by Ann Bryant
The athletics field is huge and flat and lies near the boundary of the Silver Spires grounds. It feels very peaceful and remote, with nothing but fields stretching beyond it. You can lose yourself, as though you’re in another world, when you’re down there on your own. As I jogged round the track I thought back to the phone call I’d had with Mum the day before. We’d talked for ages and she’d sounded really pleased for me, but again, as I’d been talking, I’d had that feeling I so often get, that she wasn’t listening properly, and that she was doing other things at the same time as talking to me. I kept on hearing her footsteps going up or down the stairs and then I’d hear her whispering something to Dad, and I had to hang on quite a few times while she popped one of the twins into a high chair or something.
“Yes, what were you saying, Sasha?” she’d say, each time she came back on the phone. But after a while I couldn’t be bothered to remind her what I’d just been saying and in the end I asked if Dad was around. It took him ages to come to the phone and I think he might have been having a nap, because he sounded kind of dopey, which made me feel guilty because he works so hard all week.
He asked me straight away how the rowing had gone, and I told him it was great and I really loved it.
“We’ll have to see if there’s a rowing club you could go to in the summer holidays, Sash!”
“Ooh, yes! That would be brilliant!” I quickly replied.
But then after I’d rung off I wondered if Dad would remember about the rowing club or whether I’d have to remind him. I really hoped he’d be the one to bring it up, then that would prove that he was taking my big new passion seriously. Or better still, it would be great if Mum called to see how my rowing was going.
I enjoyed running round the athletics field right until the last minute when Mrs. Truman came jogging up to me just as I was about to go and get changed for supper. My heart began to pound even more than it was already after all my running. But she only said, “Well done, Sasha! Good to see someone making the effort to keep fit. It’ll pay off, you’ll see!”
It was the most enormous relief to realize that Holly couldn’t have told her about me breaking the rules and that gave me the courage to ask, “I was supposed to be having a gym induction with Miss Vernon this morning, only she’s ill. Do you know if she’s better yet?”
“She’s coming back to work tomorrow but I don’t know if she’s got any spaces for inductions.”
“Shall I go and ask her?”
“No, don’t disturb her now. I’ll try and remember to mention it to her when I see her and she’ll sort something out for you.”
If only I could make Mrs. Truman understand that I actually needed to make a proper appointment as soon as I possibly could. “Erm…shall I go the gym before breakfast tomorrow so I’ve got a better chance of getting an induction soon?”
Mrs. Truman smiled. “Ooh, you are keen! Yes, try that. I can’t guarantee Miss Vernon will have a space, but you never know!”
So the next day at seven thirty I jogged over to the sports hall, wearing tracksuit and trainers. Inside the building, I rushed down the corridor and up the stairs. I knew even before I’d opened the door that there were people in the gym, because I could hear the whirr of machines. Better still, the note from yesterday had been removed. Great! Miss Vernon might be able to give me my induction straight away. I could be about to get on the rowing machine! But as I walked in, my spirits sank like a stone. There were only two people in the room – an English teacher, called Miss Gardner, was running on a treadmill and Holly was on the rowing machine. The two of them were chatting away like old friends and I don’t know why that made me so cross, but it did.
“Hi there! Are you okay?” asked Miss Gardner. “It’s Sasha, isn’t it?”
Holly turned round when she heard my name and gave me a blank look, as though she didn’t know me, then whipped her head back round again.
I didn’t know what to say so I just stood there feeling like a complete idiot.
“Have you had an induction, Sasha?” asked Miss Gardner.
I shook my head. “I was supposed to have one yesterday only Miss Vernon was ill.”
“Miss Vernon’s not here until later, but that’s okay, as I’m qualified to do inductions too. I haven’t got time for the full thing right now, but I can show you how the treadmills work, if you like?”
I nodded hard. This was turning out to be so much better than I’d hoped. Once Holly got off the rower I could ask about that too. Miss Gardner might not mind showing me just one more piece of equipment.
She pressed a button so her own machine came to a gradual stop, then she guided me towards one of the other treadmills and began to explain how it worked. “Okay, this is the button for a quick start. Now just start walking gently. That’s right. This is the button you press to go faster or slower. Do you want to walk or run?”
“Er…run…”
“You have to remember it’s set in kilometres per hour, not miles per hour, and I shouldn’t go faster than eight point five to start with, just to get used to the feel of it.”
Miss Gardner showed me how to slow down and stop and also how to work out how far I’d run. Then she pressed a button that made the whole treadmill move up a tiny bit, as though I was jogging on a slight slope. “If you want to make it steeper this is the button, but I wouldn’t go above two if I were you. Just get used to jogging first.”
She was so kind and helpful and I thanked her very much, then carried on jogging. I suddenly felt very grown up to be here in a proper gym working out before breakfast, because that’s what Dad sometimes does if he’s working from home, and Mum used to do it occasionally before she had the twins. I was looking forward to telling them about this in my next phone call.
