G8+Group+4

=War on Ice = By: Ruchi Desai, Joseph Parrish, and Gerry Cuomo Period 8  The buzzer sounded. “Another goal for Casper Livingston!” shouted the announcer. With a little smile, Casper came out of the hockey rink. He was surrounded by the whole team; he had just scored the winning goal. Casper’s dad, Dave, came over and congratulated Casper. “Hey Dad,” he said “I think I’m going to stay a little late and shoot on Ryan. Is that okay?” “Sure, son. Just make sure you are home by 9:00.” “No problem.” Mr. Livingston left the building. Casper ran over to the locker room, put on his figure skates and got ready for the tryouts.

It was December 4, 2007; a harsh winter was coming in Toronto, Canada. The trees were covered in snow, and the roads were very icy. Most people hardly came out because it was 25 degrees outside. It was also the perfect season for hockey. In the morning Casper had finished his hockey game and was ready to do his figure skating tryouts.

In the hockey rink, figure skating tryouts were starting, and Casper was standing in the line; he was next person to go. His face turned pale and he could barely move. He had hardly any time to practice his routine. Casper learned figure skating on his own skating on the frozen pond in his backyard. He did this when his dad was not paying attention. “Casper Livingston! You’re up!” Coach Uley called out. Casper’s heart was racing. A bead of sweat rolled down his face, but he still believed in himself. He skated around the rink for a minute, warming up before he started his routine. He performed a salchow and a double axel, or two spins in the air. The coach was left speechless. He could not believe that Casper, a boy who did not have very much practice, could do anything like that. Once tryouts were over, Casper walked over to his bag and changed out of his skates. Coach Uley walked up to Casper and said, “That was amazing! I have never seen any beginner perform tricks like that.” "Well, actually, I have been practicing for a few years now on this frozen pond behind my house." Casper said. "Well, Casper, you have made it onto the Toronto Figure Skating Team. Congratulations." “Oh and coach, you don’t have to inform my parents. I will tell them myself.” Casper ran out of the building, filled with joy. He had just made it onto a team that represented his city. There was only one problem: he could not tell anybody about figure skating. The only person who knew about this was his best friend Ryan, the only person he could really trust.  For the next few months, Casper was sneaking out and staying late after his hockey games to go to his figure skating practices. He had progressed so much. His parents had constantly noticed Casper had been coming home at ten at night. He said that he was going to the library and sometimes he wouldn’t tell his dad anything. One night Casper came home around nine o’ clock when his parents told him to be home by eight o’ clock. He had told his parents he was going to the library after his hockey game to the library to read a few books and study for a test he had that week. They were starting to feel suspicious. Casper’s mom came up to him and asked him, “Why did you come home late? Is there anything else you have been doing?” Casper knew they were starting to feel suspicious, so he replied, “No, there is just a lot to study and I was really into the book I was reading. I was very engrossed in the book. Sorry.” “Alright, just make sure you come home.” Mrs. Livingston looked at him questionably for a few seconds and then left for the kitchen. Casper started to feel he needed to be more secretive. He could not make his parents suspicious. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">A few weeks had passed after his confrontation with his mom and he was at his figure skating classes. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> "You have the skills of a professional figure skater!" Coach always told him. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">He was definitely Coach Uley’s favorite, and he gave Casper many opportunities to go to a higher level. One day after practice, Coach Uley came up to Casper with big news. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">“Hey, Casper! Good practice today! You did great!" "Thanks Coach." "Anyways, the Ontario Junior Figure Skating Competition is this weekend,” said Coach Uley. “It is here in Toronto. I think you’re sure to win. Just get this form signed by your parents and give it back to me by tomorrow. Okay?” "Okay." "Then, see you tomorrow." Casper walked home, wondering what to do. He was faced with a dilemma. This was something his parents would find out about sooner or later. As he walked into the door, Casper saw his dad and mom waiting for him; he knew he was in trouble. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">“So, Casper, what have you been up to lately?” said Mr. Livingston. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">“Nothing, Dad,” replied Casper. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">“Really? Then why are you always so busy? Why do you not pay attention during hockey practices and games?” <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">“Dad, it’s nothing.” <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">“You’re up to something Casper; I will find out.” <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">“You knew what Dad, I’m just going to come out and say it. I have been sneaking out and staying late at the hockey rink for figure skating classes. It has been going on for at least four months now, and I have been invited to the Junior Nationals!” exclaimed Casper. “I don’t care what you say; I am going to the competition. I have never liked hockey. I was just following your dream, not mine. Now I realize that I need to do what I want.” Casper dashed up stairs. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">“CASPER! Come back down right now! Hockey is your sport because I said so. Figure skating is not athletic at all. You better listen to me...” But it was too late; Casper had already gone into his room and slammed the door shut and locked it. Mr. Livingston stormed out of the room, but Mrs. Livingston noticed a white paper on the ground. She picked it up and saw that it was the permission form for the figure skating competition. She signed it and left it at the door of Casper’s room. Casper noticed his mom come up and he took the paper and sent it to Coach Uley. At least one of his parents accepted him even if his dreams were different. