The Wheel Thing

Then the setbacks began.
Amy sprained her ankle in a freak laundry accident. Then she got pregnant. Then both Schoendallers were in a car accident.

Now they're coming back. Slowly.
It's hard to find a babysitter for their weekly practice, let alone another one for the occasional coaching session. So all their work is crammed into one hour a week--which is really more like 45 minutes, because Amy cannot deny her two-year-old the chance to skate the "Hokey Pokey."

This particular Sunday has been productive, though. The Schoendallers skated a rousing paso doble to the theme from Bonanza, as well as a waltz, a tango and a bit of disco to the strains of "It's Raining Men." Technically, as they are the first to point out, there are still some rough spots, but Amy is skating with a windblown, madly-in-love look on her face, and Jim is whispering something in her ear. It's a pleasant way to end the skating session.

But wait. It's not over yet, even though the doors have opened to the public and a group of six-year-old boys swarm in, Rollerblades in hand.

"Jim," Amy reminds him, "put on something nice. We always skate one number for the crowd.