Animalympics: Blaze of Glory
Chapter 4: 'St. Elmo's Fire' (John Parr)
I'm the type that believes that everyone will soon have their time. It can be now, or it can be months, or even years down the road. Part of me feels like my time is now, and the other tells me I need to keep working at it. Maybe I'm stressing too much about it. As the gun was fired off, I saw the last race of the Women's 1500m event is getting underway
It was Greta Van De Vos of the Netherlands, and Gilda Von Ente of Germany. It was 'Lady Fox' against 'Mother Goose'. They are really good, and really fast at their age as they are going into the turns and straightaways. Time seemed to slow down, and I crossed my fingers as they crossed the line. Something happened that hasn't happened since 1980
A tie. Both crossed at 1:43:96, "Whoa! No way!"
"You did it, Delilah!" Anne-Marie cheered as we hugged, and went up to hug and congratulate Gilda and Greta. I can't believe I medaled in my first Animalympics, and a Silver Medal too. There's still the 500m, 1000m, and 3000m events to go in these Games. I looked to see Haruka walking away. Anne-Marie looked to understand as I walked up to her
"Hey!" I said to stop as the raccoon-dog was walking away. She turned to me, and smiled a bit. I was not there to taunt, or gloat. That's not like me, and it never will be like me. Haruka raced her heart out, and gave it all she got on the oval track. The raccoon-dog that is the same size as Marina looked to me as I wanted to congratulate her for her effort
Haruka accepted my hug, and I embraced her as a sister would, even if I'm not related to her. As I let her go, she placed a paw on my shoulder, "良い仕事を続けてください ('Yoi shigoto o tsudzukete kudasai')," said Haruka, and translated it for me, "keep up the good work, Delilah," her voice was calm, but warm and friendly. She reminds me of my mom
"You are a very good sport, Delilah," said Gilda
"The world can use more of you," said Greta
"There are still two more events on the ice, you can do better, Delilah Featherlee" said Gilda, at the podium we were all presented with our bouquets and our medals. It's good to see all the medals are the same size now. It feels interesting hearing the German and Dutch National Anthems. It's so warming to me that those two veterans are motivating me
After the ceremony, I replaced my skates with tennis shoes and a hoodie as I was walking back to my dorm. Something was bugging me. Where's Marina? Where did she go? I shook it off until I opened my cellphone, and saw a news article on Yahoo! Marina Petrova was disqualified for doping as she had failed a drug screen test. It never seems to end.
I felt really sorry for her. Now she won't be able to compete in the next two events. Then again, she probably wouldn't want my pity. It's best to just keep looking forward. Anne-Marie had invited me to her dorm for a movie night. I went to my dorm, and switched out my suit for some back pocketless blue jeans and my 'Team USA' t-shirt after a shower.
"I brought the popcorn," I said as a greeting
"Extra butter from 'extra thicc'," teased Gilda
"Hey, I'll take that, Mother Goose," I teased back, and I got a playful swat in the butt and laid on the bed with the ladies. I got Gilda back with a playful tap of my own. Gilda's butt is as big as mine after all. We all laughed, and enjoyed each other's company as Annie put in the first movie of the night, 'Twister', "where's Haruka? did she want to come?"
"I invited her, but she said she wanted to have some Skype time with her family," said Greta, I nodded in understanding. I have been keeping in contact with my folks too back in Pittsfield. Even though I did not get the Gold Medal, I got three chances in the 500m, 1000m and 3000m events. I can do this. I passed around a bag of popcorn to everyone.
"Has anyone seen Marina?" I asked them
"Ooff, I did see her, and she was livid," said Gilda
Looking at my schedule, I'm facing Haruka in the Women's 500m event. As I was laying on my belly on the bed and watching the scene where the tanker truck explodes. Greta put a gentle paw on my arm, "We're not just saying it for 'kicks' as you Americans and Canadians say, you have a big chance to become something great at these Animalympics"
"And that Silver Medal proves it, you've got the speed, and you've got the heart, not just your care for others, but yourself as well, you got a drive in you, Delilah," said Annie, I could not ask for such good friends even if we're competing against each other. I could almost cry, "hey, no waterworks," said the pretty Spotted Seal with a playful nudge to me
I really enjoyed last night with them. By 6:30 the next morning, I was up while it was still dark out to do my morning jog. As I was jogging around the stadium, I'm thinking to myself that all I need is a Gold Medal. One Gold Medal to end this drought for Team USA. Like the 'Little Engine That Could', I'm going from saying 'I think I can' to 'I know I can'.
