Marci Peschke - Gymnastics Queen

For Marissa and all of my SUPER fans! MP

My name is Kylie Jean Carter. I live in a big, sunny, yellow house on Peachtree Lane in Jacksonville, Texas, with Momma, Daddy, and my two brothers, T.J. and Ugly Brother.

T.J. is my older brother, and Ugly Brother is well hes really a dog. Dont you go telling him he is a dog. Okay? I mean it. He thinks he is a real, true person.

He is a black-and-white bulldog. His front looks like his back, all smashed in. His face is all droopy like hes sad, but hes not.

His two front teeth stick out, and his tongue hangs down. (Now you know why his name is Ugly Brother.)

Everyone I love to the moon and back lives in Jacksonville. Nanny, Pa, Granny, Pappy, my aunts, my uncles, and my cousins all live here. Im extra lucky, because I can see all of them any time I want to!

My momma says Im pretty. She says I have eyes as blue as the summer sky and a smile as sweet as an angel. (Momma says pretty is as pretty does. That means being nice to the old folks, taking care of little animals, and respecting my momma and daddy.)

But Im pretty on the outside and on the inside. My hair is long, brown, and curly.

I wear it in a ponytail sometimes, but my absolute most favorite is when Momma pulls it back in a princess style on special days.

I just gave you a little hint about my big dream. Ever since I was a bitty baby I have wanted to be an honest-to-goodness beauty queen. I even know the wave. Its side to side, nice and slow, with a dazzling smile. I practice all the time, because everybody knows beauty queens need to have a perfect wave.

Im Kylie Jean, and Im going to be a beauty queen. Just you wait and see!

Its afternoon, and Im lying on my bed, staring at my ceiling again. Outside it is hotter than a firecracker in July! I swear, Momma could fry some eggs right on our front walkway. Yup, its summer in Texas, all right!

Mr. Weather Man says that we have had fifty straight days over one hundred degrees. Im hot and bored. Momma wants me to stay inside unless it is early in the morning or late at night. Thats when it finally cools down a tiny bit.

Im trying to find things to do inside. In my room, the air conditioner blows all day long. By dinnertime its as worn out as a lawn mower on the last day of summer.

I call my best cousin, Lucy, on the phone. Then I remember shes gone away on vacation to see her grandparents. I sigh. Ugly Brother looks at me with his sad old puppy dog eyes.

Weve just got to find something to do! I say.

Ruff, ruff! he barks.

Two barks mean yes, and one bark means no. Hes hot, too. His slimy pink tongue is hangin out and so much drool is drippin down, it looks like a shower. We sit on the floor by my fluffy, pink bed. Thinking of something to do is really hard!

Weve already done everything there is to do inside. Weve been in the house every day since school got out!

Do you want to put together a puzzle or read a book? I ask.

Ruff!

Come to think of it, a puzzle is not a good idea after all. You always get the puzzle pieces all slimy with doggie drool, I say.

Then I suggest we color or paint. I love art and am famous for my sunflower paintings. Ive painted sunflowers for Granny, Nanny, and Miss Clarabelle. But its clear Ugly Brother doesnt want to paint. Hes sitting on my art tablet, so I cant even reach my supplies. I guess Im out of ideas!

I am lying on my bed again when I hear Momma cheering and shouting. My curiosity gets the best of me, so I slip downstairs to see what in the world is going on. In the living room, Momma has the Summer Olympics on TV. Swimmers in a giant pool move back and forth, back and forth. Watching them for even a minute is boring! Besides, Im a teeny, tiny bit jealous of them being in that nice cool pool.

Momma sees us standing by the door. Hey, sugar, what are you two up to? she asks.

Were so bored! We tried to think of something to do, but theres nothing! I reply.

Why dont you watch the Olympics with me for a while? Momma offers. I can make us a little snack.

I am not interested in watching the Olympics, but Ugly Brothers ears stand up as soon as Momma says the word snack. I , but Ugly Brother starts to whimper and beg. He is always hungry.

Okay, I say.

Momma heads for the kitchen. This is going to be fun! she promises.

Soon I hear POP, POP, POP. Its the sweet sound of popcorn! Maybe watching swimming wont be so bad. Momma comes back with a giant bowl of salty, buttery popcorn and two icy bottles of Coke.

We snuggle into the cushions, and I toss Ugly Brother a piece of popcorn. He catches it on his slimy tongue.

When the commercials are finally over, theres no swimming pool. Guess what? Gymnastics is on next! Momma, Ugly Brother, and I watch and munch.

The good ol U.S.A. is in the lead! I shout.

I know. I like Courtney Bell. Shes the star gymnast for Team U.S.A., says Momma.

First, Courtney does an exercise on something called a balance beam.

Momma explains, A balance beam is a long narrow block of wood that the gymnast performs on. She has to be able to go forward, backward, flip, and turn without losing her balance.

We watch. Courtney is so good! Pointing her toes, she twists and turns. She never slips or slides like shes going to fall. No wonder shes Team U.S.A.s number-one girl! When she gets to the end, she jumps down and spreads her arms like a swans wings. She is so beautiful and graceful. I think I might just have a new inspiration.

Team U.S.A. moves on to the floor exercise. Thats even more fun to watch than the balance beam. In between each gymnast, I give Ugly Brother some popcorn so he wont get bored. Im having fun, and I want him to have fun too.

Who chooses their music? I ask.

Momma tells me that each gymnast picks out her own music and then her gymnastics moves to go with it, almost like a dance.

We cheer and cheer at the end of each , and so do the fans in the stands. Our gymnasts are wearing red, white, and blue leotards. The leotards look like bathing suits with long sleeves.

Next up are the Russian gymnasts, and then Chinas team performs.

Yay! I shout. The U.S.A. is still the best!

Momma says, I think youre favoring the U.S.A. But they are our team, after all!