Funny, she hadn’t expected Tova to be a coach for the youngest group

Mimi leans against a balance beam, watches one of her young charges do a neat somersault.

“Great, Penina. Want to try something new?”

Her voice, all peppy and enthusiastic, doesn’t sound like hers. It’s strange to be doing this, working alongside Tova, coaching the most adorable group of under-sevens in their first year of gymnastics.

When Tova had called to say that her assistant couldn’t make it on Sunday, and could Mimi take her place, her first reaction had been um, what?

“You’ve been with us for years, you know gymnastics in your sleep, and you’re good at coaching — I’ve seen you with the other girls in your group,” Tova had explained, as if it was perfectly natural. “So are you in?”

Funny, she hadn’t expected Tova to be a coach for the youngest group. Tova, with her high expectations and her unrelenting push for perfection, didn’t seem the type for the little ones.