Marcus: I can’t even stand up on these things!
Mina: Relax . . . Don’t try so hard.
Marcus: You know what . . . I must have a screw loose—I can’t ski! I’ve never been one to do anything athletic—I’m just gonna throw in the towel now.
Mina: Just keep your shirt on! You haven’t even tried yet! Don’t be such a stick in the mud! Here, take my hand. Good. Now . . . First thing you want to do is bend your knees.
Marcus: Like this?
Mina: Yeah . . . Now lean back. . . . All right, good. . . . Doing great.
(A bit later . . . )
Mina: Now, pretend your knees are like springs. When you hit a bump . . .
Marcus: There’re bumps?! I thought we were on the bunny trail!
Mina: We are . . . but yeah . . . there might be a couple of small ones . . .
Marcus: Well, what do I do then?!
Mina: Just go with the flow. Pretend your knees are springs. Let them bend with the curve of the terrain. Don’t be stiff.
Marcus: Sure . . . Whatever . . .
Mina: Same goes if you fall . . .
Marcus: There’s falling involved?!
Mina: You’re bound to fall . . . You’re just learning . . . Anyway . . . worst thing is if you’re stiff when you fall . . . You’ll really do a number on yourself if your body’s tense when you hit the ground.
Marcus: Hey! Look at that kid! She’s not using any poles!
Mina: Yeah, actually, it’s more about balance and your knees. Poles help balance, of course . . . but when you’re learning, they can be a distraction . . . Maybe you should . . .
Marcus: No way . . . I’m keeping the poles. They’re my security blanket.
Mina: All right, whatever . . . Now to stop . . . make your skis into a wedge shape, and just let yourself slowly come to a stop. Let’s give it a whirl . . . Drift towards me . . . and . . .
Marcus: Here I come!
Mina: Wedge!
Marcus: Whoa!
Mina: That was great! You’re really batting a thousand!
Marcus: I can’t believe I just did that! I’m actually taking to this skiing stuff!
Mina: Like a duck to water!
Marcus: Would you say that I’m poetry in motion?
Mina: Well, maybe not quite yet. But soon enough, so . . . ready to get this show on the road?
Marcus: Don’t I need more practice?
Mina: This WILL BE your practice. Let’s go up to the top.
Marcus: Yikes,from the top this hill looks a lot steeper than I thought . . .
Mina: They always do . . . you just have to see your path down, and make up your mind to follow it.
Marcus: Uhh . . .
Mina: Listen, don’t worry, you have the basics. It’s all downhill from here . . . Literally.
Marcus: Very funny.
Mina: Best thing about a day on the slopes is the evening. Tonight, you’re going to sleep like a log, my friend. Here we go . . .
Marcus: Mina, if I buy the farm on the way down, I think you should know . . . You’ve always been my closest friend . . .
Mina: Right . . . Now get going.
Marcus: I can’t move. My legs won’t let me. . . . Hey! What are you doing?!
Mina: You’ll be here all day, if I let you . . . I’m just giving you a bit of a jump start. . . .
Marcus: You wouldn’t! You’d really push your best friend down a ski slope?!
Mina: See you at the bottom!
Marcus: Whoooaaa!
