The petite young woman enters the gym, long dark hair pulled back in a pony at the back of her head. She is dressed for serious athletic business in black tank top and black running shorts. Her pink oversized athletic bag swings heavily as she bounces through the gym heading for her favorite racquetball court.
After setting down her bag inside the court, she begins to jump around in a Rocky Top of the Stairs Triumph pose with her arms up in the air. Although she finds this a silly habit, her coach has told her if she acts like a champion she will be a champion! Just a few more jumps and she is done with such foolishness. She had always thought he wouldn't know if she didn't "Rocky Jump" but it did make her feel more powerful and it was pretty much a habit now.
It wastTime to get down to business as she removes multiple items from her pink Mary Poppins bag - headphones, water bottle, towel, phone, three soccer balls (one which is more worn than the others - obviously her favorite). A quick stretch before beginning and a moment of quiet head bowed prayer. Her father would surely have been proud of her if he could see her now. He has always been proud of her accomplishments but she knew it had been hard for him to accept that he had produced a girl rather than a rough and tumble boy.
No time for that now!
Today she was going to beat her juggling record - she would do at least 1500 without dropping. Then she would defend like her life depended on it. The racquetball court was a perfect place for defense drills since she did not have much time to read and respond to the ball. She had been getting progressively better and her reflexes had sharpened thanks to these racquetball court practice session. She may be one of the smallest keepers in the women's soccer league but the scouts from the Thorns were coming the end of April.
She would be ready.
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