The Start of Skating
Lisa Chivorn felt nervous. Today was the day when she could try ice skating for the first time. She stared out the window as her mother drove her to the Ice Cube, where she would learn how to skate. Even though she was nervous, a little part of her felt excited too. Lisa might even be in the same class as her best friend, Lily Thompson, who had signed up also!
“We’re here!” her mother announced as she drove the car into a parking spot. Lisa felt relieved. The car ride had made her feel queasy and just thinking about ice skating made her want to throw up. She climbed out of the car and gulped in the fresh air outside. “Are you okay?” asked her mother. “I’ve never seen you want to breathe so much air before.” Lisa nodded. “I’m okay,” she said. “Just a little nervous.” “Well, if you say so.” Her mother studied her face. There was a long break of uncomfortable silence before her mother broke the tension. “Let’s go in then. You won’t want to miss your first class of ice skating before you even get there,” her mother teased. Lisa grinned and pushed her mother before running off and yelling “I’ll race you there!” She could hear her mother yelling back “No fair! You got a head start!” as she ran to the open doors of the Ice Cube. Maybe her first day of skating wouldn’t be so bad after all.
When her mother finally caught up with her, panting, Lisa was already trying to find her name card on a table, a card that would show her name, level, instructor, and progress. “Hold on there, young lady,” her mother said sternly, holding out her hand to show that she meant business. Lisa groaned. “What is it, mom?” Before her mother could reply, a familiar voice interrupted them. “Hey, Lisa!” her best friend Lily Thompson greeted while running up to them. “How are you doing?” “Good,” Lisa replied. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “And a good thing you interrupted us too, or else my mom would’ve given me one of her long and boring
The Start of Skating 1
lectures again.”Lily grinned. “And, by the way,” Lily added, “I found our name cards too.” She held up two cards dangling from a lanyard that she had just found on the table. Lisa took hers and looked at it. Name: Lisa Chivorn, Instructor: Emma, Class: B1 ( Basic 1). “Which instructor did you get?” Lily asked, leaning toward her for a better look. Lisa showed Lily her card. Lily’s eyes widened. “Hey, I have Emma too!” she exclaimed. Lisa laughed. “Cool!” she cried. Suddenly she felt a sharp tap on her shoulder. She turned around and found her mother looking at her, along with Lily’s mother. “Enough chatting, you two,” she said. “Go downstairs with your mother, Lily, and start getting your skates on. “I want to talk to Lisa,” she said. Lily shot Lisa a sympathetic glance before heading down the staircase. Then her mother turned to Lisa. “I just wanted to say...” She waited until Lily and her mother disappeared down the stairs before she began the lecturing. “Lisa, I would’ve lectured you earlier, but since you need to get your skates on and all of that, I’ll skip what I needed to tell you before. Now come on.” Her mother nudged her down the staircase before going down herself.
When Lisa came downstairs, Lily was already in her new skates, walking back and forth, trying to get used to them. Finally, she noticed her. “Oh, hi Lisa,” she said, walking a bit wobbly toward her. “Come on, the class is almost starting!” With the help of her mother, Lisa hurriedly put on her new skates, helmet, and gloves, and then walked unsteadily to the Basic 1 group, who were starting to gather near the Skate Renting place. At the Basic 1 group, she learned how to get up if she fell down on the ice with Lily while their mothers walked to the ice rink, waiting for them to get on the ice so they could watch them skate. After that lesson, they finally got to skate in the rink, which Lisa was looking forward to. “Have a nice time!” her mother called from the stands, along with Lily’s mother, both waving as Lisa and Lily walked onto the ice, each holding onto the hands of an instructor. As Lisa tried to skate to where her group was supposed
The Start of Skating 2
to gather, she smiled, because she had a feeling that her first ice skating session was going to be great!
The Start of Skating 3