The Easy Part of Impossible - Sarah Tomp Page 0,18
year. All new boards. They need a new platform, but that’s in development. . . .”
“But I’m not going to college.” That was never the plan. They knew how much she hated school. How laughable to think this was a possibility. She hadn’t even met with any college coaches because they didn’t have anything for her. Benny knew that. He got it.
Once, when she’d been trying to finish her homework at the dry gym in between sets he’d said to her, “There’s more than one kind of intelligence, Victorious. Don’t you worry that pen-and-paper stuff isn’t yours. There’s not going to be tests and science reports in real life.”
It had made her feel better at the time. And for a long time afterward. But now here she was at the start of senior year, with nowhere to go. The void ahead, otherwise known as her future, was too big, too exhausting, too much nothing to fill.
“She’s going to call soon. You need to at least talk to her.”
“I can’t,” Ria started, but then Mom’s phone rang and they all jumped, startled. She stared at it, like it might explode. Dad shoved it in her hand.
“Hello,” a woman’s shrill voice greeted her over the line. “My name is Evelyn Ling from Dayton Hill University. Is this Victoria Williams?”
“You can call me Ria.”
“Excellent. I won’t waste your time. According to our records, you haven’t yet committed to dive for any college next year. Is that correct?”
“Yes. But . . .”
“You need to consider Dayton Hill. We’re NCAA Division One. Our facility is top-notch, with all the bells and whistles. Brand-new boards, with a platform coming soon. You’ll look great in orange.”
“If it’s so great, then why do you still need divers?” It was an irrelevant question. The answer didn’t matter. Not to her. But she couldn’t help but wonder anyway. All the top programs had their scholarship places filled months ago. That’s why Maggie was tempted to settle for a small college like Uden—she knew it was too late to get picked up at any of the top programs.
Coach Ling laughed, but it sounded like something she hadn’t practiced enough.
“I like that you’re a straight shooter. You’ll fit right in. Truth is we’re looking to expand our program, and, well, our other recruits hit a bit of bad luck and made some poor choices. You don’t have a criminal record, do you?” Before Ria could respond, she went on, “I’m sure you heard about Tammy Bauer’s back surgery. Hopefully she’ll get another chance next year.”
She remembered Tammy. Nice tight flips, a little prone to meltdowns. The better she dove at the start, the more likely she’d fail a later dive completely. But she had good scores on most dives at some point. She probably had a killer video—the kind that makes coaches hopeful they can tame the head-storms.
Ria stood up, turned away from her parents so she wouldn’t have to watch them staring.
“You should look at Maggie O’Connell. She’s made some serious progress lately. She’s mastered a reverse two-and-a-half and is working on her inward. I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t have two-and-a-halves in every direction by December. Check her scores; she’s super consistent. She dives for Benny . . .” Ria cut herself off before she added the “too” that used to fit.
“You sound like a scout. But we want you, Ria. Even if it’s only for a year.”
“Only a year?”
“That leaves options for all of us. By then we’ll know if it’s a good fit for everyone.”
Ria could tell there was a whole undercurrent of conversation she was missing here. Benny would know what the coach meant and what was being said without being said. That’s why all recruitment conversations were supposed to go through him. All she could go on was the seasick roiling feeling she felt at all the vagueness.
“Come for a visit. Let us convince you in person.”
She shook her head no even though Coach Ling couldn’t see.
“Your parents have my contact information. I hope we’ll hear from you soon.”
After Ria ended the call, she wrapped her arms around herself, then quickly dropped them. That was an old cue that she was upset. That she needed her parents to give her a hug. She looked at them, back and forth between their expectant, hopeful faces. Hoping they’d found what she’d been missing.
“Well?” said Dad, breaking the tense silence. “What do you think?”
“I think it could be good to dive for a woman,” added Mom.