Skating gave me the whooping falls
Iwas sitting on my porch one Sunday morning when Duggan pulled in front of my house with a carload of people. He said, “Come on, Lonie, let’s go skating.” I had never been on a pair of skates in my life “Go what?” I asked. “You know,” he said. “Roller skating.”
I had no idea where there was a skating rink. I knew that there was not one in Rome. At that time most people considered skating a kind of dance. Dancing was strictly forbidden among the young people.
We headed up Highway 27 to Summerville. Just a few miles above Summerville was a wide place in the road called Pennville. Duggan pulled in to a building that had a sign that said Roller Rink.
We scrambled out of the car and headed for the door. I took my time, letting them go first. I had thought about putting on a pair of roller skates all the way up there. The idea didn’t appeal to me. I watched as they went out on to the floor and began to move around. It looked so easy, but I was still hesitant.
Duggan came over to me with a pair of skates. “Get yourself a pair and come on,” he said. I will never forget that day as long as I live. Still not sure if I wanted to, I walked over to the window and got me a pair of skates.
Everyone was on the floor but me. I grabbed the rail and walked out onto the floor. One foot went north and the other one went south. They then went straight up and I came down on my back pockets.
There was not much cushion on me for I only weighed somewhere around 130 pounds. There I sat in the floor with a look on my face that said “What happened?” I looked at everyone; they had cleared the floor. I could see the smiles on their faces.
That did it. I got to my feet and hit the floor again. Whoops! Both feet went in the same direction, with the skates becoming tangled together. This time — I remember it well — I landed flat on my back. I lay there and someone came over and helped me to my feet. Who it was I don’t remember, but when I got to my feet he gave me a shove.
I went straight across the floor, and as I passed the jukebox I grabbed hold of it. The music stopped and I carried the jukebox out onto the floor. It had wheels on it so had it not been for the rail I would have carried it out the door into the back parking lot.
I got a Coke and sat down at a table. I sipped the Coke and watched the skaters as they circled the ring. One by one they came over to me to see if I was hurt. Words like “You did good” and “Come on, you can do it.” Sure I could do it, but they would have to bury me next week I thought.
Duggan had a sister, Dora Mae, who was with us. She was good. I watched her looking at her feet. I had put both feet on the floor; she was putting one foot at a time and into a position that gave her balance. I sipped on the Coke, watching different people skate. I knew that if I didn’t get back on the floor then, I never would. I eased around the rail to the floor. I memorized the way the skaters had placed their feet. Slowly I began to move onto the floor. The skaters gave me a wide berth. They didn’t want any part of me.
I began a slow move, using my right skate for balance and the toe to keep me slow. I could not believe it for I went around the ring and didn’t fall.
I stood by the rail with a smile on my face. I had shown them. I got brave and moved on the floor.
I moved too fast this time and got the old split, one foot north and the other south. Whoops! The floor came up and busted both back pockets. It was a good solid sit-down. I felt it from my toes to the top of my head. It was what we called a butt-busting, teeth-rattling whoops fall. I got back up to my feet and proceeded with caution the rest of the day.
I made it back home that night. I ate supper and crawled into bed. My mother woke me up, telling me it was time to go to work. At that time I was working in construction. I had been running a jackhammer the week before. I knew that it was waiting for me again that week.
With everything I had in me I made it out of bed. Every muscle in me ached. I ate and headed for the bus stop on North Avenue. I don’t know how I ever made it through that day.
I went on skating and in later years got to be a good skater, but I will never forget the first time and the whooping falls.