“First down,” yelled Ed Rickey, who hastened to Jim’s aid and entangled himself over Jim’s outstretched legs. Ed also went down and shouts of merriment echoed through the room.
“Ready Jim?” asked Janet when the husky senior was back on his feet.
“Just as ready now as later,” he replied and they shot away, Janet’s feet moving swiftly as she got up speed.
Jim had the longer legs, the more powerful strokes, but Janet was fast and light. That might overcome the advantage of her heavier rival.
“Go on, Janet, go on!” she heard Helen shouting as they took the first turn.
Jim was still ahead, but he was going too fast for a safe turn and he skidded sharply and lost speed at the next turn while Janet, her feet a twinkle of motion, shot ahead. Jim yelled in protest, but Janet only went the faster and flashed by the finish at least two yards ahead of the puffing Jim.
From then on the rink buzzed with the roll of the skates as in couples and singly they sped around the room.
Ed Rickey was a wizard on skates and after the first rush of skating, when some of them were content to sit on the benches near the fireplace, he gave a demonstration of fancy skating.
Janet had never imagined Ed had that grace and sense of rhythm but the big fellow was remarkably light on his feet.
Then they were back on the floor again, this time in a series of races Jim Barron had planned, some of them rolling peanuts the length of the rink and back and others skating around backwards in tandem races.