"This is such an exciting morning for me!" the perky young woman enthused into the television camera. "It's not every day I get to talk with an up-and-coming national champion."
"Kat, she's already a National Champion," her handsome male co-host reminded her. "As well as a World Champion in the realm of figure skating."
"That's right, Connor!" was the reply. "And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like you to meet Miss Paige Hotchner – U.S. National Junior Ladies Figure Skating Champion as well as World Junior Ladies Figure Skating Champion!"
As the theme music for the local television station's morning talk show played, Paige walked across the small set of the local "Coffee With Kat and Connor" show and smiled brightly as she shook hands with the two morning co-hosts. Watching her, no one would have guessed that just minutes before she had been busy telling Laurel and JJ how scared she was.
"Now, for anyone who is unaware of it," Kat began. "This week the United States Figure Skating Association is holding their National Championships at the new hockey arena here in Detroit."
"And, Paige here is considered to be one of the main contenders for the Senior Ladies title," Connor continued. "Thank you for joining us this early in the morning." He smiled at Paige.
"My pleasure - Thank you for having me," Paige smiled at the camera.
"But, this isn't early for you, is it?" Kat suggested. "As I understand it, figure skaters are used to early morning hours."
"That's right," Paige told her. "On a normal day I get to the rink in time for a 6:00 a.m. freestyle session and then skate for at least two hours before I head off for school. Then, I go back after school for another session or two."
"So, you've already skated today?" Connor asked.
"I had a session on practice ice earlier this morning," Paige confirmed. "And, then I changed my clothes and walked the block or so over here to your studio."
"Now, as I understand it, you and your mother have not had an easy time on your journey to the national championships," Kat assumed her 'serious' face.
"Very few of the skaters who have made it to the senior level have had an easy time," Paige explained. "However, my mom and I had a little rougher start than most."
The remainder of the interview proceeded without any problems. JJ had prepped both of the TV hosts as to what questions to ask and what issues to discuss. By the time the interview was over it had been firmly established that Paige and Laurel had been the victims in Houston, and that both of the Mercers were suffering from severe nervous breakdowns after being overwhelmed by grief at the loss of their three sons. The interview ended on a high note with the station making a generous donation of stuffed animals to Paige's charity in Houston.
"Okay, one down one to go," Laurel breathed a sigh of relief as they walked back to the hotel. "Who did you say we are talking with next?"
"Tamika Jones," JJ replied. "She is a reporter for Spotlight magazine - A national celebrity good news type publication. She's done a number of in-depth interviews with amateur as well as professional athletes, and the resulting stories have been very sympathetic."
"Aaron needs to be there for this one?" Laurel verified.
"And Jack and Sophia as well," JJ confirmed. "We want her to get a complete picture of your family's dynamic."
"However," she added. "That's not until tomorrow morning. So, once we get back to the hotel Paige can begin her 'Competition Day' routine to get ready to skate her long program this evening."