Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 75983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Thanks for saving me from my own impatience earlier.” He gave a rueful chuckle. “I was this close to demonstrating.”
“I know.” I joined his laughter as we got situated in the car. “I’m sure you get tired of the ‘boys can’t dance’ line of questioning.”
“Definitely.” Groaning, he stretched his long legs in front of him.
“Was it hard being one of the few boys in the younger classes?” I asked. At our ballet school, like most, girls far outnumbered the boys, and it wasn’t unusual to have only one or two per class.
“Not as much as you might think.” Alexander shrugged as I drove out of the parking lot. “With a much more outgoing twin sister, most of my friend group was already girls. It wasn’t until middle school that my being a boy who danced became an issue. Random rude kids at school had things to say, not unlike those two today.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Despite the obvious strain around his eyes and mouth, Alexander waved off my concern. “Kids can be bullies, but I was lucky enough to have Tavio and Irina and others in my corner. Not everyone is that fortunate.”
“True. And that’s part of why I want to do the school visits. Open kids’ minds to possibilities.”
“You’re good at that.”
“I am?” I glanced over at him, certain I’d misheard, but he nodded.
“As exhausting as this was, the classroom visits are a good idea.” Alexander offered the praise easily, and his genuineness made me take the turn into the ballet parking lot with a little extra zip. Alexander Dasher thought I had good ideas. “Overall, the kids seem excited, which is a good thing. Maybe a few will go on to be fans.”
“And donors,” I added with a grin.
“Wouldn’t that be nice?” He offered a dramatic sigh before unbuckling. “I wish I could make funding magically appear for all the arts, but since I can’t, tell me more about this donor’s circle idea of yours.”
“You really want to hear?” We were already back at the school. He had no reason to entertain my rambles, but he gave another of those shocking nods.
“I told you that you have good ideas.”
“If you play the game again with me tonight after your rehearsal, I could fill you in then.” I used my most convincing tone. Might as well go for broke. I’d been dying to play him again, and not simply because of my giant crush. For all he grumbled, he was a smart player with a head for strategy and seeing possibilities.
“I suppose.” He shrugged. I was quickly coming to realize that Alexander liked to stay aloof even when agreeing to plans. That was fine by me as I’d take his yes however he wanted to issue it.
“We’ll make a gamer of you yet.” I beamed at him as we made our way into the building.
“You can try,” he teased. Teasing. Alexander Dasher was legit bantering with me. “Maybe if I keep playing, I might stand a chance of winning.”
“You never know.” I resisted the urge to click my heels like a chorus line dancer. And indeed, one did never know. Maybe Alexander would get hooked on the board game and me both.
Seven
Quick change: a costume change between numbers when there is no time for the dressing room, requiring a total or partial strip down backstage.
Alexander
“I’m going to embellish your tunic with extra gold braid.” Kitty cast a critical eye at me as Rudy took my measurements for the costume committee. Kitty would have been all too happy to attack me with a tape measure herself, but Rudy had volunteered, likely in a bid to preserve my modesty, not that I had much after decades of backstage costume changes and shared dressing rooms. However, Kitty or one of the moms on the committee would have been far less distracting than Rudy’s nearness.
“Whatever you think best,” I said to Kitty as I tried not to notice how Rudy smelled like peppermints or how his hair looked super soft as he followed Kitty’s instructions to measure my chest. His cheeks were especially pink today, and his voice was strained as he rattled off numbers to Kitty. Good. I shouldn’t be the only one struggling.
“It’s the same base costume we used last year, but I’m adding more bling.” Holding her tablet in one hand, Kitty gestured at a row of garment bags along the rear wall of the huge storage room used for housing various costumes and set pieces.
The larger ballet company in Philadelphia had upgraded its The Nutcracker performance two seasons ago, enabling Hollyberry to obtain its old sets and costumes. The items all were showing their age, but were still serviceable. A group of parent volunteers was touching up the set pieces while Kitty and the costume committee handled wardrobe alterations. Two of the mothers on the committee were sorting kid-sized tutus in a corner.