Creak, creak, creak. Solina hops onto the little blue mat. Her knees take off: one, two, three bounces.
"Stand still for a minute!" says the teacher. Solina plants herself right in the middle of the colorful mats. Her shoes tap softly on the wood.
A wisp of air from the window blows her hair across her face. *I can't do it*, Solina thinks. Her feet drum the little mat.
Up, down, up: the Sun Greeting. Solina rushes ahead. The teacher slows down. Then the Kitten Breath: back up, back down.
Solina goes "Mrrp!" and bursts out laughing. She tries again. "Mrrp... mrrp." The sound is softer. Her shoulders drop.
The teacher points to the door. "Garden. Tree." Solina nods. Under their feet, the colorful mats make a rainbow.
Under the big tree, the leaves rustle. The wind moves them gently. The earth smells of moss and rain.
Solina sets one foot on her thigh. She sways. She grips the trunk. She tumbles. Tries again. A leaf lands on her nose.
She kicks the ground. The trunk creaks under her fingers. Her nails dig into the bark. *I can't do it.*
Solina lets go of the trunk. One foot up. Arms like branches. One, two, three. Four, five, six. The wind moves the leaves.
Seven, eight, nine. Ten. Silence. Only the rustling. Solina opens her eyes. The ground is cool beneath her thin shoes.
Back in the gym, Solina stretches her arms. Slowly. Slowly. Slowly. A bee hums at the window. Her feet are still. Her hands rest on her knees.
