episode 12

but his passion . Besides being an honest student, Michael Stone continued to help his parent farm chores. Michael's persistence in striving for perfection was not only w Mildred Stone, Michael's mother, wished that he could relax a bit more free dreaming little boy. On one occasion she attempted to talk to him and his f this , but his dad quickly interrupted , smiled and said , "You want something , work Stone was surprised , thrilled or arrogant about clearing the bar at 17 feet , you co All of Michael's vaults today seemed to be the reward for his hard work as soon as he landed on the inflated landing mat , and with the crowd on its fea s personal best by three inches and that he was one of immediately began preparing for his next attempt at flight He seemed oblivious that he had just surpassed his p two competitors in the pole-vaulting event at the National Junior Olympics. Michael cleared the bar at 17 feet and 2 inches and 17 feet 4 inches, again e no emotion. were his vision. As he lay on and heard the crowd groan, he knew the other vaulter had missed his final jump. He was time for his final jump. Since the other vaulter had fewer misses, Michael clear this vault to win. would get him second place. Nothing to be ashame Michael would not allow himself the thought of not winning first place. He rolled over and did his ritual of three finger - tipped push - ups . He four stood and stepped on the runway that led to the most challenging event of his year - old life. The runway felt different this time. It started him for a brief moment. 1 him like a wet bale of hay. The bar was set at nine inches higher than his p "That's only one inch off the National record," he thought. The intensity o filled his mind with anxiety. He began shaking off the tension from his be working. He became more tense. " Why is this happening to me now ? " he tho to get nervous . Fear would be a more accurate description. What was heg had never experienced these feelings. Then out of nowhere , and from the d his souls , he envisioned his mother . Why now? What was his mother doin . at a time like this ? It was simple. His mother always used to tell him whene anxious or even scared, to take deep breaths. So he did. Along with shaking the tension from legs , he gently laid He began to stretch out his arm and upper body. The light breeze that w now gone . He could feel a trickle of cold sweat running down his back. H up his pole. He felt his heart pounding. He was sure the crowd did, to deafening. When he heard the singing of some distant robins in flight time to fly . As he began sprinting down the runway, something felt wond familiar. The surface below him felt like the country road he used 43 Shot on Y91dirt , the visions of the golden wheat fields seeme vivo dual camera 2022.05.26 21:08