| Chapter 4 "Come on, boys, speed it up!" Coach Ellis yelled from the sideline as Apolo, Dan, Rusty, and Shani were practicing for their relay race. "Nice race." The guys skated off the ice one at a time, all out of breath and sweating like crazy. They sat down on the benches as Coach Ellis gave them her critique of the last race. "Well, the good news you broke your old record by amost a whole minute," Coach Ellis said looking at her clipboard that she carried everywhere. "What's the bad news?" Shani said squinting his eyes so the sweat from his forehead wouldn't get into his eyes. "The bad news is that you all still haven't beaten the Canadians or the Koreans times," Coach Ellis said as she saw the look of frustration on their faces. "Well, on a brighter note, this is short track and in this sprot, anything can happen. There have been many of times when the smartest ones have one, not the fastest ones." "Well, considering we're not that inteligent," Rusty commenting on Coach Ellis on remarks. "and we're obviously not the fastest. So, then what are we?" "Hey, speak for yourself," Dan said defensively. "That's right, your guys can't be thinking like that," Coach Ellis said trying to lift the mood of the team. "You guys have worked your butts off trying to improve your time. Your times have improved by almost 200%. That is amazing in itself, that in a few months you all improved that much. Everytime when I tell the other coaches from the other teams how well you guys are improving, they get scared. That's what you guys have got to do. Make them scared and intimadated. Once they see you guys aren't the immature team form America, they'll start taking you seriously. You guys have have proven so much to me, now it's time for you guys to show the world what you have showed me." "That was really touching," Shani said as he started to pretend to tear up. "You okay Shani?" Apolo said playing along. "Yeah, I'm just a little emotional right now," Shani said wipping the tears away from his face as the other guys started to smirk. "And you all wonder why the other team doesn't take you guys seriously?" Coach Ellis said looking serious. "You guys, coach is right," Dan said standing up. "How are we suppose to compete against these teams and prove to them we are real competitors unless we stop acting stupid? I mean we're going to the Olympics. Yeah, we're suppose to have fun, but we suppose to be serious about our game to." "Yeah, you're right," Shani said as he stopped playing around. "I promise you no more acting stupid." "Well, you gotta act stupid once in while," Apolo said smiling at him. "No one can be serious all the time." "So, what's next coach?" Rusty said looking up at her as she smiled at what she saw. "What? What's that big smile for?" "This is the first time you guys talked out something without having to come to me," Coach Ellis said still with a big grin on her face. "Well, aren't we a team?" Apolo asked. "Yes you all are," Coach Ellis said. "Might add the best short track team in the world. Even if you all don't get a medal at the Olympics, remember that you guys have already achieved so much and if they gave out medals for that, you guys would get gold. Remember, champions aren't made of medals, they're made by what's in the heart. Remember that while you are at the Olympics. Now lets get back to improving on your times." "Yes, ma'am," Apolo said saluting her as they guys filed back onto the ice. The gun went off and off went Rusty like the wind. Chapter 5 Never Had A Dream Come True Homepage Home |