“That’s right — now in your second formation—.”

Tova’s guiding them through it, but it’s not really necessary. They’ve been through this a million times by now, it’s almost autopilot.

“Tighter, Reenie! You need to squeeze your muscles tighter to get the full height there. That’s good, Estee. Michal, you should be further to the right…”

Tova strides around the perimeter of the room, calling instructions. Abruptly, she heads back to the front and turns off the music.

“Okay. We’re stopping right here, there is so much perfecting needed. I’m talking about the basics, back handsprings, and then so many of you are not getting the side aerials timed right.”

Okay, this is not about her. She can do handsprings and aerials in her sleep. Mimi heads over to Arielle, who keeps messing up the connection between one move and the next.

“Want me to help you with that aerial?”

Arielle gives her a grateful look. “I mean, I don’t know if you can… I’m good with the aerials themselves, it’s more the fact that they need to connect from the handspring, and I just can’t do it fast enough.”

Mimi isn’t sure she can, either. But then she thinks about the little girls she’d been coaching; was this so different? All she’d done then was picture herself doing the move, break it down into teeny, tiny steps, and try to figure out where they were going wrong, what they could do better.

“Okay, I got it,” she says, watching Ariella land, stumble a little, and right herself before plunging into the aerial. “You’re landing pretty heavily, right? And then it takes a tiny bit too long to steady for the next move…”

A shadow moves in behind her, and Mimi turns, self-conscious.

“No, keep going, you’re doing a good job,” Tova tells her.

“Like this?” Arielle asks. She launches into the sequence again, this time recovering her balance faster.

“Much better, you totally got this.” Mimi casts a quick glance at Tova. Even though she’s coached the little kids with her, it feels weird to be doing it in her own gymnastics group.

At the end of the practice, Tova beckons her over. Probably to schedule another private session to rehearse her solo performance, Mimi figures.

Instead, Tova motions vaguely towards the spot where she’d helped Arielle with the sequence. “You know, you really are a natural coach,” she says. “I want to train you in to work with us here. I think you could already be coaching next year. At least as an assistant.”

Mimi blinks. Really? So fast? It’s her dream, yes, but, like, already? And next year will be 12th grade, then seminary… how busy would she be? Would it work, could it work?

“Oh — wow,” she manages. “I guess — like, what would it involve?”

“Well, I assume you’re planning to stick with gymnastics club anyway? Wednesday evenings?”

Wednesday evening was the graduate group. Anyone who wanted to continue after graduating the top group could join the sessions. Mimi hadn’t thought about it much, but…

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“So, I’d want to train you in, once, twice a week. You’ll learn what you need to know in order to coach professionally. And you could already start working with a couple of groups as you’re training — you’d be assisting, not main coach, but that’s fine. I’ll speak to Cindy, work it out. I know we have openings…”

Tova walks her to the door and into the locker area. It’s mostly empty, except for one or two girls still getting their stuff together.

“It would be amazing, but I’m not sure…” Mimi swallows. “Let me think about it?”

“Sure. See you Tuesday, then?”

“Uh-huh.” Mimi looks around uncomfortably. Sure, her gymnastics-mates all knew she was getting extra coaching, but she hates rubbing it in their faces…

“Better you than me,” Lea says, catching her eye.

Mimi blinks.

“Private coaching with Tova. I guess you enjoy it.” Lea grabs her bag and flashes a smile with no joy at all. “Like I said, better you than me.”

She flings herself out the door.

To be continued…

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 940)