Chapter 11: Reminiscing

Celeste reshouldered her gym bag nervously as she walked through the building. The departing students gave her curious glances as she passed. However, they were too happy to be leaving to pay her much attention.

As she entered the work-out area, Celeste saw an older woman putting some of the equipment away. ‘Some things don’t change,’ Celeste mused. Hearing Celeste approach, the woman turned away suddenly.

“Anastasia?” the woman asked after a moment’s hesitation.

“Hello, Nadia.”

The woman embraced her fiercely. “My dear, it’s been so long. How are you?”

“I’m doing okay,” Celeste replied, stepping back. “How are you? How’s Ricco?”

Nadia smiled, sweeping back some of her now graying hair from her face. “I’m well, Anastasia. Ricco is piddling around here somewhere. You know him, he never rests. But enough about us, what brings you here, child?”

“Well, I was wondering if I could,” but Celeste didn’t finish the sentence. With a faint smile, she shrugged, indicating her gym bag.

Nadia’s face brightened with understanding. “Oh, of course, Ana! You are always welcomed here. Most of the students have left for the day, so you will pretty much have it to yourself.”

“I won’t be hindering you or Ricco, will I, Nadia? I can always come back some other time.”

The other woman dismissed the notion with a wave of her hand. “Ricco actually sleeps here a couple of times a week. He still loves it so much.”

“I can understand that,” Celeste commented quietly, her eyes surveying the gym.

“I think that you would,” Nadia replied. “Well, I must be going. Please, don’t continue to be a stranger.”

Celeste nodded. “I’ll try, Nadia.”

With a final hug, the older woman gathered her belongings and left Celeste alone among the equipment and among the memories.

* * * * *

Celeste wiped the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand, her breathing still hard. After doing some initial stretching and warm-ups, she decided to begin with the floor. She was surprised how easily her old routines came back to her as she had steadily worked her way to more and more difficult tumbling passages.

Leaning against the balance beam, she finally let herself think about all the hours she had spent in that gym during her childhood. Whatever was going on in her life seemed to disappear once she stepped inside it, her focus confined to the moves. Maybe that was why she came back now. She was still struggling with so many issues and not finding many solutions to any of them.

“Ana? Anastasia?”

Celeste turned in the direction of the voice and smiled. “Hi, Ricco.”

“I didn’t believe Nadia when she told me you were here,” he said, leaning beside her against the beam. “Are you still training, Ana?”

Her smile broadened. “No, I’m not training, Ricco. I gave it up a long time ago. Besides, where could I find a coach like you?”

“Nadia and I both were sorry to read that your aunt had passed on. We both wanted to be there for you, but we found out too late to attend the services.”

“It’s the thought that counts, and I appreciate your concern.”

The two fell into silence, immersing themselves with the memories. However, a few minutes later, Ricco chuckled. With a curious look, Celeste glanced at him.

“Forgive me, Ana. Sometimes things just strike an old man as funny.”

“What?”

Ricco sobered somewhat. “Do you remember Emily Ferris?”

“She was a few years younger than I was,” Celeste replied. “She was getting fairly good when I left.”

“Yes, well, she had convinced herself that she was as good a gymnast as you were. After you left, she decided it was time for her to step into the spotlight. However, she tried to do it by using some of your routine, especially on the beam.”

“Didn’t you try to stop her? I mean some of those skills were fairly advanced.”

Ricco nodded. “We all tried, but one afternoon she just did it. However, she over-rotated on one part and landed hard, practically sitting down on the beam before she fell off and hit the floor.”

“Ricco, I can’t believe you’re laughing at this!” Celeste cried. “She couldn’t have been seriously hurt by a stunt like that.”

“I know, Ana, I know,” he replied. “We all were scared to death when it happened until we realized that nothing was seriously injured but her pride..”

They both looked at each other and suddenly erupted in laughter. It was a few moments before they both calmed down. With a sigh, Ricco leaned back against the beam.