Gradually I felt stronger and wished I could go faster than eight point five, but I was determined to do everything I was told from now on. That way I could make sure I didn’t break any rules or ignore any advice, so I’d get fit for rowing without being too tired. It crossed my mind that I’d done lots of jogging the day before and now I was doing it again. Izzy would probably say that wasn’t very good for my muscles, so I was keen to swap to the rower soon.
My eyes were continually on Holly, willing her to finish so I could have a go. Only she never did. And twenty minutes later Miss Gardner told us that we both ought to go to breakfast or we’d be late for lessons.
I felt energized from the jog, but really disappointed that I hadn’t had a go on the rower. All the same, I did as I was told straight away. As I left the gym I could hear Holly telling Miss Gardner that sculling was her “thing” and she wanted to do it professionally one day. It annoyed me because it seemed like she was trying to find a reason why she ought to be allowed on the machine all the time. But she’d had one go today so it was only fair that I should have a turn after school if the machine was free, and if Miss Vernon was there to show me how to use it. I made a resolution to stand up to Holly a bit more in future, but it was a bit of a quivery resolution, because I had to remember that she could report me for breaking the rules whenever she wanted.
Some days go really slowly, and this was one of them. By the time the bell went for the end of school I was already exhausted with waiting for it. Usually Emily and Izzy are the first to shoot outside when lessons are finished, because Izzy always wants to stretch her legs after sitting still for so long, and Emily likes to breathe the fresh air after being indoors. But today, I was the first one out of my place.
I got changed in the PE changing room and raced upstairs, looking forward to that moment when I was close enough to the gym to hear the whirring of machinery. Yes! It sounded like lots of machines were in use this time. I crossed my fingers that the rower might be available and, more importantly, that Miss Vernon might be there.
And when I went in I was immediately hit by the difference in the atmosphere at this time of day. The place was full of older students and a few teachers. My eyes went straight to the rowing mac
hine and a whoosh of happiness zipped through me. It was free. Then I got another jolt of happiness, because Miss Vernon had spotted me and was coming over looking apologetic.
“Sorry, Sasha! I was really under the weather yesterday. And sorry again, because I can’t fit you in today either.” She was reaching for her rota. “Looks like I could manage—”
But I interrupted her. “Miss Gardner taught me how to use the treadmill but all I really want to learn to use is the rowing machine.” I pointed to it, feeling a sudden sense of urgency to get on it before anyone else did, because people were moving from one piece of equipment to another all the time.
Miss Vernon looked at her watch, then nodded. “Okay, I’ve got time to show you that, no problem.”
I hurried over to it but it was only once I was sitting astride the machine with my feet strapped into the metal “shoes” on the sides and my hands holding the T-shaped handle that I relaxed and started to enjoy myself.
Miss Vernon pressed the menu on the computer and a couple of other buttons. She showed me which figures indicated the distance I was covering, and how fast I was going, and how many strokes per minute I was taking. Then there was a large figure in the left-hand corner which showed the seconds ticking away. I pulled hard over and over again and Miss Vernon told me to use my legs more and my back. I loved the feeling I got when my strokes per minute score went up. But the best feeling was when she said she thought I was a natural rower. Then she told me I could keep going, but not for more than ten minutes, and to let her know if I had any problems.
The following day was Wednesday. I could hardly wait for the sculling session that evening. But I was up bright and early again, determined to have just a short warm-up session on the rowing machine before breakfast, so long as my muscles could take it. As soon as I’d jumped out of bed I started swinging my arms around to check they didn’t feel stiff. They felt fine, so that was my decision made.
“You’ve really got the bug, haven’t you?” said Emily, when she saw me rushing off before breakfast again.
“Good luck, Sash!” Izzy called after me. “I’ll save you a place at breakfast.”
I was early. It was only seven twenty-six by my watch when I went into the sports block, so I guessed I’d have to wait until seven thirty, but I didn’t care. At least I’d be first in, and I couldn’t help hoping that Holly wouldn’t show up.
It gave me a bit of a shock to hear the unmistakable sound of machinery whirring as I pushed the door open, and an even bigger shock to see Holly on the rowing machine, and Miss Gardner on one of the treadmills. It was still only seven twenty-eight so Holly must have started before she was supposed to, but then I supposed that if Miss Gardener had said it was okay, she wasn’t breaking the rules or anything.
“All right?” Miss Gardner asked me, panting a bit and throwing me a smile.
If I’d answered her truthfully I would have said, No, I am not all right, and why has Holly been allowed to start before half past seven? but I just mumbled, “Fine, thanks,” and went onto one of the treadmills.
I waited twenty minutes for Holly to get off the rowing machine so I could have a go, but she never did and in the end I went off to breakfast, feeling frustrated and cross.
“Never mind,” said Izzy, when I told her. “You’ll be doing the real thing in…” She glanced at her watch, then frowned. “In…erm…”
“Nine hours,” said Nicole.
I smiled inside at that, and tried to ignore the little shiver that ran through me at the thought that I might have to be in the same scull as Holly and some of her friends.
As it happened, I didn’t have to worry about that at all. The second session at Pollington Water was even better than the first. Ryan told us right at the beginning that he just wanted us to consolidate what we’d learned during our first session and gain confidence in the single sculls. Some people, who were struggling, had to stay on ropes for quite a while, but several of us were allowed to go off on our own straight away.
