Lia and Andy became great friends and spent almost every afternoon at the track. The others took a liking to her, too. They realized that Lia could be very funny, especially when she imitated the teachers. And the faces she pulled when practicing made them all laugh.
\nOf course, they also talked a lot while practicing. Lia was stunned when Andy told her how he used to help his mum by earning money for groceries.
\n\u201cSince my dad doesn’t send much money, only expensive gifts… I used to do shows for the tourists on the other side of town, in this big square, and they would throw money into this hat. I would take all that home to my mum. Which is why it is so important for me to win that competition. It would make me famous and many more people would come to see me.\u201d
\n\u201cWell, I think you’ll win for sure! If you learn the salto properly by then, no one can beat you,\u201d Lia enthused.
\n\u201cTell me… Would you like to take part in the competition, too? I think you’re easily at that level now.\u201d” “\u201cThere’s absolutely no way that I would compete! I only learned to skate a month ago. I would just make a fool of myself!\u201d said Lia, almost panicking. Her, a competitor? She didn’t even dare to enter the spelling bee at school, even though she was the best in her class at spelling.
\n\u201cOh, come on! You know very well how good you are. If we practice an extra hour every day, I think you’ll definitely be in the top five! Or even in the top three!\u201d
\nLia did not even dare dream of how amazing that would be. Finally, she had an idea.
\n\u201cOkay. I\u2019ll enter the race, but only if you promise to practice the salto for at least an hour every day.\u201d
\nThey even shook hands on the agreement.
\nLia became more and more skilled every day: she could not only do the stair jump, but also one on the rails, and even learned to do a flip while doing a jump One afternoon, she was practising an elaborate trick, when the clatter of the boards was last in a huge cheer.
\nAndy raced up the steep slope, past the highest point, flew into the air, and then touched down on the slope in a full 360-degree turn, finishing the stunt with a confident downhill roll.
\n\u201cYou did it! Andy, you did it! You did the salto!\u201d Lia cried.” “This was something to celebrate.
\n\u201cWhy don\u2019t you come over to our place? My mum is making pancakes tonight. And I would finally be able to introduce you to my cat,\u201d Lia begged Andy, laughing, \u201cO sensei of the salto!\u201d
\n\u201cWell, I\u2019d do anything for pancakes!\u201d
\nLia’s parents were preparing dinner when the kids came in.
\n\u201cGuess what mum,\u201d she said, \u201cAndy did the salto!\u201d
\n\u201cWow! Congratulations! And how nice to finally meet you! Lia has told me so much about how good you are! You guys must be very hungry, I have just finished cooking the pancakes, so let\u2019s eat.\u201d
\nDuring dinner, Lia’s dad turned to Andy:
\n\u201cAnd what does your mum do?\u201d
\nAndy mumbled something hesitantly, then mustered his courage to answer properly.
\n\u201cShe is out of work at the moment because the tile shop where she used to work has closed. She was a secretary… but she was actually in charge of everything there.\u201d
\n\u201cThat\u2019s a happy coincidence,\u201d replied Lia’s father in surprise, \u201cI\u2019m actually looking for a secretary because the person who used to work for me is on maternity leave! Give me your mum’s phone number, I’ll call her. Perhaps she’d like to work for us!\u201d
\nNo pancakes ever tasted as good to Andy as those right there.” “The day of the race arrived. A huge crowd gathered at the skateboard park, with the stage next to it and the winner\u2019s prize on display: a bright red skateboard signed by S-Kate Jack.
\nLia’s parents were joined in the audience by Andy’ mother. She was overjoyed: not only had she got a new job, but her new boss, Lia’s dad, even gave her time off to attend the race and watch her son. Only the two kids competing were more anxious than their parents.
\nLia was the first to go: she performed the series of tricks they had practiced most with Andy. She put on a fantastic, flawless performance!
\nAndy’s round went absolutely smoothly: he performed two trickier jumps, a triple turn and a spectacular slide. Only the salto remained. That was what he feared the most because he had not always been able do it right in the weeks leading up to the race. On top of that, while practicing, there was heavy rain as well. He was terrified. The salto was his final trick.” “Andy took a deep breath, and with a determined swing, he pushed himself off the top of the ramp. At the top, he flew into the air. Lia watched, holding her breath as he did a full turn mid-air, landing with a thud on the concrete, and then rolling back down as if nothing had happened.
\nHis salto was perfect. There was no question about it, Andy was the winner.
\nLia came in ninth, but she was very happy with that too: after all, who else could have achieved that with only two months under their belts? And even better, Andy promised her that she could also use the dedicated skateboard.
\n\u201cAfter all, I owe my victory to you as well. If you hadn’t pushed me so hard with that salto, I would never have won!\u201d
\n\u201cI think you would have definitely won even if you hadn\u2019t succeeded at it!\u201d
\n\u201cAnyone fancy some ice cream? Asked Lia’s father, \u201cmy treat!\u201d
\n\u201cOf course, we do!\u201d Lia shouted. \u201cThat salto doesn’t seem so difficult… I want to learn how to do it, too, but only if you teach me,\u201d said Lia, smirking to Andy, who replied happily:
\n\u201cI have a feeling that you will give me a run for my money at that one!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":948,"template":"","class_list":["post-950","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n