Patina Chapter 5

Summary

In this engaging chapter of 'Patinas' by Jason Reynolds, the track team's routine practice is disrupted by the introduction of a dance-like relay training. Coach Whit's unorthodox method of teaching the waltz to improve coordination and teamwork is met with initial resistance but eventually leads to a comical and bonding experience. The athletes learn to trust and synchronize their movements, highlighting the importance of unity and adaptability in sports.

Takeaways

• 🏃‍♀️ The script is from Chapter Five of 'Patina' by Jason Reynolds, focusing on a track practice session.
• 👟 Coach introduces a new practice element: working on the relay, specifically the 4x800 relay.
• 🏃 The boys' team lacks veteran sprinters, so the focus is on mid-distance runners for the relay.
• 👧 Patty, a new girl, is selected to join the girls' 4x800 relay team, which includes Deja, Crystal, and Brook.
• 🎵 Coach Whit uses an unconventional method to teach relay baton passing by having the team 'dance' to music.
• 💃 The dancing involves a waltz-like movement to mimic the rhythm and coordination needed in a relay handoff.
• 😅 The athletes initially resist the dancing practice, finding it awkward and unrelated to running.
• 🤸‍♀️ Despite the initial reluctance, the team members start to understand the purpose of the dancing as a way to build coordination.
• 🥇 Coach Whit emphasizes the importance of trust and teamwork in the relay, which is mirrored in the dance practice.
• 😄 The session ends with the team having fun and gaining a new perspective on the importance of synchronization in relay racing.

Q & A

What is the main activity described in the script?

The main activity described in the script is a track practice session focused on relay training for a high school team.

What is the significance of the '4x800' relay in the script?

The '4x800' relay is significant as it is the event the coach decides to focus on for the team's training, indicating it is one of their strong points.

How does the coach introduce the concept of dancing to the team during practice?

The coach introduces the concept of dancing by using the waltz as a metaphor for the coordination and timing needed in the relay baton handoff.

What is the reaction of the team members to the dancing exercise?

The team members initially react with confusion and reluctance, but eventually, they participate and find value in the exercise as it relates to their relay performance.

Why do the boys, Ghost and Lou, start dancing?

The boys, Ghost and Lou, start dancing as a result of a prank or challenge set by the coach after they were caught smirking at the girls' dancing.

What does the coach mean when she says 'you might learn something'?

The coach implies that the dancing exercise, despite seeming unrelated to running, could teach the team valuable lessons about coordination, timing, and teamwork.

What is the role of Coach Whit in the script?

Coach Whit is responsible for teaching the girls how to perform the waltz as a way to improve their relay performance and coordination.

How does the script illustrate the camaraderie among the team members?

The script shows camaraderie through shared humor, mutual support during the dancing exercise, and playful banter among the team members.

What is the significance of the character Sunny in the script?

Sunny is mentioned as a character who the narrator has a close relationship with, indicating a sense of belonging and friendship within the team.

How does the script use humor to lighten the mood during the practice?

The script uses humor through the dancing exercise, the reactions of the team to the waltz, and the playful teasing among the team members.

Outlines

00:00

🏃‍♂️ Track Practice and Relay Introduction

The script begins with a scene from a track practice session led by Coach, who outlines the day's routine, including a mix of regular running drills and specialized training for different types of runners. Unexpectedly, Coach introduces a new element to the practice: working on the relay race. The team is reminded of their numbers, with a nod to a missing member, and the coach emphasizes the importance of mid-distance runners for the 4x800 relay. The girls' team, including the narrator, is tasked to form a relay team, and the coach's approach to teaching them the handoff is likened to a dance, introducing a playful and unique method to improve their coordination and teamwork.

05:01

💃 Unconventional Training: The Waltz

Coach Whit introduces an unconventional training method by teaching the girls to waltz, using the dance as a metaphor for the relay race's handoff. The girls are initially skeptical and find humor in the activity, but they eventually participate, albeit with some reluctance. The coach's goal is to help the runners understand the importance of timing and coordination, which are crucial for a successful relay race. The session includes moments of laughter and light-hearted banter, but also a serious undertone about the necessity of the exercise for their performance as a team.