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> Saturday morning, Casper stormed out the door and got into his car. Casper’s recent confrontation with his dad was all he could think about on his way to the competition. He had a sense of pride knowing that he could stand up to his dad, and that he wasn’t going to hide his secret anymore. This fired him up for the competition; he was ready. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> After arriving in the parking lot of the Toronto Maple Leaf stadium, he sat there in deep thought. He knew this was his one time to shine. He got out of his car and walked to the locker room where he would change. In the locker room he saw all of the other people that were participating in the competition. This made him very nervous knowing that they had much more experience and they had set out for this a long time ago. He had just heard about this a few days ago. He laced up his skates and stepped onto the ice for the practice round. He watched as the star figure skaters got momentum for their big 1080 degree spin in the air. He was amazed at what grace they did it with. Watching them made him very shaky about his routine. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">He was thinking to himself, “How could I really expect to do this? Maybe my dad is right. I’m no figure skater. I am a hockey player.” <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">Then he remembered. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> //He was seven years old, skating on the pond in his back yard. He was bundled up in every piece of clothing that he could find to protect himself from the harsh winds and cold air. He felt free as he went around the ice with the cold air blowing on his rosy red cheeks. He had a huge smile on his face from ear to ear. It was as if everything was right in the world, and nothing could ever go wrong. This was where he felt he belonged; not playing hockey like all of his friends. Figure skating was his passion. It was what made him happy when he was feeling down. Nobody could share this feeling with him because nobody could understand the art of figure skating like he did. He just knew that later in his life he would pursue this passion and figure skating in competitions.// He came back to the present and realized he needed to warm up. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> At Casper’s house, Mr. Livingston was feeling guilty for not supporting his son. He was still very adamant that his son should have stuck with hockey. He went to the kitchen, sat down, and started talking to Mrs. Livingston. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> “Do you think I should have been that harsh on him?” said Mr. Livingston. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> “No. I know that Casper must have worked really hard to get to this point.” replied Mrs. Livingston <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> “I know I should go support him. I think I should have let him follow his dreams. I should have noticed he didn’t enjoy hockey. I knew I was pushing him to hard. I’m going to the Toronto Maple Leaf Stadium right now. Bye.” <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> Mr. Livingston drove over to the stadium to support Casper. He knew Casper would be surprised and he felt good about what he was doing. Once he got to the stadium, he parked in the parking space and ran into the building. He had made it just in time. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"> At the stadium, warm ups were over, and all of the figure skaters were waiting to hear who would be the first person to perform their routine. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">“Please not me, please not me, please not me,” was being repeated over and over again in Casper’s mind. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">The speakers crackled then a voice came out announcing, “And the first person to perform their routine tonight will be Casper Livingston.” <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">Casper’s joints stiffened up as he heard this. Someone nudged Casper trying to get him to go onto the ice. Casper face was pale and his knees were shaking as he skated towards the center of the ice. He looked up into the stands and spotted the seats where he and his dad used to sit while watching the Toronto Maple Leafs play hockey. Then he looked further down the stands and to his amazement, his dad was sitting there watching. Casper’s dad nodded his head in approval and this made Casper feel great. His knees were no longer shaking and he was now ready to perform the routine of a lifetime. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">The music began to play and Casper Started his routine. He skated along the ice very gracefully. He started off with a simple camel spin and a magnificent glide across the ice performing his routines. His legs weren’t shaking anymore. He had confidence in himself. He started off with a few lutes, which is a jump with one foot tucked in. Later in his routine, he did a successful charlotte spiral; a spiral where he grabbed his foot and spins around very fast. He ended with his triple axel; and it was perfect. The routine was over, he bowed to the audience and he skated off of the ice. He watched all of the other performances and then the time had come to hear the results. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">“In third place is Lauren, second place is Miguel, and first was Casper!” shouted the announcer. Casper was given the first place trophy and the crowd cheered very loudly. Casper’s dad ran down to Casper and congratulated him. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">“Casper, you were amazing out there! I am so sorry I yelled at you and called figure skating not athletic,” said Casper’s dad. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">“It’s okay Dad. I should have told you when I first started, but I knew you wouldn’t accept it.” said Casper sadly. <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">“I shouldn’t have pushed you so hard for hockey and I shouldn’t have made your dreams for you. I should have known not to control your dreams; you have to follow your own dreams and I think you should stick to figure skating.” <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">“Thanks, Dad.” <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'">Casper’s dad went to talk to Coach Uley about Casper’s figure skating classes. Casper sat down and he thought about his future in figure skating, he had a new goal now; to get to the Olympics.