A Secret Revealed! Warming Up

"Hey, Illusio, Zarinda, everyone," Henry called out. "hot chocolate's on! Come and get it!"

Stanley and the others took off their ice skates, put them into their duffel bags, and put their snow boots back on.

While everyone was enjoying their hot chocolate, Henry turned to Alan, "I saw you out there figure skating, you looked like you were having fun." he said.

"*Cough, cough*, Loser!" Flip said.

"I can't believe this, Alan," Tom exclaimed. "you actually want to play a girl's sport?"

Now, all Alan wanted to do was hide high up in a tree, "I... uh..." he stammered nervously.

"Sissy Boy!" Stanley teased Alan.

Alan was correct, most of the boys did laugh at him.

Suzie spoke up for Alan, "Knock it off! Alan is a great figure skater!" she scolded.

Alan had a memory of figure skating.

Within his memory, Alan tried hard to keep his head in hockey, but try as he might, his thoughts kept wandering back to his sisters and their figure skating as Anne fell on her bottom again.

"Darn it! I can't believe I fell on my bottom again!" Anne exclaimed.

"Anne," Nancy laughed. "you know what they say about succeeding."

Anne stood up on her white ice skates, she was discouraged, "If at first you don't succeed... try try again." she sighed.

Anne then tried her triple axel with a half flip again, but before she fell again, somebody caught her.

"Don't worry, Annie, I've got you." the voice said calmly.

Anne felt a tad shaken, "Henry?" she asked.

"Nope, sorry." the voice said gently.

"Stanley?" Anne asked.

"Uh... guess again." the voice said gently.

"Alan!" Anne exclaimed.

Alan placed his sister down on the ice in a standing position.

"Mind if I give that a shot," Alan asked. "figure skating looks like a blast!"

"It is a blast, Alan," Anne said. "even when you don't have all the moves down and you keep on falling, you should try it."

"Even if I could, figure skating is not for boys." Alan disagreed with Anne.

Anne decided to encourage her twin brother to try something new as well as comfort him, so she tried in song.

Anne: You're at this moment;

When you must decide;

To take a step forward;

Or run away and hide;

You step on the ice;

Though you feel your heart race;

And your knees won't stop shaking;

You can't find your brave face;

But you just gotta take a leap;

Throw your doubts away;

Take a leap;

No matter what they say;

Now's the time to let them see;

The person you were meant to be;

Throw your doubts away;

And take a leap today;

"What if I can't do it, Annie? What if Stanley, Tom, Flip, and Scooter all laugh at me?" Alan asked.

Anne could tell Alan needed more encouragement, so she continued to sing to him.

Anne: You spin through the air;

And it's like you can fly;

The great rush that you're feeling;

Is cause you gave it a try;

Suzie, Nancy, and Mimi now joined Anne in encouraging Alan.

Suzie, Nancy, Anne, and Mimi: That's why you gotta take a leap;

Throw your doubts away;

Take a leap;

No matter what they say;

Now's your moment in the sun;

And it's only just begun;

Throw your doubts away;

And take a leap today;

Throw your doubts away;

And take a leap today;

Alan: I've got to throw my doubts away;

And take a leap today.

Alan then leaped in the air, did a double axel, and landed perfectly in his hockey skates.

"Wow, Alan," Nancy exclaimed. "that was amazing!"

"Thanks, Nancy." Alan said.

Alan then & there came out of his memory.

"So, Alan," Henry asked. "how do you like figure skating?"

"I love it more than ice hockey, Henry." Alan answered.

"That's good to hear." Henry said.

That night, Henry was so tired that he fell asleep easily.