10:02

👣 Adjusting to the Waltz and Team Dynamics

The girls continue their dance practice, which parallels their relay training. They face challenges such as coordination and personal space, especially between the narrator and Britt, who struggle with their footwork. Despite the awkwardness and the teasing from male teammates, they persist in their practice. The coach emphasizes the importance of trust and adjustment in the dance, which is reflective of the teamwork required in the relay. The session ends with a humorous moment involving male runners, Ghost and Lou, who are caught off guard by the coach's orders to perform a waltz, leading to laughter among the team.

15:03

🤔 Reflections on the Dance and Relay Practice

After the dance practice, the narrator reflects on the experience and its relevance to the relay race. The coach's strategy of using the waltz to teach the handoff is questioned by the team, who find it amusing but not immediately practical. However, the coach explains that the practice is about learning to move in unison and trust each other, which is essential for the relay. The session concludes with the coach's plan to continue incorporating relay work into future practices, aiming for the team to be ready for an upcoming meet. The narrator also learns that some of the girls on the team have prior relay experience, which adds context to their reactions during the dance practice.

20:03

🏃‍♀️ Closing Thoughts and Personal Interactions

The script concludes with the narrator's personal interactions after practice. There's a playful banter with a teammate named Ghost, who is teased about his dancing skills, and a warm encounter with Maddie, who shows affection towards the narrator. The scene captures the camaraderie and light-heartedness among the team members, highlighting the social aspect of being part of a sports team. The chapter ends on a positive note, with the narrator looking forward to the next practice and maintaining a sense of humor and connection with their teammates.

Keywords

💡Patinas

Patinas is the title of the book by Jason Reynolds from which this script is taken. It refers to a thin layer that forms on the surface of materials like copper, brass, or bronze over time due to natural oxidation. In the context of the video, it could symbolize the development and growth of the characters as they navigate their experiences.

💡Track Practice

Track practice is a recurring activity in the script where the characters engage in various running drills and exercises to improve their athletic performance. It is central to the video's theme as it serves as the backdrop for character interactions and personal development.

💡Relay

A relay in the context of the script refers to a type of race where team members take turns running a certain distance before passing a baton to the next runner. It is a key concept as it introduces a new dynamic to the team's practice and emphasizes the importance of teamwork and coordination.

💡Coach

The coach in the script is a mentor figure who guides the athletes through their training and provides instructions for their activities. The coach's role is pivotal to the narrative, as they set the direction for the team's training and introduce the concept of the relay race.

💡Mid-Distance Runners

Mid-distance runners are athletes who specialize in races that are longer than sprints but shorter than long-distance events, typically ranging from 800 meters to 5,000 meters. In the script, the mid-distance runners are part of the team and are introduced when the coach selects them for the 4x800 relay.

💡Waltz

The waltz is a type of ballroom dance characterized by a specific rhythm and movement. In the script, the coach uses the waltz as a metaphor for teaching the athletes how to synchronize their movements in the relay race, emphasizing the importance of timing and coordination.

💡Synchronized Movement

Synchronized movement refers to the coordinated actions of individuals moving in unison, as seen in activities like synchronized swimming or dance. The script uses the concept of synchronized movement to illustrate the need for teamwork in the relay race, where athletes must work together seamlessly.

💡Fartlek

Fartlek is a Swedish term for a type of interval training where athletes alternate between periods of fast and slow running. In the script, the 800-meter runners are described as working on fartleks, which is part of their endurance training.

💡Baton

A baton is a short, thin stick that is passed from one runner to the next in a relay race. The baton is a crucial element in the script as it symbolizes the transfer of responsibility and the continuity of the team's effort in the race.

💡Personal Growth

Personal growth is a theme in the script that is evident as the characters learn new skills, overcome challenges, and develop as athletes and individuals. The introduction of the relay race and the waltz dance serves as a catalyst for this growth, as the characters must adapt and learn to work together.

💡Team Dynamics

Team dynamics refer to the interactions and relationships within a group. The script explores team dynamics as the characters navigate their roles in the relay race, learn to trust each other, and develop a sense of camaraderie.

Highlights

Introduction of a new practice routine involving dancing to improve relay team coordination.

