The record

It was to be the first time anyone had ever attempted the record. The crowd was entirely of her friends family acquaintances eager to assist her in every way. All that remained was for her to do the trick, the dozen photo- and video- graphers to send the videos as proof to the record books and her name -- and everyone else's name associated with this -- would be up there forever.

The silence was thick as a pea soup. Throbbing heats sweaty skins elevated breathing. The two doctors on call were already busy assisting the audience.

She entered the tent to a loud applause. She smiled a tight acknowledging smile nodded her head and shimmied to the center. They handed her a mic, she thanked everyone for being there read a short prepared note about the attempt and assured them that it was okay for them to leave if they felt like like it because it would take many hours to complete.

She stretched her body, properly flexing all her joints and muscles. She closed her eyes took a series of long breaths until her hearbeat had stabilized. She nodded to her helpers they nodded back. It is time, she said to the cameras.

She lay down on the exercise mat that lay on the ground her back facing the roof of the tent. She outstretched her hands until she was confident she was stable angled her legs pushing them until they were in the air and her body was supported entirely by her hands and her head. She tilted her body slightly by shifting the legs and changing angles with her hands. Tick tick one. Tick tick two. Tick tick tick three. She felt she was stable enough. She slowly removed her hands from the ground, outstretching them. Her body weight, all the hundred and ten pounds of it, was concentrated on her nose. Her face was sweaty, drops of sweat dripped down her nose. A few long breaths. She steadied herself. She had a long way to go. She forced a smile on her face.