Eva does competitive figure skating. She loves being out on the ice. She’s working on a special number, skating to a song that has Chinese lyrics. Unable to understand them herself, but she knows when her grandmother is in the audience, it will mean something to her. Again, a lot of focus on the practice and work of learning a difficult move. And then the worst happens- Eva falls during a jump and sustains a concussion. She’s supposed to stay off the ice to recover of course, but can’t stand waiting, knowing that everyone else is still preparing for the upcoming performance. Tries to sneak back to the rink and skate anyways. I was appalled at first, but then I remembered: the character is young, and when I was a college student, I myself got a concussion (on the job) and felt fine the next day. Went back to work too soon (there were not nearly so many guidelines on recovery back then as today) and only made myself worse! So I actually could understand why she did that, having done something similar myself. Well, Eva not only has to just sit and watch everyone else skate (going through some motions on the sidelines herself to kind of keep in practice) but she overhears some other girls mocking the song she chose. Then comes up against a personal roadblock: when she’s cleared to skate again, she hesitates to make the same jump that caused her injury (very understandable). This fear, along with the insult of the girls’ teasing, makes her now unwilling to get back on the ice again (baffling her mother). But with some encouragement from her coach, some personal time bonding with her grandmother, and gentle reminders that everyone has to face fears and it’s okay to make mistakes, she’s finally able to perform again (and face down those girls who made fun of the song).
Borrowed from the public library.
