A Gift With A Gift

Whenever you think of a gift, you think of a box wrapped in wrapping paper. You can also see a present as something passed down from generation to generation. Sadly, the present I got was’t as great as you might think. I don’t know what I am particularly, but what I do know is that I am meant for something. I am meant for something big, bigger than myself. I may be special, but I know it won’t end well.

I stood in line behind this girl that was very skinny. She seems to have exercised a lot for this jump. She looks so fast and full of energy. She hopped up and down and side to side while shaking her hands. She looks nervous for this jump, same as I. She placed herself in a running position and then let a breath out. This girl must be persistent because I have seen her before. She never gives up on what she wants.

She suddenly shot forward from her stance and left a gust of wind behind to hit me in the face. She ran straight toward the edge of the mat and then twisted toward the high jump stick and jumped. Everyone around me awed at her height. Her body twisted into an “n” shape and made it over the stick. Her jump was almost flawless. I could tell she messed up because she was holding onto her body really tight. Everyone cheered and clapped for the girl. As everyone quieted down, I got ready to go.

I stretched my legs and took a deep breath. High jump is my life. I guess it is because I have a strange way of life, but that is just one of my many characteristics. I love the feeling of the air as it passes over my skin. For some reason, the air and I seem to be best friends or we at least get along very well. That is why people find me weird. I always explain things as living not dead. I placed myself in a running position and let the air freeze every ache and pain in my body. I could feel my heart pumping faster and faster. I closed my eyes for a few seconds and then it was lift off. I ran toward the edge of the high jump stick and then twisted toward the center for the jump. My body curled into a perfect “n” shape and cleared the bar. Everyone was astonished by how high I got. I could have easily made it over 6 feet. The girl walked over to me and shook my hand.

“Wow, I wish I had your skills”, said the girl.

“It is nothing. I am not much of a competitor”, I said.

“I like your spirit”, said the girl.

“Thank you for quite a heart thumper. That was fun”, I said.

“Yes indeed. I have never jumped that high before”, agreed the girl.

“Well, I should probably be getting going”, I said.

“Same here”, said the girl.

“Thanks”, I said.

“Yeah, thanks”, said the girl.

She shook my hand and everyone clapped. I ran passed all the people clapping and went to see my team. I could feel my heart pumping my blood faster as I remembered what I did. I smiled to myself and breathed in and out. As I walked up to my teammates, I smiled. I walked up to everyone, but no one congratulated me.

No one even patted me on the back, not even the people who watched me. Everyone was too caught up in what Elaine had won. You see, Elaine has a way with people. If you do not pay any attention to her, she will make your life miserable. As you may have guessed, she does not really like me. She finds me a threat to her popularity. I do not see her as a threat, but what do I know.