LV2TWIRL

LV2TWIRL

By: Leah Santalis

Hard work, determination, commitment, and the desire 

Block out every outside force

Focus

Deep breath... Look up, smile big... It's show time

The gym is a mine field itself, ready to ignite at any second, anxious to find its next prey, as puke swims on the floor, trying to reach out to moving bodies while avoiding the drops of blood from yet another injury

Toss, whoosh, spin, illusion, roll, catch

Screaming girls red in the face from yet another fight filled with endless drama

Crying, trying not to pass out from the heat, swatting away bugs, all while trying to get out of the dungeon filled with vicious creatures

Cheers fill the tiny room holding over one thousand people, erupting in an explosion of clapping and whistling trying to get a closer look

Music ends, crowd stands up hollering and yelling from awe

Stepping off the floor, the sounds and smells all come back from the moment in time when everything was frozen

Makeup and hairspray once again consume most of the air in the room, while people sell food on the sidelines

A thermos filled with plain white rice waits patiently, calling out to passersby, but it's only waiting for one person

Sitting down and hungrily scarfing it down, they come out of the corner

Family who isn't blood related.

Family who is so different in every way possible.

Family who understands me more than anyone else.

Baton twirling isn't some sport played in a free moment

It's where joyfulness touches every heart that wants to be influenced

It's where tears trickle down worn out faces, attempting to take over

It's where moments fill heads wanting to be remembered forever

It's where families love one another no matter how time consuming, expensive, stressful, unbelievably hard it is

It's where families come together to be...

Happy.