Coach introduces the concept of 'art likes garlic's', a running drill for the track team.

Specialized training for different types of runners: sprinters, mid-distance, and distance runners.

Coach's unexpected decision to work on the relay, a change from the usual practice routine.

The significance of the 4x800 relay and the selection of team members for it.

Coach Whit's unique approach to teaching the waltz as a metaphor for relay running.

The team's initial resistance and confusion about the relevance of dancing to their athletic performance.

The humorous interaction and camaraderie among the team members during the dancing practice.

The importance of trust and coordination emphasized through the dancing exercise.

The challenge of adjusting to the dance steps and the analogy to running relay baton exchanges.

The moment of realization among the team about the connection between dancing and running relays.

Coach Whit's revelation that she stopped counting, testing the team's ability to maintain rhythm without guidance.

The team's reflection on the experience and how it relates to their performance in the relay.

The integration of humor and bonding among the team, highlighting the importance of team spirit.

The unexpected participation of the boys' relay team in the dance, adding a comedic twist to the practice.

Coach Whit's final thoughts on the practice and the anticipation for the upcoming meet.

The personal connection and banter among the characters outside of the formal practice setting.

Transcripts

[Music]

hey guys and welcome to

chapter five of patinas by jason

reynolds

you do dance this time like an

old king is watching stiff and boring

by the time i reached the other side of

the track coach was already laying out

what everyone needed to do in practice

which for the most part was basically

what we always did on mondays

art likes garlic's which is basically

just when you run kind of fast for three

minutes then mail fast for one minute

and kinda fast for three minutes real

fast for one minute

over and over and over again then

there's some specialized training

where the sprinters would break off and

do their own thing the mid distance

runners do the same and the distance

runners well

they just ran they just run

they just run all practice but then out

of nowhere

coach threw a wrench in the plan we're

also going to spend some time working on

relay he said

slapping a baton against the high his

thigh

not all 20 of you there's 19 of us coach

chris is gone remember

aaron slipped in coach just raised his

eyebrows glared at aaron

in the i'm talking way plus rounding up

ain't against the rules

seriously anyway just my mid distance

runners for now

coach elaborated at some point we'll

develop the 4x400

but we don't have enough veteran

sprinters on the boys side for that

he nodded at ghost and lou we'll get you

newbies where you need to be soon

we got a long season ahead of us but for

now

let's start with one of our sweet spots

the 4x800

let me get freddy mikey eric and curron

and for the girls

i need deja crystal brook rat and

joining them as the fourth will be patty

he glared at me can you handle that i

nodded

good coach whit is going to work with

y'all these two groups are 4 by 800

relay teams

if anyone has a problem with this

decision speak now

or forever hold your piece i looked

around the circle at all the faces

each one either nodding or smirking i

was cool with running relay

even though i never had before i've

watched it enough times

at meets the olympic races they show on

tv the internet clips

to know what all you had to do was to

take the baton then run as fast as you

could

to hand it off to the next person like

passing the collection plate at church

alright ladies come this way coach wait

called leaving me and the other three

girls to the outside of the track

she was holding a small radio one of the

old ones with a cd player and a handle

the kind cotton's grandma got in her

kitchen whit said it on the track

then gave us what i can only describe as

an evil grin

today i'm going to teach y'all how to

dance

wait what dance rip rap back

i don't know about them she thumbed us

she thumbed at us

but i already know how to do that she

put our hands together in a single clap

then put them on up to her chest palms

out and started

shoving the air a standing push-up like

they did on the old school rap videos my

father made me watch

salt and pepper style hey dj howell

joining in dipping love

go deja go bri go go brit brat

it's your birthday but not really we at

track practice

we attract practice quack quack track

crack

crystal chanted i didn't join them but

their silly dancing definitely helped

with the process of pulling me out of my

second place lump

rip rat's craziness reminded me so much

of cotton's

jumping around clapping telling me to

make sure i'm getting good

angles with the phones this was

something taylor and tt and becca

and all their hair flippers i went to

school with couldn't do

what i was missing even so though me and

the girls on the track team could kind

