In addition to being a personal trainer, Guy is also the coach for the Junior Girls Gymnastics team. It was the end of a particularly rough training session.
Whitney: Ouch!
Guy: Whit, that’s the third time you’ve fallen on a basic flip. You really need to concentrate.
Whitney: I know coach. I’m trying really hard.
Tears start welling up in Whitney’s eyes and her voice begins to tremble a little. Guy assumes it was because of the fall, but since it’s close to the end of practice, he decides to let Whitney off easy for the day.
Guy: Well, go change and we’ll try those flips again next week.
As Whitney heads off, Guy notices a well dressed woman enter the gym. She heads straight to Guy.
Ines: Are you the gymnastics coach?
Guy: Yes. How can I help you?
Ines: I’m here to pick up my daughter, Whitney.
Guy: Oh, so you’re Whitney’s mother. It’s nice to meet you. She just went to change.
Ines: Ines Newman. Nice to meet you too. I’m afraid I don’t come around often to pick Whitney up. Well, not at all actually. Her father always did that…
Her voice trails off a little after the last sentence.
Guy: Yes, I’ve met Mr. Newman a few times. Actually, I’m a little concerned about Whitney. She’s always been the team’s star gymnast, but lately she seems to have lost her focus. She’s been messing up on basic maneuvers. I don’t mean to meddle, but it seems that this all started after she missed practice a few weeks ago. I just wanted to make sure everything is ok.
Ines: Well, we’ve been going through a...family hardship, but we’re working through it.
At that time Whitney reappears.
Guy: Sorry to hear that. If there is anything I can do to help, let me know.
Whitney and Ines leave the gym. Right after they leave. Guy’s cell phone goes off. He looks at the phone to see Kira’s name come up.
Guy: Well, hello stranger.
Kira: Hey hun. Sorry I haven’t been able to call you. You have absolutely no idea how grueling these lecture series can be! The students are great, though and loving every minute of it! They are all so engaged!
Guy: That’s great! I’m glad to hear everything is going well. How is sunny California anyway?
Kira: Well, it’s definitely sunny, that’s for sure! It’s gorgeous!
Guy: So have you started staking out a venue for the wedding? I’d come join you to help, but I’m in the middle of training season, and our competition is at the end of the July.
Kira: Actually, that’s the main reason I called. So, I heard back from the research grant I applied for, and they accepted my proposal! The only thing is the grant runs out in 6 months. Since I’m already here in California, I decided to just stay and do my research on the California Sea Lion. But, with such a short deadline to do so much research, we’ll have to postpone the wedding until late Fall, or more likely Winter.
Guy: Wait, hold on! You’re saying you’re staying in California for another 6 months and you’re postponing our wedding?! Those are big decisions to just make on your own!
Kira: I know, I know. It’s a lot to take in, but it all happened so fast! This grant is a one shot chance. With government spending being so tight, research grants aren’t exactly floating around in the air. If I turned this down, I may never get this chance again.
Guy: Well, yeah, but what about the paperwork we submitted. That’s already in the works now.
Guy: Well, yeah, but what about the paperwork we submitted. That’s already in the works now.
Kira: Arrg, I completely forgot about that. Well, these things take time, anyway, so we should be good in 6 months. Listen, I have to go, but I promise I’ll call you tomorrow night and we’ll talk about this some more. Bye!
Before Guy could say anything else, the call had ended. Guy was left numb.
Guy (thinking out loud): A horrible practice session and then this!
Even though it was already after 6pm, Guy knew the only way for him to compose his thoughts and digest what he had just heard was to go for a long run.
Meanwhile….
The ride home for Ines and Whitney was a long, silent one. Once home, the silence was even more apparent, as Troy, Ines’ son was out picking up Hailey, the youngest of the children, from pre-school.
Whitney: Did Coach tell you I fell three times?
Ines: Well, he said you didn't do too well today. Sweety, it doesn’t matter how many times you fall as long as you get back up.
Whitney: I guess. I just want to keep doing good so I can make Daddy proud…
Before she could even finish the sentence, she broke into violent sobs.
Ines: I know dear. You Daddy would be proud no matter what you do as long as you try your best.
Ines wraps her arms around her daughter to comfort her, but then begins to cry herself.
