Finding The Right Path

Toronto, 2019

Alex had always been an active child, she had known that from the second semester of pregnancy.

Even in her belly, the boy was constantly moving and often giving her a hard time whenever Mia needed to focus on classes or studying.

It was something hard to deal with when he was small because you always had to take extra care with everything.

No dangerous item could be around kids, but with Alex, everything had to be in security-locked drawers because the kid would always find a way to get into trouble.

The pediatrician had suggested enrolling Alex in some kind of sport so he could release some of that energy.

The problem was that he was diagnosed with Asthma as a baby and most sports were completely out of the question due to his allergies. Anything that was outdoors had the potential to cause him an attack, and boy, did they try...

Mia was frustrated. Finding an activity for him was turning out far more difficult than expected and she was on the verge of giving up.

They ended up trying more stuff indoors but Alex didn't seem to like anything.

It was only when one of her colleagues at the firm spoke of an open day at the Toronto Cricket Center for figure skating that Mia even considered it.

She had never watched the sport and didn't know much besides what skates were.

Even so, after trying so many things, there wasn't much to lose by trying something else.

Being in Canada, winter sports were obviously a big thing and it didn't surprise Mia that the conditions of the facility were actually pretty amazing.

Alex was only 4 and she wasn't quite sure if things would work out. Could he even stand on a pair of skates?

Everyone was super nice when they came in and explained everything, Alex already being more excited than she had ever seen him in other activities.

Mia was already adding up all the costs in her head as they explained things, considering how this type of thing would've been impossible for her parents to ever financially support.

Now, more than ever, she was more than thankful that her career as a successful lawyer allowed this type of indulgence.

A blonde lady approached them with a big smile. She looked very nice from the very start.

"Hello, I'm Tracy, the skating coach. Is this a new future student of ours?"

Tracy approached Alex and he was instantly drawn to her. He was quite a shy kid but was quickly nodding to the older woman with a mirroring smile

"We will see if he likes it... I'm Mia, the mom"

"And what's your name?" She asked the shy kid.

"Alex...huh...Alexander"

"It's very nice to meet you. Can I call you Alex, then?"

He nodded in answer, that was all people usually called him. Mia only used his full name when she was pissed, like any mother.

"Well, Alex. Have you ever skated before?"

"No."

"There is always a first time, I hope you like it! Should I show you around?"

Mia followed them around as Tracy showed her son the lockers, the loungeroom, the cafeteria, and finally the big ice surface. Strangely enough, there weren't too many kids here.

Alex was soon by the rink speaking with another man that Mia assumed to be another coach while Tracy watched.

"Coach Tracy, can I talk to you for a second?"

"Ah, of course."

More than anything else, Mia's priority was always to warn coaches and people at his activities of the asthma and other health issues that plagued her kid. She worried a lot.

"I know you probably have to worry about a lot of things, but I just wanted to express a few of my concerns."

"Of course, it's why we're here too."

"Well, Alex has been trying a lot of activities since he is quite active, but most of them don't seem to work out for him."

"He seems happy today."

"I think so too... But as a mom, I always worry."

"It's only natural. He will be in safe hands with us."

"Alex has Asthma so I worry a bit more. It can get very bad sometimes."

"And a lot of coaches aren't ready to deal with that kind of health situation."

"Yes, you understand why I worry..."

"Of course, Mia. I can call you that, right?"

"Yes, no worries."

"You don't have to worry. We have other athletes with asthma here, one even at a very high level and we are quite used to it."

"Oh? I had no idea."

"Yes, you don't follow the sport?"

"No. To be honest this was my last effort to find something he enjoyed after a coworker told me about your open day."

"We usually don't publicly announce this day since we can't take too many students. We tell the parents of current skaters and ask them to spread the word. I'm glad you found us." The blonde woman said as Alex finally stepped on the ice and almost fell immediately, getting into a fit of laughter as a result.

"Thank you for listening to me, I know it's always a bit of overconcern."

"It doesn't bother me at all. Feel free to come to me if you need anything or any of the other coaches. We will be happy to help."

Mia watched as Tracy went on the ice and helped these new students get on the ice. In no time, most of them were well-balanced on the ice, but Alex seemed to fly. Not that he was skating that fast, but it felt that way in her eyes compared to others.

The woman looked up and into the plaques of the previous champions that were in the club as she thought of what the future held

There were no doubts that her son loved this and to be fair, she couldn't wait to see what he could learn.