Chapter 18 2004
Looking back, had I not been hit by that basketball, my life would not have turned out the way it did.
It was the reason Dylan and I became friends.
It was the reason I met Ivy. It was the reason I got to know Hawu and the other Somali women in the kitchen and had a safe place to go during free time when the library was closed.
And it was the reason Coach Lee came to my room that night after dinner, altering my course forever.
Study time was over, and I was on my bed reading Artemis Fowl, which was so good that at first I didn’t hear the knock.
She knocked again. “Vivien, are you in there?”
I set down the book and opened the door.
“May I come in?”
I opened the door wider, and she stepped inside. She looked around, and her brow creased, clearly surprised to see my windowless, cramped room. Her expression tightened, though she continued to smile.
“How’s your nose?” she asked.
“Okay.” I felt more embarrassed than anything.
“I had an idea, and I wanted to run it by you.”
I was surprised. Other than Profe, adults didn’t typically ask my opinion on things.
“There’s a program being offered through Winona State University, a gymnastics program. The coach is looking for girls who might be interested in trying the sport. How do you feel about gymnastics?”
I didn’t feel any way about it except that I had liked watching it with Mother during the Olympics.
“It’s a commitment,” she said. “The university’s about twenty minutes from here, and you would need to go every afternoon during the week. I already checked with Ms. Bamford, and she said she’d arrange for the shuttle van to drive you.”
It took several seconds for me to realize what she was saying, and when I did, my eyes popped wide. “No more PE?”
“Only if you’re interested,” she said nonchalantly as if it was no big deal, but her chocolate eyes danced.
“I am. Interested. Yes. Please. Thank you.”
Which was how I ended up on the Winona State University Junior Gymnastics Team.