Mrs Masterson stepped in front of the group. “Go ahead and take a seat girls.”

The rest of the candidates sat on the bleachers around us. We could hear comments on our warm up. Mostly positive, a couple negative ones.

“Thank you all for trying out for the Ridgemore High School Cheerleading teams. I am Mrs. Masterson” She started. “ I am the head coach of the cheerleading program. I am also coach of the Varsity squad. We have 3 teams, the Freshman Squad, the Junior Varsity and the Varsity squads. Each with 10 girls to a squad. Each squad will have a captain and co-captain. She will be in charge of the Squad. Each Squad has there own coaches and assistant coaches. As I said, I am coach of the Varsity squad. To my left is Miss Cooper, she is coach of the freshman squad. While to my right is Mrs. Chapmann she is the coach of the JV squad. Mrs, Chapmann.”

“Good afternoon, girls. Our tryouts today is for every position on the team. I have seen some of the girls who were on one of our squads last year. While you may have made the team last year. You may or may not make a team this year.”

Mrs. Masterson started the tryouts. She split the girls up. She demonstrated a cheer move then started music and had the girls repeat it. While most were able to copy it. Very few did is precisely the exact way. All the while the three coaches wandered with a clip board and observed. Writing down things. Each group took about 45 minutes to evaluate. Having the girls do different moves. Then they opened it up for each girl to do a freestyle. By the time Lynn was done. There were more than one gasp and wow.

Once it was all done. Mrs. Masterson addressed the group. “Thank you all again. Each and everyone of you performed very well. We will discuss things between us. A list of who made which squad will be posted in the display case in front of the office. No names will be listed just the number you were given. Also those who where picked will get a phone call from one of the coaches about practice. Good Luck to all of you.”

With that we left. As we walked out to the car. A couple of girls came up to us.

“Wow, that was fantastic what you two did. I am sure you got in. I'm Molly Simmons this is Carrie Smith. We are freshman this year.”

“Hi, I'm Lynn Wilson this is my sister, Allison.”

“You didn't go to Cooper last year did you?” Carrie asked.

“No we just move here from Battle Creek. I'm a freshman too.” Lynn answered.

“Cool, maybe we will have a class together.”

“Hey, there's my mom. We gotta go.”

“Nice meeting you,” Lynn called as they both ran to a waiting car.

They both waved as they got in.

“Seems like you may have made a couple of friends, Honey” Mom unlocked the car.

“possibly, Mom. We will see.”

“Hey, you never know you might become good friends.”

“Yeah, Mom. You are right.”

We pulled up in our driveway, Daddy's truck was there.”

“Hey Daddy's home from work.” I said.

We found dad in the living room. Relaxing.

“Hi,Daddy.” I called as I walked in.

“Hi, Sweetheart. Where have you three been?”

“Lynn found out about tryouts for the cheer-leading squad at school. So we were there.”

We joined him in the living room. “So, did you make the squad?” He asked.

“Won't know until tomorrow, The head coach will put up the list of who made it.”

“I am sure, with both of you twos Cheer experience you should. So how do you think you did?”

“Great it was just basic beginner moves. We both know by heart.”

Turning to me, “So how do you think you did?”

“I didn't tryout.”

“Why not?”

“Daddy I am only in 6th grade. Lynn is in 9th.”

“Did they say you couldn't or post an age limit.”

“No, but”

“Honey, but nothing. You should have tried out.” Daddy encouraged.

“Daddy, we did do some showing off. We both did some tumbling runs, a couple of lifts and a couple throws. Everybody was speechless.” Lynn added.

“Well looks like you did tryout. You just didn't know it.” Dad snickered.

“geese daddy. Yeah, and in about 2 to 3 months I will be to pregnant to do much of anything.”

“I bet you will be just about as active as you are now.” Mom offered. As she came into the living room. Gave daddy a kiss and sat in her chair.

“Oh, please excuse me. Someone just moved and is pushing on my bladder.” I took off for the bathroom.

“Ah, to be pregnant.” Mom reminisced.

I got to the bathroom just in time. As I used the bathroom, I talked to my girl. You are such a little stinker. Pushing on mommies bladder like that. I felt her move some. Less pressure. For now I thought.

Returning to join everyone else. Lynn was describing the program. I sat next to her. When she described the change. I shuttered a little. That wasn't fun.

Mom and Lynn left to work on dinner. I sat with Daddy. We watched the early news. I noticed some pictures on the mantle. We had a fireplace. The pictures showed the old me. Ones of each of us. Then the three of us. Some at different ages. On the wall was a group photo of the current All American Cheer team.

“Daddy, how do you have pictures of us younger. Me and Lynn were never young girls. What about the one with the old me, the new me and Lynn. We never were young together.”

“Well, Those were from the program. They photo shopped them. We couldn't just have pictures of CJ when he was young and none of you two. Along with no picture of the three of you together. Or a picture of all of us together as one big happy family.” Daddy motioned to a picture I did not see. A family picture With Mom, Dad, the old me, the new me and Lynn. It seemed like it was taken a few years ago. Lynn looked about 12 and I looked about 9.

“That was taken about a year before your brother ran off and got killed.” He told me sadly. “We had to almost force him to the picture with the rest of us. “He got so envious of you two girls. With your making the All American Cheer team. He started being a real snot. Getting into all kinds of trouble, He started not listening to me or your mother. Until he one day just left. 4 days later they found his body at the bottom a a railroad bridge down by Hillsdale.”

Yeah, I was a little shit. I remember mom and dad coming into the police station to pick me up at 3am. I had been picked for curfew violations. I was at the skate park when some old lady called the cops on me and my friends. The others got away. I wound up back in at the police station 3 days later. I was caught getting back at that old lady. I tagged her house, good.

“Daddy, I'm sorry that CJ caused you and mom so much trouble. Me and Lynn had no idea. I remember you getting upset with him, a couple times. I miss my big brother.” I couldn't believe that I said all that. It was like it was a performance, remembering the former me, a boy.

“Yeah, I remember him too.” It was Lynn. “I miss him, also.” She gave daddy a hug. “Oh, and dinner is ready.”

“Thank you, Honey.” Dad and me headed to the dinning room table. It was set real nice.

I wasn't sure which one was mine. So, I just picked a chair. Next to Mom. There was plenty of room on the other side so I figured that I could move down and be able to have the high chair between me and Mom. At least for a little while. I sat like a proper lady, back straight, with my hands folded in my lap. I waited until everyone sat down. Lynn also sat like me.

Once mom and dad sat down, we began to eat. Slow delicate bits. We had some table talk.

All of the sudden I felt a pain in my stomach. Stopping eating I put my hand on my stomach.

“Are you all right, Allison.?” Mom asked.

“Somebody just gave me a good swift kick. I can't tell if she is hungry or upset.” I winced again. “She is not happy.”

“Are you two going to be alright. Do we need to take you to the Dr's.”

“I don't think so. She is just moving around some.” I felt the little angel I was carrying moving some.

“Well, Let us know if we need to.”

“OK, Grandma.”

“Well that is what I am. A grandmother.”

As I started eating again She seemed to get comfortable. For the rest of the meal she didn't make a move.

Rubbing my belly, I smiled.

“Somebody must be content now.” Dad asked.