of relate

i was still the new girl and i hadn't

really gotten close to everybody yet

at least not the vets my crew were the

newbies

and the only one of them i could see

breaking out in a full-on dance break

was sunny which would be the funniest

dance break of all time

with his lanky self so i didn't feel

like i could really join in

but goofiness definitely made me feel

like maybe i could vibe with them

maybe next time like maybe the vets were

cool

okay okay coach would try to settle us

down and hold in her laughter at the

same time

you do know there are other dances that

don't involve

all booty action right whatever wit

you probably be just like this in the

club

for popping deja with the back of her

hand

you be going to the tablet asked smiling

all silly

none of your business and this is not

the club which shut them down shaking

her head

anyway we're going to learn a different

kind of dancing she pushed play on the

radio

and the music that came wasn't came out

wasn't

it wasn't classical but oh

so the track ain't good enough to be at

the club but it's good enough to be a

ballroom

huh or some job ballroom that's the kind

of music it was

all royal sounding like we're about to

witness a prince and princess have their

first stance or something

that's right what said stepping back and

lifting one arm up

and the other arm as if she were being

held by someone

now this is called the waltz we all

stood there looking at her like she had

lost her mind

as if lifted onto her tippy toes and

started counting

one two three one two three one two

three one two three

moving robotically back then left then

front then right

dancing in squares the violins from the

dancing whining in the background

what y'all waiting for which falled out

stepping and sliding

her back stiff as a board we were

waiting for you to stop

crystal said and i'm waiting on y'all to

start

wit threw right back one two three one

two three and forward

i glanced over at the track the other

runners were doing their own thing

for the most part the distance runners

were working on pacing

the other 800 and the 800 runners were

running fartleks

working on endurance and sprinters well

specifically lou and ghost

they were looking over at us smirking

ugh you serious

brett was asking already knowing the

answer as a matter of fact

she didn't even wait for wit to answer

and instead saved herself the

frustration by being the trailblazer for

the rest of us

and getting in position one arm up as if

she were waiting

for someone to grab it and arm wrestle

her and the other arm curved as if

wrapped around the waist of somebody

else

someone with a rose in their mouth

crystal didn't follow

neither did deja but me i was new

and it didn't seem like a good idea to

pop slick on one of the coaches

so i did what i had to do and became a

real-life dance mannequin

as soon as i lifted my arm i could feel

losing ghost snickers run down my spine

prickly like ice water i didn't know if

they really were laughing

but i was pretty sure they were and even

if they weren't

i could feel them thinking about it one

two three one two

three coach whit was still counting and

pacing ignoring the fact that deja and

crystal were holding out

just do it for background at them so we

can get it over with

i just don't see what all this has to do

with running deja said

reluctantly lifting her arms i want to

tell you

but since y'all making me dance alone i

can't

whit said batting her eyes laughter just

under her tongue

ugh crystal threw herself into a lazy

karate stance

very nice now ladies follow me and then

back to the one two

three one two three except now we're

following what steps

backward left forward right one two

three

one two three one two three one two

three

four five six seven eight nine blah blah

blah blah

i muttered to myself betting that this

was what the real fart lickers

lou and ghost were saying to each other

their tongues hanging from their mouths

accounts

mimicking us me by doing the robot or

something

aaron was probably saying something like

you can't win first place being

ballerinas

even though this wasn't even ballet but

he was probably right

if he wasn't saying that i second place

winner

loser couldn't win first doing this i

didn't know what kind of trading methods

would had

or what discount isle coach found her in

but dancing

dancing one two three one

two three very nice girls it said i'll

coach you like this was real practice

then she sideswiped us now tara

what crystal stop arms down head cocked

you already won when the you you always

run when the you always run when the

gun goes off so i know you ain't deaf

crystal

what was clearly reaching the end of her

patient's rope and i couldn't blame her

but i also couldn't blame crystal for

being snappy this was

whack pair up you're going to dance with

each other

and you can pout and suck your teeth and

whatever else but if you want to win the

relay

as a team wit stop dancing folding your

arms across your chest

