leg muscles taut as iron, br arms splayed out, br hardly moving... br back rigid br temperature frigid. br br inch forward... br concentration intense br buttocks clench br move a little faster br i must master br this.... br br eyes down br watch my feet br ankles slowly pass each other br then meet again br br arms raising br moving quicker br feeling slicker br one leg shoots br out from my side br the other glides br across the ice br and down i go br flat on my back br smack! br br feel an old fool br when little tom br glides gracefully like a swan br up to me, turns his skates br makes the ice vibrate br and says...