Read Online One Foot Onto the Ice by Kiki Archer - Free Book Online Page B

Lisa.”
    “Can I borrow your phone please, Professor?” Daisy spoke a little
louder. “Please.”
    “What?” muttered Marcus, shuffling out of his position in the line.
    Daisy shuffled after him. “I need to call my mum. It’s her
birthday. I forgot to call her this morning.”
    Marcus looked at her like she was being utterly ridiculous. “No.
We’re in the middle of a lesson.”
    “But it’s important.”
    Lisa spoke even louder. “Professor Ramsbottom, can you remind the
group of the best way to clip skis on too?”
     Marcus stopped at the collection of single skis all standing
upright in the snow. He reached for his new, slightly shorter ski, dropped it
to the ground and looked up at the girls with importance. “Toe in first, then
step down with your heel.”
    Lisa watched as the boot clipped perfectly into position. “Pretty
good,” she said surprised.
    “Professor, please, I’ll be quick.” Daisy tugged on the arm of his
jacket. “Just one minute.”
     Lisa pointed at the small mound ahead. “Professor Ramsbottom, I’d
like you to sidestep up the slope and then come down in the snow plough
position.”
    “Not a problem,” he said, thrilled that Lisa had finally
acknowledged his skill set.
    Daisy tugged even harder and looked up with eyes the size of saucers.
“Please, just for a second?”
    “What are you doing, Daisy?” Marcus looked down at the little
girl. “I’m needed for a demonstration.” He pulled away from her, shuffled to
the bottom of the tiny incline and turned his body horizontally, chopping his
skis into the snow. Within thirty seconds he was at the top of the mound. He
nodded from his high tower and spoke loudly. “Now girls, when you’re
sidestepping, make sure your skis stay horizontal to the slope because if
they’re not then you’ll start to slide back down.”
    Lisa lifted her hands above her head, genuinely impressed. “Who
thinks Professor Ramsbottom deserves a round of applause?!” She clapped loudly,
but no one else did.
    Marcus continued his pompous instruction. “Now, another name for
the snow plough is the pizza, because you bring the tips of your skis together
and you make sure the ends of your skis are as wide as possible.” He stepped
into the triangle position. “You see, my skis are now in the shape of a slice
of pizza.” He shuffled forwards slightly and slid down the small slope,
stopping directly in front of Lisa.
    “We have a star in the group,” she said, patting him on the back.
    Marcus shrugged with nonchalance. “Level three of Family Ski on
the Wii. The snow plough. I passed first time.”
    “Well then,” said Lisa trying not to smile. “Could you show us
once more?”
    Daisy was back at Professor Ramsbottom’s side. “Please?” She
sniffed back a tear. “Your phone? You said after your demonstration.”
     “Oh for goodness sake, Daisy.” He reached into the inside pocket
of his ski jacket. “Here.” He handed over the mobile. “Make it quick.”
    Daisy held the phone tightly and shuffled to the back of the line.
She turned her back on the group and dialled her home number, aware that
Professor Ramsbottom was at the top of the mound boring the class for a second
time. She waited, listening to the rings, desperately praying that someone
would pick up. No one did.
     
    ****
     
    Jenna pointed down the wide slope. “It’s a nice gentle blue run to
get us started. It forks off to the left and the chairlift we need is just
around that bend.”
    “I’m off!” shouted Champagne, pushing on her poles, eager to
experience the first run of the season.
    “I’m forking off too!” laughed Priggy, following on behind.
    Jenna adjusted her beanie hat and turned to Susan. “See you at the
bottom, Madam Quinn.”
    “Not if I see you first,” laughed Susan, pushing off quickly and
bending her knees, feeling that immediate rush of pure exhilaration. “Here we
go,” she shouted, lifting her head and letting the wind take her breath