Today I'm editing the chapter with Deb's first bout....

Today I'm editing the chapter with Deb's first bout.  I don't understand why  JK Rowling didn't like writing about Quidditch.  I like writing about derby.

The period flew by, with our girls alternately roughing up Bleeding Heartland and then letting them score.  It was a close game, and I was sent in to jam. 

There are many things I can't recall from my days with the Godsmackers, but I will never forget the feeling of digging deep into my skates, bounding off the floor, fighting gravity as it pulled me sideways through the turns, before barreling through the waiting pack of rollergirls.  The feeling of my teammates—of Apri—whipping me past the crowd, the wild speed threatening to topple me as I fought to stride into it, multiplying it. 

The hardest part wasn't avoiding the hits.  I actually enjoyed those—the jarring feeling of another body slamming into mine, banging my ribcage, thumping my hips.  I also loved the challenge of avoiding everyone's skates—tippy toeing through the pack—that was unbelievably fun.  No, the hard part for me was holding my arms in as close as I could to avoid getting a penalty.  My pesky elbows just didn't want to stay in.  And worse than that, my wings.  I could never take my mind off them.  

Next book, there needs to be more than one bout.

If you've been living under a rock and you still think of roller derby as the old school "We stand upright when we skate" quasi-sport of yesteryear, here's a little video for you that'll give you more of an idea what today's derby is like.  You might consider throwing a few bucks their way, as well.

Help Long Beach RD meet their funding goals for season 3:

(Of course, there's a lot of banked track in this vid, and most derby today is flat-track, but you get the idea.)