Success at Silver Spires by Ann Bryant Page B

Izzy would probably say that wasn’t very good for my muscles, so I was keen to swap to the rower soon.
    My eyes were continually on Holly, willing her to finish so I could have a go. Only she never did. And twenty minutes later Miss Gardner told us that we both ought to go to breakfast or we’d be late for lessons.
    I felt energized from the jog, but really disappointed that I hadn’t had a go on the rower. All the same, I did as I was told straight away. As I left the gym I could hear Holly telling Miss Gardner that sculling was her “thing” and she wanted to do it professionally one day. It annoyed me because it seemed like she was trying to find a reason why she ought to be allowed on the machine all the time. But she’d had one go today so it was only fair that I should have a turn after school if the machine was free, and if Miss Vernon was there to show me how to use it. I made a resolution to stand up to Holly a bit more in future, but it was a bit of a quivery resolution, because I had to remember that she could report me for breaking the rules whenever she wanted.
    Some days go really slowly, and this was one of them. By the time the bell went for the end of school I was already exhausted with waiting for it. Usually Emily and Izzy are the first to shoot outside when lessons are finished, because Izzy always wants to stretch her legs after sitting still for so long, and Emily likes to breathe the fresh air after being indoors. But today, I was the first one out of my place.
    I got changed in the PE changing room and raced upstairs, looking forward to that moment when I was close enough to the gym to hear the whirring of machinery. Yes! It sounded like lots of machines were in use this time. I crossed my fingers that the rower might be available and, more importantly, that Miss Vernon might be there.
    And when I went in I was immediately hit by the difference in the atmosphere at this time of day. The place was full of older students and a few teachers. My eyes went straight to the rowing machine and a whoosh of happiness zipped through me. It was free. Then I got another jolt of happiness, because Miss Vernon had spotted me and was coming over looking apologetic.
    â€œSorry, Sasha! I was really under the weather yesterday. And sorry again, because I can’t fit you in today either.” She was reaching for her rota. “Looks like I could manage—”
    But I interrupted her. “Miss Gardner taught me how to use the treadmill but all I really want to learn to use is the rowing machine.” I pointed to it, feeling a sudden sense of urgency to get on it before anyone else did, because people were moving from one piece of equipment to another all the time.
    Miss Vernon looked at her watch, then nodded. “Okay, I’ve got time to show you that, no problem.”
    I hurried over to it but it was only once I was sitting astride the machine with my feet strapped into the metal “shoes” on the sides and my hands holding the T-shaped handle that I relaxed and started to enjoy myself.
    Miss Vernon pressed the menu on the computer and a couple of other buttons. She showed me which figures indicated the distance I was covering, and how fast I was going, and how many strokes per minute I was taking. Then there was a large figure in the left-hand corner which showed the seconds ticking away. I pulled hard over and over again and Miss Vernon told me to use my legs more and my back. I loved the feeling I got when my strokes per minute score went up. But the best feeling was when she said she thought I was a natural rower. Then she told me I could keep going, but not for more than ten minutes, and to let her know if I had any problems.
    The following day was Wednesday. I could hardly wait for the sculling session that evening. But I was up bright and early again, determined to have just a short warm-up session on the rowing machine before breakfast, so long as my muscles