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)
Sixteen
Turnout: essential for correct and injury-free execution of all ballet steps; the rotation of the legs from the hips, allowing the feet to face away from the dancer’s front. Requires strength and flexibility in the hips.
Rudy
“I’m not ready.” Victoria arrived at the theater’s back entrance early Friday morning with a rattled expression, eyes wide, cheeks flushed, hair escaping her usually-perfect bun.
“You’re not late.” I ushered Victoria and her mother into the building. “You’ve got plenty of time before the school performance.”
Victoria, along with the other student performers and a few volunteers like Kitty, would miss their morning classes so we could put on the show for the elementary students who would arrive by bus mid-morning. Several members of the media would also be in attendance, including the TV reporter who wanted to update her story in time for more ticket sales for us. Instead of being giddy for the excuse to skip school, though, Victoria carried an air of weariness along with her dance bag and ever-present sticker-covered water bottle.
“I’ve got way more than the ballet going on. You have no idea.” Victoria could reach Alexander-levels of dismay rather easily with shades of Kitty’s vocal acrobatics as well. No one did frazzled quite like a teen girl. “Although today is only like one of the biggest days of my whole life.”
“You were born for this moment.” Her mother was of similar build, thin with fine bones and delicate features. Like Victoria, her hair was pulled up, and they wore nearly identical puffy coats.
“I know.” Victoria groaned, skirting dangerously close to the sort of rudeness that would have earned me a rebuke from my mother at her age. She yanked off her gloves before gentling her tone. “I know. I’m trying to find my focus.” She glanced over her shoulder at the door I’d shut behind them. “Leave it all at the door, like Tavio says.”
“Do you want your headphones?” Victoria’s mother was always quick with the offer to help, whether for Victoria or any of the multiple ballet school committees she served on. “There’s still time for me to walk back to the car.”
“Yes, please.” Victoria’s expression softened as her mother darted back out into the cold. Turning back toward me, she flopped her hands helplessly. “I don’t know what to do.”
Victoria could mean anything from the performance to something school or friend-related, but my guess was that her mom’s hovering was also a factor in her distress.
“Your mom loves you. I’ve been around enough dance parents to know how intense it gets before a performance, but she loves you, and she’s going to be proud of you no matter what.” I pitched my voice as soothing as possible, but Victoria continued to radiate unhappiness.
“It’s not about my mom. Or not only that.” Victoria closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled on a whisper, “It’s Kitty.”
“It’s me?” Kitty popped her head out of one of the dressing rooms. She wore a measuring tape as a necklace and a pincushion bracelet along with green velvet pants and a shirt so neon pink it might be visible from space. Victoria’s eyes went pained rather than relieved at the sight of her friend, but Kitty seemed too preoccupied to notice. “Are you ready to see the final costume?”
“Yes.” Victoria took another breath to steady herself, then followed Kitty into the dressing room. Last night at the dress rehearsal, Kitty had cast a critical eye on the costume and taken it for yet more tweaks to the embellishments. She’d arrived earlier with the costume, bleary eyed with a large coffee in tow, so I too was eager to see the final product. Kitty unveiled the costume with a flourish worthy of its sugary splendor. Each quilted layer of the wide tulle tutu was perfectly smooth, but the real star was the gabardine bodice. As with most ballet costumes, the waist area was smooth to allow for ease of partnering. The upper bodice, though, shone brightly with rhinestones and metallic cord in elaborate swirly patterns, all of which would glitter even more under the spotlights.
“Oh my God, it’s beautiful.” Victoria reached a hand out to trail a finger along the neckline. “I can’t believe it’s the same costume I saw in November. I was so nervous last night that I didn’t notice all your changes.”
“You did amazing,” I added.
Kitty preened from the praise. “I deconstructed it, cleaned each piece by hand, reattached the missing embellishments and beads and added more. I wanted it perfect for you.”
“It is.” Victoria’s voice was dreamy as she continued to trace the embellishments with a gentle finger.
“Anything for my best friend.” Kitty’s tone was earnest, but Victoria abruptly dropped her hand and frowned.
“Why are you going to the winter formal with Marcus?”
“I’m not.” Kitty made an indignant noise. The measuring tape around her neck wobbled.