Maeve

By Amanda Williams

Brian walked into the ice rink on a cold winter morning. He had to get there earlier today because he was meeting one of his new students. As he walked into the lobby he spotted his co-coach, Tracy.

“Good morning, Tracy,” Brian said with a smile. Tracy looked up from her laptop and returned his smile, “Good morning, Brian.” as he walked up to the desk, he saw her watching competition footage of their new student.

“I can't believe I wasn't here when you interviewed her Brian. I wish I could’ve met the junior skating prodigy,” Tracy said with a sigh.

“Sorry it all happened so fast, her coach called me to interview her a few hours before he announced his retirement,” he said.

“It's amazing that her coach already knew who he wanted to help her going forward,” Tracy said. Brian agreed as he thought about how grateful he was to be the first coach called to talk about taking her on as a student. The junior grand prix final gold medalist, two years running was a force to be reckoned with and everyone knew it too.

The two coaches turned as the door opened and saw a young girl and her mother walk in.

Brian and Tracy recognized her immediately, Maeve Smith. Their new student walked up to Tracy and held out her hand. “My name is Maeve and I’m excited to work with you, I'm sorry we couldn't meet at my interview,” the fifteen-year-old said with a smile. Tracy smiled back as she thought about how the child was as polite as shown in interviews. As Tracy and the girl talked, Kelly Smith walked up to Brian to introduce herself.

“It's nice to finally meet you,” Kelly said with a smile. The same to you Brian replied. “You said there were a couple of forms I have to sign?” Kelly asks.

“Yes, Tracy has the forms. Tracy, will you take care of the paperwork please?” Tracy nodded and the two women walked to her office.

Brian and the young skater were left alone, Brian held his hand out to the young skater.

“I'm excited to work with you. You were one of the highest scoring junior skaters I've ever seen, the other senior skaters should be worried,” Brian said as she shook his hand.

“I know. It’s going to be so much fun,” she said with a grin on her face and look in her eye that he has seen from many of his other skaters, mischief. Brian looked at her for a moment then said, “Something tells me you are going to be trouble,” she grinned then replied, “You have good instincts.”

Her mother returned a few moments later and the two left as Maeve would not be training with them for another week. As Brian waved goodbye to the mother and daughter, he noticed an email on his phone, it was from her former coach. The five words he read confirmed his suspicions. Good luck, she’s a handful, Brian nodded as he walked to his office.

“Yeah, I thought so.”