“What happened to her?” Celeste asked. “I’ve never heard of anything about her after I left like I did with Rebecca and some of the others.”

“She and her family decided to move elsewhere to find a better coach. They thought that Emily was not progressing as she should under my coaching. They couldn’t see that she didn’t have the talent or the drive to make it all the way.”

Celeste nodded. She had seen several people like that even at the young age she was when she left. Half-heartedly, she wondered where she would be now if she had stayed.

“You know, Ana, I have never seen anyone that has the affinity for the beam like you do.”

Celeste arched one fiery eyebrow. “Somehow I doubt that, Ricco.”

“I never lie, Ana,” he replied evenly, looking her dead in the eye. “At least not to my students.”

With a smile, Celeste decided not to start an argument. “Thank you for the compliment, Ricco. It means a lot coming from you.”

He nodded. “Did you try the beam?”

“No, I kept to the floor and just to the basics mostly.”

“Some of those passes were far from basic.”

Celeste looked at him. “You were watching me? Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Old habits die hard, huh?”

“Too true, too true. And as much I hate to end this, we both should be heading home.”

Glancing up at the clock, she nodded. “Thanks for letting me stay, Ricco. It was good to see you and Nadia again.”

He waved the gratitude aside. “You are welcomed here anytime, Ana. I mean that. Nadia and I still care very much about you.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“You are most welcome,” he stated sincerely. “However, you must make me a promise.”

The gleam in his eye made Celeste suddenly wary. “What promise is that?”

“The next time you come, you will tell me and let me watch you on the beam.”

“I’ll think about it, Ricco. It’s been a long time since I’ve done any real practicing.”

He smiled. “I bet you still have it though.”

“You’re still such a scoundrel,” she said, kissing his cheek. “Good night, Ricco.”

“Good night, Ana.”

With a final wave, she gathered her things and left the gym. As she zipped up her jacket against the biting wind, she couldn’t help to reflect that she felt better. She didn’t have any answers to her problems but her heart felt lighter.