George marked out various routes with buoys of different colours and told everyone which route they should use. Holly and I were allowed to go further than anyone else, but there was always at least one of the coaches keeping an eye on us. At first it was easy to keep my distance from Holly because, when we were told we could set off, she pulled away really quickly.
“Good work, Holly!” called Ryan.
“I’ve been in the gym,” Holly answered. “I’m going to see how often I can do the circuit George has marked out before the end of the session.”
“Excellent!” said Ryan. “But don’t overdo it – and I mean that, Holly. You’re not used to sculling yet.”
“Yes I am. I’ve done it loads – remember, I told you!” she called back, grinning at him.
He grinned back but didn’t say anything.
I took my time and then set off slowly so that there wasn’t any chance that I’d catch her up. Half of me actually felt the urge to go racing after her. It would be such a challenge to catch her up, but the other half couldn’t bear the thought that she might be all hostile again.
I felt like singing as I rowed this time and after a while I did actually start humming to myself. It was hard work, though, and I think my arms and legs might have been suffering slightly after the sessions at the gym, so I couldn’t help wondering what Holly’s arms felt like.
The water seemed darker today, probably because it was a different time of day. And the sky was a beautiful, heavy blue colour that blended somehow with my blades as they cut through the water. It was as though I was in tune with every single thing around me. I’d never felt anything like it before.
The circuit took me almost to the island and as I turned to row back towards the lakeside, I could see the sailing boats in the distance more clearly. Then the nearer I got to the lakeside again, the more I had to concentrate, because this patch of water was full of boats and I didn’t want to crash into anyone. It was a relief when I turned again and headed back to the peace of the water near the island.
Much later, when I was on my third lap, I realized that Holly was catching up with me. That meant she was on her fourth lap, which was amazing. Every so often she glanced round to check where she was going, but she never actually looked straight at me, which made me feel awkward again. It was a shame she didn’t seem to like me, because she obviously loved rowing as much as I did and I thought how great it would be to have someone to talk to about it.
Eventually she overtook me and I impulsively called, “Wow! You’re doing really well, Holly!” She did a kind of grunt which might have been “Thanks”, but I couldn’t really tell.
I didn’t mind when the session came to an end this time, because I was tired and happy. Celia had helped me to get better at turning the boat neatly and backing it down, and she’d explained how important it was not to tire myself out with short hard strokes, but to ease off with longer slower ones sometimes. I had such a feeling of satisfaction that I went straight over to Izzy afterwards to talk about it. She was happy too because she’d been on her own for the last part of the session and managed without the rope.
“Okay,” said Ryan, calling us all to attention. “Great work from you all today. I think every single one of you has made progress. Now, on Saturday afternoon when you come, I’m going to set up a quad scull. I’d like Holly, Sasha, Mikki, Charlotte and Tilly to try working in the quad as a team. The quads that we’ve got here are nice and wide, so you’ll feel very stable. Four of you will be sculling and the fifth will be cox. If you’re cox you have to make sure you’re really bossy!” We all laughed. “No, seriously, a good cox has to be able to shout out instructions to the team so that they work together in the best possible way. Anyway, I won’t go into that now, but you five will hopefully all get a chance to try being cox. And actually, every one of you is doing so well –” Ryan smiled round at all of us – “that there might be a few more of you ready for a quad either later on Saturday or in the following session.
”
My spirits were sinking fast. I couldn’t imagine anyone taking instructions from me. It was a real worry. But then I tried to snap myself out of it. Really, it was only Holly who I didn’t think would take instructions from me. And I was cross with myself for letting her get to me so much. Once, at primary school, when I was scared of an older girl who was always teasing me, Mum had told me I should grow a thicker skin. I can remember her exact words. “You need a nice thick skin, then no one can touch you, darling!”
I was sure that was good advice. But getting out of the minibus when we got back to Silver Spires, and watching Holly’s hair swing from side to side as she waltzed along, it seemed to me that growing a thicker skin was going to be easier said than done.
Chapter Six
The next two days whizzed by and on Saturday afternoon, the sun was shining brightly again and my whole body felt alive at the thought that we were off to the lake. I’d managed one more turn on the rowing machine on Thursday lunchtime but not at all on Friday, because Holly was always on it. I wasn’t so worried about having to be in a quad scull with her now, though, because all my friends had convinced me that I shouldn’t let myself be forced into anything I didn’t want to do.
“Just tell Ryan you’re happier on your own,” Emily had reminded me firmly before she’d gone off to the stables. “Don’t even think about going in with Holly if you don’t want to, okay!”
So, as the minibus drew up in the car park at Pollington Water I was all ready to tell Ryan that I’d prefer to stick with a single scull if that was all right.
“Anyway, you never know, he might have completely forgotten about wanting you to go in a quad!” said Izzy, as we went to the boathouse to help carry the boats down to the water.
But there was no chance of that.
“Don’t worry, girls!” was the first thing Ryan said. “Ben and I have already got the quad scull down there, so you’ve managed to escape the hardest work!”