it's your call well no surprise here

i wanted to win i really wanted to win

straight up if whit told me that having

my blood cleared was one way to win

i would go to dialysis just like ma now

i know that ain't the case and i'd do it

if it was

i glanced over at brook rat nodded she

turned toward me and reached for my hand

let's just get it over with she mumbles

facing me but directing her words to

follow her

follow to her fellow vets crystal and

asia let out loud

breathy huffs and position themselves in

front of each other

now just like before but this time guide

each other

trust each other what look whit took a

pause

inhaled and lifted her arms as if she

were conducting an orchestra

and started again with the count one two

three

me and brook brat took a step back back

for brit forward for me

it was awkward same leg same motion

same time went instructed one two three

me and brit move left it was a little

smoother one

two three forward which was actually

backward for me

not smooth at all as a matter of fact

brett stepped on my foot

good thing she's light keep me move keep

moving

one two three to the right decent and on

and on but every time we'd make this

step forward

which was my step backward britt would

crush me

just squash my feet with hers until

finally i couldn't take it no more

you think you could watch your feet brit

i said trying to be as nice as possible

i didn't want her to think i was coming

at her or anything i didn't need no

drama

but i did need my toes i mean who can

run with broken feet

when i said it i braced myself for a

quick sharp tongue lashing

that i usually served up whenever

somebody tried me

my bad brit said softly which i have to

admit threw me for a loop

i guess i should have expected her to

trip especially since she was the first

person

to even give this whole dancing thing a

chance my feet are huge

i look down whoa when most people say

that well

first of all i'm only used to being

i'm only used to them being boys boys

around barnaby terrace like david hunter

who at 10 years old wore a size 10 shoe

my mother said

he had feet like row boats and if that

was the case then brook brat had

yachts how do you even run in those

things

i wanted to say it's cool

is actually is what i actually said one

two

three but it wasn't cool because it kept

happening

she would try to move them to the side

but they just

they were everywhere everywhere one two

three

one two three ouch

i had to adjust started taking bigger

steps back in hopes of steering clear of

those floppers

and it worked but then she adjusted to

my adjustment and still caught my big

toe

ugh very good ladies now i want you to

take one step back

hold your pose but separate yourself

from your partner

coach whit instructed the song now

fading out

a new and beginning the sound of

collapse came from the other end of the

track

i cringed already knowing what was

happening but i had to look anyway

and there they were ghost and lou

slapping their stupid hands together

like clowns

dancing with the stars patty lou yelled

out

and before i could say anything and i

was going to

coach like coach coach started laughing

too

he had been working with the boys relay

on the field and was now walking toward

living ghost

letting up the nastiest crackle ever so

loud and ridiculous that everyone

stopped what they were doing to watch

him

he laughed and laughed slapped his knee

and patted his chest

and throwing his head back all the way

across the field until he reached

lou and ghost up by the hundred meter

start line

he threw his arm around both of their

shoulders they were still

chuckling then coach whispered something

in lose ear

then in ghosts and then they weren't

smiling no more

coach pulled away from them and took a

few steps back

ghost and lou looked horrified

but then they faced each other awkwardly

took each other by the hands awkwardly

held each other barely around the waist

awkwardly and did their version of the

waltz

whoa i almost passed out and wasn't the

only one

everyone started losing it come on

fellas stay on beat

one two three one two three i yelled

snapping my fingers on count

brook brat jumped right in and so did

crystal and deja

even wit joined us one two three one two

three one

two three we all chanted eventually

leading to everyone chanting

all runners even sunny

then we were all singing one two three

waving our arms around like conductors

i don't know why it just seemed

appropriate watching lou

and ghost waddle side to side like

toddlers who had just pooped their pants

okay okay ladies coach whit cut his cut

us off

still laughing and tried to wrangle us

back in

let's refocus we all regained our

composure and tried to reposition

ourselves for what for more waltzing

just as we grabbed hands coach whit said

we're gonna do the same thing

but this time let go of each other's

hands separate yourselves so that

another person could fit between you

wait

crystal said immediately winding up her

arms went from around ages to her own

hips

