Caroline & Michael & Scott

Chapter 11

It was another hot, sweltering late summer day. Sally met Caroline at the air conditioned burger joint.

"So Caroline, I haven't seen you in a few days. Aren't you gonna see Scott before ballet practice this afternoon?"

"Nah… He's got summer football workouts today, I'll see him after ballet."

"That's right, I forgot football workouts start today."

"Sally, can you keep a secret?"

"You know you can trust me, Care."

"I'm gonna try out for the cheerleading squad again."

"Really…? Between Scott and ballet, are you sure you're gonna have time?"

"I'll make the time, even if I have to do my homework late every night. Besides, football only lasts through October, maybe November if we make the playoffs. I can tough it out 'til then."

"But why the big secret, Caroline?"

"'Cause I don't want Scott to know unless I make it. I want to surprise him. The cheerleaders practice on the football field at the same time as the team. It'll be great. I can watch him finish practice, he can take me to ballet. And I'll be close to him, on the sidelines, cheering him on at every game – if I make it."

"I think you'll make it this year."

"I hope so. I still have the edge on the other candidates, because of my ballet training. And I watched the cheerleaders at the games last year, I know more about what I need to do. Where I messed up last year at the tryouts was my attitude. I was too timid, afraid to make a fool of myself. I won't make that mistake this year… I'll show them who has school spirit!"

"You go, girl."

******

Caroline did make the cheerleading squad her junior year. And Scott was surprised when she told him.

"Scott… Guess what?"

"What?"

"No… Guess."

"Okay… Uh… gimme a clue."

"Okay…" she smiled at him. "It's something you'll like."

Scott grinned lustily at Caroline. "You changed your mind! You'll try that thing we talked about…"

"No, no, no! Not that!"

"Oh…" responded a disappointed Scott.

"I'm a cheerleader!"

"Oh…" replied Scott, still disappointed from her previous response.

"Well…" said Caroline, disappointed in Scott's reaction.

"No, no, no! That's great!" Scott quickly recovered. "We can see each other at practice… And you'll be close by during all the games."

"That's right!" exclaimed Caroline, recovering her enthusiasm.

"Are you sure you have the time? I mean, with ballet and all?"

"I'll make the time."

"Did you do this just for me?" Caroline nodded. "You're the greatest, Caroline…" As he hugged her, Scott added "You know, you cheering me from the sidelines may be just the little edge I need. I really have to shine if I'm gonna impress the recruiter from UW this year."

"I just know you're gonna win that scholarship, Scott."

******

It was a mid-September afternoon. Caroline was sitting in the stands, watching the end of the Bulldogs' football practice, having just finished her own cheerleading practice. While watching, Caroline mostly paid attention to Scott's actions, of course. But this time, instead of just watching what Scott was doing, she was also watching how Scott was doing it.

"Hmm…" she thought.

……

After ballet practice, Scott was driving his GTO, taking Caroline home, before going home for his own dinner.

"So Scott, did you finish filling out your UW application?"

"Almost… I'll finish it soon. They say your chances of admission increase if you get your application in early during your senior year. I think I qualify academically, but even if I get admitted, it won't make any difference if I don't get that football scholarship. 3,000 dollars a year may not be much for some people, but it's more than my family can afford."

Just as they arrived, Caroline asked "Scott, could you come in for a few minutes? I want to show you something."

"Sure."

After entering, Margaret greeted them. "Hi, dear… Oh, hi Scott. Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"No thank you, Ma'am."

"C'mon Scott" Caroline urged, as she took him by the hand and led him into her bedroom upstairs, then shut the door.

"What's goin' on, Sweetie?"

"Take off your shoes."

"What…? Why?"

"Just do it, will you?"

"Oh, alright."

After he did so, Caroline then ordered "Okay, now go stand by the door and face the closet… Okay, now close your eyes."

"You're not planning anything weird, are you Caroline?"

"Scott!"

"Okay, okay… closing my eyes."