Reminiscing Celeste reshouldered her gym bag nervously as she walked through the building. The departing students gave her curious glances as she passed. However, they were too happy to be leaving to pay her much attention. As she entered the work-out area, Celeste saw an older woman putting some of the equipment away. ‘Some things don’t change,’ Celeste mused. Hearing Celeste approach, the woman turned away suddenly. “Anastasia?” the woman asked after a moment’s hesitation. “Hello, Nadia.” The woman embraced her fiercely. “My dear, it’s been so long. How are you?” “I’m doing okay,” Celeste replied, stepping back. “How are you? How’s Ricco?” Nadia smiled, sweeping back some of her now graying hair from her face. “I’m well, Anastasia. Ricco is piddling around here somewhere. You know him, he never rests. But enough about us, what brings you here, child?” “Well, I was wondering if I could,” but Celeste didn’t finish the sentence. With a faint smile, she shrugged, indicating her gym bag. Nadia’s face brightened with understanding. “Oh, of course, Ana! You are always welcomed here. Most of the students have left for the day, so you will pretty much have it to yourself.” “I won’t be hindering you or Ricco, will I, Nadia? I can always come back some other time.” The other woman dismissed the notion with a wave of her hand. “Ricco actually sleeps here a couple of times a week. He still loves it so much.” “I can understand that,” Celeste commented quietly, her eyes surveying the gym. “I think that you would,” Nadia replied. “Well, I must be going. Please, don’t continue to be a stranger.” Celeste nodded. “I’ll try, Nadia.” With a final hug, the older woman gathered her belongings and left Celeste alone among the equipment and among the memories. * * * * * Celeste wiped the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand, her breathing still hard. After doing some initial stretching and warm-ups, she decided to begin with the floor. She was surprised how easily her old routines came back to her as she had steadily worked her way to more and more difficult tumbling passages. Leaning against the balance beam, she finally let herself think about all the hours she had spent in that gym during her childhood. Whatever was going on in her life seemed to disappear once she stepped inside it, her focus confined to the moves. Maybe that was why she came back now. She was still struggling with so many issues and not finding many solutions to any of them. “Ana? Anastasia?” Celeste turned in the direction of the voice and smiled. “Hi, Ricco.” “I didn’t believe Nadia when she told me you were here,” he said, leaning beside her against the beam. “Are you still training, Ana?” Her smile broadened. “No, I’m not training, Ricco. I gave it up a long time ago. Besides, where could I find a coach like you?” “Nadia and I both were sorry to read that your aunt had passed on. We both wanted to be there for you, but we found out too late to attend the services.” “It’s the thought that counts, and I appreciate your concern.” The two fell into silence, immersing themselves with the memories. However, a few minutes later, Ricco chuckled. With a curious look, Celeste glanced at him. “Forgive me, Ana. Sometimes things just strike an old man as funny.” “What?” Ricco sobered somewhat. “Do you remember Emily Ferris?” “She was a few years younger than I was,” Celeste replied. “She was getting fairly good when I left.” “Yes, well, she had convinced herself that she was as good a gymnast as you were. After you left, she decided it was time for her to step into the spotlight. However, she tried to do it by using some of your routine, especially on the beam.” “Didn’t you try to stop her? I mean some of those skills were fairly advanced.” Ricco nodded. “We all tried, but one afternoon she just did it. However, she over-rotated on one part and landed hard, practically sitting down on the beam before she fell off and hit the floor.” “Ricco, I can’t believe you’re laughing at this!” Celeste cried. “She couldn’t have been seriously hurt by a stunt like that.” “I know, Ana, I know,” he replied. “We all were scared to death when it happened until we realized that nothing was seriously injured but her pride..” They both looked at each other and suddenly erupted in laughter. It was a few moments before they both calmed down. With a sigh, Ricco leaned back against the beam. “What happened to her?” Celeste asked. “I’ve never heard of anything about her after I left like I did with Rebecca and some of the others.” “She and her family decided to move elsewhere to find a better coach. They thought that Emily was not progressing as she should under my coaching. They couldn’t see that she didn’t have the talent or the drive to make it all the way.” Celeste nodded. She had seen several people like that even at the young age she was when she left. Half-heartedly, she wondered where she would be now if she had stayed. “You know, Ana, I have never seen anyone that has the affinity for the beam like you do.” Celeste arched one fiery eyebrow. “Somehow I doubt that, Ricco.” “I never lie, Ana,” he replied evenly, looking her dead in the eye. “At least not to my students.” With a smile, Celeste decided not to start an argument. “Thank you for the compliment, Ricco. It means a lot coming from you.” He nodded. “Did you try the beam?” “No, I kept to the floor and just to the basics mostly.” “Some of those passes were far from basic.” Celeste looked at him. “You were watching me? Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Old habits die hard, huh?” “Too true, too true. And as much I hate to end this, we both should be heading home.” Glancing up at the clock, she nodded. “Thanks for letting me stay, Ricco. It was good to see you and Nadia again.” He waved the gratitude aside. “You are welcomed here anytime, Ana. I mean that. Nadia and I still care very much about you.” “Thank you,” she whispered. “You are most welcome,” he stated sincerely. “However, you must make me a promise.” The gleam in his eye made Celeste suddenly wary. “What promise is that?” “The next time you come, you will tell me and let me watch you on the beam.” “I’ll think about it, Ricco. It’s been a long time since I’ve done any real practicing.” He smiled. “I bet you still have it though.” “You’re still such a scoundrel,” she said, kissing his cheek. “Good night, Ricco.” “Good night, Ana.” With a final wave, she gathered her things and left the gym. As she zipped up her jacket against the biting wind, she couldn’t help to reflect that she felt better. She didn’t have any answers to her problems but her heart felt lighter.


Chapter 12: A Fateful Step Sailor Sol: Homefront