so now we got to dance in threes well if

that's the case

i volunteered deja to dance between them

too

crystal pointed at me and brook brat

crystal

no just coach whit

was stuck struck by crystal's

ridiculousness

the one of y'all explained please deja

took on the task

then we took our places again but this

time brit and i were standing about a

foot away from each other

we held our hands the same and omits

count dance the waltz one more

back wit instructed nice and smooth

remember when you were closer the

pressure of your partner knowing the

steps

working and moving in unison you like a

hippie or something

deja asked focus whit said might learn

something

doubt it crystal grout crystal groused

under her breath

but still loud enough for us to hear one

two three

left now forward i was happy relieved

there was space between brit and me

space for her feet to meet the ground

and not my toes

it was kind of cool to see all four of

us moving around swaying and stepping

all at the same time reminded me of the

olympics

the only thing i the only thing i like

to watch besides running

are the synchronized swimmers i mean to

move like that in the water is crazy

cheerleaders do it too sort of but not

like synchronized swimmers

and me deja and crystal once we've

when she finally showed up we're like

synchronized swimmers

uh synchronized runners ah

sneaky sneaky witch

we had made like 20 or 30 squares before

it finally

thank you lord cut the music okay that's

enough

good job so how did it feel then she

pointed at crystal

who was already fixing her mouth to

crack a joke wit didn't say nothing to

her

just pointed like don't it felt weird at

first

i spoke yeah definitely and i kept

stepping on patty's feet wait a minute

but then we kind of adjusted you know

right same for us

like after a few times you just kind of

stopped thinking about it

asia said coach looked at crystal who

was smirking

it was cool she said with a shrug eyes

everywhere

coach went nodded poked her bottom lip

out not in the sad way but in the

surprised and satisfied way

well let me ask you this a clever grin

replacing the pokey lip

how many of you realize that i stopped

counting

a long time ago the rest of practice was

giving us the rundown about the handoff

the passing of the baton

and how it was just like the dancing the

waltz but we didn't actually practice it

she said we would be spending a portion

of every practice for the rest of the

week doing the relay work

she was hoping that we'd be ready to

give it a try by saturday's meet

i found out after practice that crystal

deja and brip rat had run relay last

year

which is why they were so annoyed by the

whole dancing thing

i'm just saying it ain't that deep you

run and you hand the stick to the next

person

then they run that's pretty much exactly

what i thought it was

all this cha-cha mess was i mean it's

fine

but ain't necessary crystal complained

afterward

she took a swig of water then threw her

bottle in her duffel bag and zipped it

shut

the waltz i corrected her even though

she was echoing my own feelings

it was cool but it didn't really seem

all that helpful

at least not yet crystal shot me a look

but i didn't pay it no mind because over

her shoulder i could see maddie coming

toward me

crystal went on mimicking the one two

three count

deja chiming in with perfect amount of

contemplate

complementary snark for breath lap

rat laughing at them both i i'll see you

all tomorrow

all right patty bye patty yo patty this

was just coming off the track wiping his

face with the bottom of his shirt

you out yeah without saying nothing

he cracked his head to the side so you

ain't one of us no more

you too good for sunny lou and me he

smiles making it clear he was joking

sunny's my guy i love sunny oh you love

sunny but not me and lou

i mean the moment maddie's arms wrapped

around my waist

i could feel her rocking back trying to

get me to lift

off my feet i kiss around the top of the

head immediately noticing fewer beads on

her braids which was normal

they fall off during the week like

acorns from a tree

hey hey i tried to get her to stop

squeezing

tell mom lee i'm coming first say hi to

ghost

maddie waved then turned and ran back

and ran back toward the car

now back to ghost i mean i wouldn't want

to get in the middle of y'all a

relationship

stop dancing so sweetly with each other

stop so precious i'm leaving

ghost turned around and walked toward

lou who was sitting on the bench

unleashing his track shoes come on ghost

ghost don't be that way i begged his

back

bye patty he threw his hands up

dismissing me

i love you ghost i shouted but just not

as much as i love sunny

of course sonny heard me which i wasn't

thinking about when i said it

we caught eyes but i didn't want to make

it weird or for him to think it was

anything more than a joke so i added

because you pay attention to details

then held my hand up

spirit finger style thanks to noticing

my flow joes

see you tomorrow all right guys good

luck on the quiz i will see you for

chapter six