With my right knee firmly placed on the carpet, I bring my left foot forward and grab my hips as I begin the stretching routine in my bedroom. Wearing my favorite sparkly blue leotard, I focus on holding my posture. I have a lot on my mind and need to make a serious decision, so I feel that doing some poses will clear my head and help me decide what to do.
It all started at my gymnastics academy. I was a bit clumsy when I initiated my lessons, but now just before I was about to graduate from high school I was the best in my class, except for maybe Amy. As my body developed throughout the years, I began to notice that I was getting more attention from the teachers that worked in the facility than I had in the past. The spandex uniforms that I wore fit tight and clung to my body.
Occasionally, some of the instructors would gawk at my perky nipples or stare at my camel toe during my routines. At first, it made me feel a little uncomfortable, but eventually, I got used to it. It's just the way men are , I thought to myself.
Besides, now that I was eighteen and budding into a young woman, I was proud that I had a body that men were attracted to. Sometimes it actually gave me a tingle between my legs that made me play with myself in the bathroom after school before anyone came home.
Mr. Jerkin was a nice man, but he, of all the instructors, tended to peep the most. One morning I remember doing my stretches, and when I looked up, I caught him glancing between my legs with his mouth open. I realized that he had a bulge growing in his pants and that he needed to readjust his stance so that I wouldn't take notice. But I did. One day towards the end of the school year, he pulled me aside after class to say that he had something really important to tell me.
I knew that the Gymnast of the Year Award was coming up, and I was kind of nervous. Was he about to tell me that I didn't qualify? I was so concerned because I was planning on a scholarship from that award to help pay for my first year of junior college. Once all the other students had left, he sat me down at his desk and had a somber look on his face.
"Well Katie, I know that you’ve worked really hard for a long time in hopes that you would receive the Gymnast of the Year award," he said. Knowing now that this is what he wanted to talk about, I immediately grew a lump in my throat, and my tiny legs started to shake under his table. I swallowed deeply and continued to listen.
"I want to let you know that I have some good news and some bad news.", he continued. "Which would you like to hear first?"
I really wanted to know if there was a problem or not with me getting this award, so I said, "The bad news, please."
"The bad news is that even though you've worked as hard as you have for the past year, it looks like Amy is going to receive the scholarship because of her ranking.", he explained.
Crushed, I didn't even want to ask him what the good news was, but I did in hopes that there was still a way to obtain the reward.
"What's the good news?” I asked.
"The good news is that I'm going to give you an opportunity to outrank her so that you can receive the scholarship instead." Mr. Jerkin announced.
My eyes opened, and my entire face lit up with excitement. I thought to myself; There is a chance after all ! With a renewed smile, I said, "Really? That's awesome, Mr. Jerkin. What is it exactly that I need to do?." A small grin appeared along the corner of his mouth.
"Well Katie, I’ve noticed how you have developed over the years and have realized that you're much more coordinated, tone, and fit than you used to be, especially now that you're eighteen. I want you to make a video. A private video for me that no one else will see. With this video, I'm going to analyze your form, stance, and posture to make sure that giving the scholarship to Amy and not you is the right decision to make."
His grin turned into a smirk as he could see the look in my eyes had hinted that I had a feeling where this was headed.
"Uhhhh, Okay, Mr. Jerkin. You need to see everything? Ummm, I think I can do that. When do you need it by?"
"By the end of the week. That's when I need to notify the economic aid department in regards to the scholarship." He said.
I was looking into his eyes as I swallowed deeply again thinking to myself that I couldn't believe what he was asking for.
"Okay then, I'll do my best, sir.", I said with an evident nervousness.
As I began to leave, Mr. Jerkin took my hand and said, "Katie, you understand that in this private video, I need you to show me your entire form, your whole stance, and your complete posture. I want to be able to see it with the naked eye up close and clearly without anything in the way. Otherwise, I won't be able to make the right decision. Understood?"
Even though he didn't say it directly during our conversation, I knew what he wanted to see in this private video...
