Tessa and Clara stand on opposite sides of the wrestling mat, both wearing green belts, both grinning. The gym smells like rubber and sun-warmed wood. Coach calls out, 'Ready — wrestle!'
Tessa lunges forward, arms wide, but Clara hops sideways and taps her shoulder. 'Tag!' she says. Tessa tries again, charging like a truck — Clara ducks, and Tessa tumbles onto the soft mat with a loud boing.
Tessa tries a third time, sneaking low and crawling toward Clara. Clara wiggles her eyebrows, then leaps into the air and lands on Tessa's back — gentle as a feather, and Tessa giggles and rolls over.
Tessa sits up, breathing hard, and extends a hand to pull Clara up. 'Your turn,' she says. Clara takes it, and they switch places on the mat, both smiling.
They wrestle again — this time side by side, both trying, both laughing until the buzzer sounds and they collapse in a heap on the mat.
The buzzer sounds — both of them tumble backward into a giggling heap, arms and legs everywhere, the mat breathing soft and springy beneath them.
Tessa props herself up on one elbow and looks at Clara. 'Best practice ever,' she says. Clara bounces to her feet and offers a paw.
They walk off the mat together, shoulders brushing, the gym slowly emptying around them. Friday afternoon stretches ahead, wide and bright.