The timer’s countdown beeps quickly as I set up the ring tracks. Each track is a zigzag line of blue tape on the carpet, stretching from one corner of my room to another. I’ve been practicing my spinning technique, trying to perfect that quick, sharp turn without losing balance.

I grab the first ring and start at the beginning. The ring glides smoothly over the tape, picking up speed as it goes. It’s so much fun, the way it arcs through the air before landing perfectly on the next segment. I try different spins—once it does a full twirl in mid-air, almost like a tiny helicopter.

After several tries, I record my fastest time: 23 seconds. Not bad, but there’s room for improvement. I’ll keep practicing until I can beat it. Maybe then I can set up a race with the computerized version of Sonic, spinning rings through his stages as fast as possible.