“It’s up to you whether you’re gonna let your excuses define you — or whether you’ll fight back”

ON

the large clock awkwardly positioned above the lockers in the changing area, the second hand touches the 12. Inside the gym, Tova blows her whistle sharply and begins.

“Stretches! Let’s go. Reenie, take your own mat! Estee, over here. Jumping jacks, let’s go…”

Mimi hops to her feet. A moment ago, she’d been exhausted, but the gym always gives her energy.

“Splits! Mimi, let’s get started! Tehillah, very good…”

Mimi slides down on her mat into a perfect split. She raises her arms above her head and lets her muscles stretch, quiver, tingle.

“Aaaahh,” she sighs.

Lea on the next mat is already in Superman position: arms outstretched, face down. She raises her head an inch and winks in greeting.

“Hey,” Mimi waves back.

They’re working on layouts again today. Mimi’s new favorite. Some of the girls are still struggling with the layout itself, but she’s up to connecting it to other moves.

“Tight arc! That’s not tight enough.” Tova observes, as Mimi tries — and fails — to launch into a layout after rebounding from a handspring. “Try it again.”

Mimi backs up.