"Okay, now… keeping your hands by your sides, walk heel to toe, as if you were on a high wire, to the closet."

"Okay." Scott started wobbling forward. Once he almost lost his balance, but stuck his arm out and recovered.

"Scott…! You stuck your arm out!"

"I might have fallen!"

"Okay, just keep on going."

Scott continued, wobbling on, almost losing his balance two more times, recovering each time by sticking his arm out. Caroline grabbed him to stop him just before he reached the closet.

"Okay, open your eyes now."

"Okay… What's all this about, Caroline?"

"I'll tell you in a sec… just watch."

Caroline moved to the door, turned around, closed her eyes, and attempted the same walk that Scott had just finished. But instead of wobbling and having to stick her arm out, she walked crisply and confidently, perfectly balanced, stopping just before the closet.

"Wow…!" exclaimed Scott. "You're so graceful… I never realized how hard it was to walk in a straight line with your eyes closed before."

"It's all a matter of balance, Scott… Balance is the most important thing in ballet. And I think it could help you too."

"How…? Whatdya mean?"

"Think about it… If you're perfectly balanced and the guy you're blocking isn't, won't you have an edge?"

"Yeah… I guess…"

"Good, I'm glad you agree… I asked Miss Morgan to think up some simple exercises for you. She can show you when you pick me up after my next ballet practice."

"But Caroline… Me…? In the ballet school…? I'd look funny!"

Caroline became impatient. "Scott, she won't be teaching you to dance! She's just gonna show you some simple exercises… Besides, what's more important, appearance or performance…? I thought you were chasing a dream… 'Any little edge', right?"

"I'm sorry, Caroline, you're right… I'm still gonna feel funny, though."

"Be sure to bring some shorts to wear."

******

After Caroline's next ballet lesson, Scott came inside to talk to Miss Morgan. The other girls, curious, stayed to watch. Scott went to the back and quickly changed to his shorts, then approached Miss Morgan, and took off his shoes.

"Alright, Scott. I've come up with some simple things you can do by yourself at home. I think they'll help."

"Thank you, Miss Morgan."

Miss Morgan demonstrated a series of exercises, stopping after each one to let Scott try. Whenever Scott lost his balance, his "audience", especially the younger girls, giggled. Miss Morgan would warn them with one severe word, "Girls!", which quieted them.

Miss Morgan, standing on one leg and hands at her side, slowly raised one knee as high as possible, then lowered it, then did the same with the other knee. Like Caroline the day before, she closed her eyes and arms at her sides, walked heel to toe in a straight line. She lifted one leg a few inches and squatted with the other leg, then switched sides. She put a coin on the floor, stood on one foot and picked up the coin with the opposite hand, then did the same with the other foot. Finally, she got on her hands and knees, extended an arm and the opposite leg, held the position for ten seconds, then switched.

After his last exercise, all the girls clapped. Scott, over his embarrassment, chuckled and gave an exaggerated bow.

"I'm sure this will help you, Scott. You don't need to do a lot, just a few reps every day. These exercises will strengthen your core muscles in the abdomen, lower back, and pelvic region. Do you lift weights, do sit-ups, and other exercises for strength?" Scott nodded. "Those are fine, but they only strengthen muscles in isolation. Balance training is an integrated exercise. Your core will be strengthened and just as important, your body will learn how to be centered. Every movement will be a little easier, a little more efficient."

"Thanks, Miss Morgan. I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome, Scott."

******

A few days later, in the locker room before football practice, some of his teammates were kidding Scott.

"Hey Scott… I heard you were getting lessons from Miss Morgan… Ya wanna dance with me on the practice field?"

"Ha, ha, very funny… We'll see if you're still laughing when I push your butt all over the field."

Just then, the coach came in and clapped his hands. "Alright men! Get the lead out…! Chop, chop, let's get to it!"

Scott didn't mind the inevitable kidding from his teammates, 'cause the balance training had helped him, not only physically, but mentally. As the team filed out to the field, Scott felt more confident than ever before.