track star

The girls and I reviewed their county sport program options. I suggested youth track and field, with Saturday morning practices and a regional competition. Ella was with me right up until "competition."

"I don't like competition," she complained. "I'm not fast! When I'm 'it' I can never catch anybody!" She frowned, "I'm a slowpoke."

Lauren put her arm around her sister and pulled their heads together. "It's okay, Ella," she said, in a soft, consoling voice well beyond her years. "You're not the only one. I'm a slowpoke, too."

Then she smiled, and shot me a little sideways look to see if I was proud of her.

I was.