Between dance lessons, where I struggled with the 360 turn and Chris struggled with the pretzel, we go for coffee. I stand and watch the barista bang milk pitchers on the counter top, angle the cup, and make beautiful flowers and designs in his lattes. “How long did it take you to learn how to do that?” I ask. “About two years,” he says, “and I still make a point of practicing so I get better.” It takes takes time, you see, to learn a dance move, write a story, make the perfect petals in foam.

January 11, 2015