once long ago I was a member of a jump-rope team. second grade through eighth. (by eighth it was a bit embarrassing.) we had itchy short-shorts and knee-high tube socks in our school colors. we did shows at basketball halftime at the high school.
for the sake of a joke of a talent show (hotsy author as gong-wielding judge, benefit for magazine), me & the sis are resurrecting our skills. last night we had our first practice. twenty-five foot co-ax cables for jumpropes, straining to see them turning in the dark. remembering how to jumprope in west 9th street, teaching our hottest friends how to double dutch. recalling the sting when jumpropes nip you on the ear. making all the latenight passersby laugh.