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Bevin’s Back Handspring

Just as Bevin was heading for the mat for floor work, Coach Tammie shouted, ‘Gather ’round for the results of last week’s skills review!’

Bevin’s stomach knotted as she took the score sheet Coach Tammie handed her. She wasn’t looking forward to this. Sure enough, every skill was checked off except for ‘back handspring’. There, Coach Tammie had scrawled a red X, followed by a comment: This is required for Advanced 2 gymnastics; repeat Advanced 1. Bevin wasn’t surprised, but still, it hurt.

Suddenly, hands covered Bevin’s eyes from behind. ‘Advanced 2, here we come!’ Olivia cried, laughing.

‘Here we don’t come,’ Bevin said grumpily. ‘I didn’t pass.’

The following Monday, Bevin felt left behind and young as she watched Olivia stride to the other side of the gym. Stuck in Advanced 1, Bevin’s body automatically completed the familiar warm-up stretches, but her eyes were on Olivia’s group. She saw Olivia and Sydney smile at each other, clearly sharing an inside joke.

After warm-ups, Bevin’s group shifted to bars, then to beam. But it was as if Bevin was only half there. The other half of her was with Advanced 2—or at least trying to be. What were they talking about, anyway? What could possibly be so interesting?

‘Bevin!’ Coach Tammie tapped her shoulder. ‘Wake up; we’re moving to floor work.’

Bevin followed Coach Tammie to the mats. She thought she heard Olivia say, ‘No way!’ followed by someone else saying, ‘It’s true.’ She strained to hear more.

‘Show me your back handspring,’ Coach Tammie said.

Bevin raised her arms, swung them down and threw her body backwards onto her hands. She was supposed to land on her feet, but she landed on her knees instead.

‘Concentrate,’ Coach Tammie murmured, like she always did. ‘Centre yourself.’

Again and again, Bevin flip-flopped backwards, only to land on her knees. She saw that Advanced 2 was now at the parallel bars. They’d probably be starting a new skill today.

‘My technique must be really bad,’ Bevin finally said, wiping her forehead. Her face was dripping with sweat.

‘Actually, I don’t think the problem is your position or movements,’ Coach Tammie said. ‘It’s more a matter of being present. But take a breather.’

At least now Bevin could find out what she’d been missing out on. Signalling Olivia, she headed for the water fountain. Olivia grinned and met her there.

‘Okay, listen to this,’ Olivia said. ‘Last week, Sydney dared Emma to wear an ugly holiday jumper to school, and she did! It literally had jingle bells on it.’

Bevin blinked. That was all they’d been laughing about?

‘Sydney says we can dare her to wear something wacky next. Any ideas?’

‘What? Oh. Maybe . . . a hat?’ She hadn’t missed out on much after all.

‘Come on,’ Olivia laughed. ‘You’re good at this stuff! Here, close your eyes. Concentrate; centre yourself.’ She said this last part in Coach Tammie’s voice, and Bevin smiled as she closed her eyes.

But the picture that came into her mind wasn’t Sydney in a wacky outfit. It was herself—Bevin—doing a perfect back handspring and landing on her feet.

Actually, she had missed out on something. She opened her eyes.

Olivia clapped her hands. ‘Got it?’

‘Nope. I’ll think about it though, I promise. After class.’ And Bevin headed back to the mats to focus on her own work.