s really nice of you! Thank you!\u201d Andy looked at her, quizzically, \u201cyou go to our school, don’t you? You look so familiar.\u201d
\nAndy handed over the money for the juice, and Lia paid for her dairy bar, searching for words but only managing a faint \u201cyes\u201d.
\n\u201cI’ll pay you back tomorrow then! Thanks again!\u201d Andy said, before skating off on his board.” “At school the next day, Lia looked for Andy at every break, but somehow, they did not run into each other. Of course, in the afternoon, all the big boys were there again on the skateboard track, with Andy leading the way. Lia hesitated. Should she go over to him and remind him of his debt? In the end, Andy beat her to it.
\n\u201cHi,\u201d he smiled at her, \u201cI didn’t see you at school today, but I wanted to pay you back your money. Here you go! Thanks again!\u201d he said, dropping the fifty cents into Lia’s hand. Do you want to hang out at the skateboard park?\u201d
\n\u201cI… can’t skateboard. I don’t even have a board,\u201d Lia moaned.
\n\u201cNo worries! I’ll show you how. Come on, it’s not so hard!\u201d
\nThey put their bags down beside the track and Andy called out to the others not to wait for him.
\n\u201cI\u2019ll be your tutor,\u201d said Andy with a smile, then he turned back to face Lia, \u201cGuess what, we’re preparing for a competition! It’s two months away, but the winner will receive a board signed by S-Kate Jack. I spend hours practicing here every day, but I still don’t feel good enough. I have only managed a salto once.\u201d
\n\u201cWell, I think you\u2019re insanely good. I can’t believe all the tricks you are able to do.\u201d
\n\u201cI’ll show you what to do!\u201d” “\u201cSee? It’s all about balance! If you have that, you can do a lot of things. But at the beginning, you just need to roll smoothly. Once you have mastered that, the rest will follow.\u201d
\nAndy proved to be a very patient teacher and even lent Lia his board. Less than an hour later, Lia was gliding along the straight parts of the track with ease and confidence.
\n\u201cYou are a really fast learner. Back in the day, I practiced for days before I got it right! Cool!\u201d
\nLia felt a rush of pride with his praise. Unbelievable, Andy, the sharpest skateboarder of all was praising her! And actually, she was already feeling very proud of herself, too. She noticed the way the wind caught her hair as she rolled quickly past, and couldn’t wait to learn some of the easier tricks.
\nShe got so caught up in it all that she didn’t even notice the time flying by.
\n\u201cOh no! I have to go home; my parents will be worried. Thanks, the lesson, it was great.\u201d
\n\u201cYou are welcome! See you again tomorrow afternoon, right? Since we’ve got started, we might as well keep going, right? I’ll teach you some of the easier tricks.\u201d
\nLia was sure that at this moment, she was the happiest girl in the whole city, or maybe the whole country.” “The next afternoon, Andy came armed with a surprise: he brought one of his old skateboards.
\n\u201cHere, a pressie for you,\u201d he said, \u201cit will be fine for practicing on. I got a new one from my dad for my birthday, so this one is going spare, but it\u2019s still a smooth ride. I want you to have it!\u201d
\nLia could not believe her ears.
\n\u201cWow, thank you! Lucky you, getting such cool stuff from your dad!\u201d
\n\u201cHe\u2019s always sends me expensive stuff for my birthday because I hardly see him. He and my mom divorced ages ago. But now his gifts really came in really handy because now you have your own board. Are your parents still together?\u201d
\n\u201cYes, and yesterday they were really worried when I was late. But this morning I told them that I will come here after school, so I just have to be home by six. We might as well get started!\u201d
\nThat afternoon, Lia learned how to do a stair jump. Andy was amazed at how talented she was and how quickly she got a taste for boarding.
\n\u201cI’ve never seen anything like it,\u201d he said, \u201ccheck this out, guys! Yesterday she couldn’t even skateboard, and today she\u2019s doing jumps!\u201d – as the other boys gathered round to admire Lia’s fresh skills. Of course, they were as impressed as Andy was.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":942,"template":"","class_list":["post-944","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n