Dancers Within, Part 2

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Part two of three. Thanks again to Patricia for the proofing.

Chapter 9

Dancing professionally, teaching and choreography were never really career goals Kyle had even thought about a few months ago.

His mother threw out things like being a doctor, a lawyer or even an engineer. He had the grades to think about those things in the future. Those were the type of jobs that pulled in “a lot of money”, his mother always said.

He also thought about teaching, regular school teaching. That was the career Ms. Arceneaux settled on after she was through dancing professionally. He really admired her.

But he also admired Madame Kathryn and Ms. Carlton. That had pretty fun jobs, too.

“So you really enjoyed teaching those kids?” his mother asked.

“Yeah, mom, it was pretty fun,” Kyle said.

“He did a really good job teaching them, too,” Olivia said.

“You were the one who was doing most of the teaching,” Kyle said. “I was just demonstrating what she wanted them to do.”

“He always sells himself short,” Olivia said. “The girls loved him.”

Kyle’s mom told the two she and Olivia’s mom were concerned they had too much on their plate.

They danced five days a week. They had ballet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at school with Ms. Arceneaux. They had ballet classes at Madame Kathryn’s on Mondays and Wednesdays, with jazz on Thursday night. Participating in Youth Company at Concordia College would now be taking up their Saturdays, along with teaching at the community center.

“We still have Fridays and Sundays off,” Olivia replied. “Tuesdays aren’t bad since our ballet class is at school. Besides, I’m giving up cheerleading after basketball season.”

“Besides mom, it’s fun,” Kyle said.

“Well, I just don’t want you to get burned out,” his mother said.

“Olivia, Kyle, you’ve got a phone call,” Olivia’s mother yelled from the living room. “It’s Claire. She sounds upset.”
Olivia grabbed the phone.

“Oh my gosh!” Olivia said. “That’s terrible.”

“What’s going on?” Kyle asked.

“Claire’s dad’s been wounded in Iraq,” Olivia said, trying to listen to her sobbing friend.

Claire’s father was riding in a Humvee when it ran over a roadside bomb, Olivia explained. He was taken by helicopter to an army hospital in Baghdad.

“Is he going to be alright?” Kyle asked.

“Claire doesn’t know yet,” Olivia said. “She says he may be paralyzed.”

“You think we need to go over there?” Kyle asked.

“Well, if her mother says it’s okay, I’ll take you both over there,” Olivia’s mother said.

“Claire says it’s okay,” Olivia said.

Kyle wondered when the hard times were going to stop. Olivia’s dad died of cancer. His dad was in jail after abusing him and his mom and setting fire to the house. Claire had always worried about her dad. It seemed her fears were realized.

They both gave their friend a hug when they walked into her house. They walked upstairs to her bedroom.

“Mom says I have to be strong,” Claire said. “But it’s really hard. Mom said he may have to be transported to Germany.”

“Will they let him come home?” Kyle asked.

“I don’t know,” Claire said. “Mom said it could be a long time before he comes home … if he lives.”

“What do you say that we pray for him?” Olivia said.

The three of them held hands as they sat on Claire’s bed and prayed for her father’s safe return.

Kyle wondered what would happen to Claire’s family if her dad died, or couldn’t walk when he returned. He was really active around their house.

He supported Claire dreams of being a dancer and an artist.

He was also supporting of Kyle becoming a dancer. It was something to have the support of his mother and friends like Olivia, Claire, Beth and Emilee. Having the support of another guy, especially a hero like Claire’s father meant a lot to him.

They did their best to encourage Claire. They talked about the one thing they had in common … ballet.

“It’s always been my refuge,” Claire said. “I forget about all of my troubles when I dance. Dad always enjoyed watching me dance. All of the other girls had to drag their fathers to come to their recitals. Not my dad. He was always their videotaping us. Olivia’s dad was like that too.”

“Maybe he’ll still be able to do that,” Kyle said.

“I really hope so,” Claire said, squeezing his hand.

“Claire’s dad once danced in one of our performances,” Olivia said.

“You’re kidding? I didn’t know he danced,” Kyle said.

“Well, he’s not a dancer,” Claire said. “Madame Kathryn thought it would be fun to have some of the parents in the show.”

“None of the other dads wanted to do it until Claire’s father volunteered,” Olivia said.

“That’s not entirely true,” Claire said. “Olivia’s dad volunteered, too.”

“What kind of dance did they do?” Kyle said.

“Oh it was funny!” Claire said. “They did a tap dancing routine with us. We were in second grade.”

“That’s really cool,” Kyle said. “My dad would have never done anything like that, not even for my sisters.”

“What is your dad like?” Olivia asked, not meaning to pry.

“Before he started drinking, he was okay,” Kyle said. “After that, he became pretty violent. He was never around and worked all the time. He blamed mom for me being ‘a sissy’ who couldn’t do sports.”

“Boy did he get you all wrong,” Olivia said.

“You are no sissy,” Claire said. “Anyone who has ever seen you do jumps and leaps would know you’re pretty athletic. My dad always said you are the bravest guy he knows.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that,” Kyle said. “But I can’t do anything like Nick, Eric or Aaron.”

“One of these days, you’ll be able to,” Claire said. “I can’t wait until our end of the year performance and the stuff we’ll do with Youth Company. Then people will realize how athletic you are.”

“I don’t know about that,” Kyle said. “But I’m praying that your dad will be back and okay enough when we have our end of the year performances.”

Claire gave Kyle a hug. That would mean a lot to her if her father could see her perform again.

Chapter 10
Kyle sat in Ms. Arceneaux’s office trying to find the right words to say.

“I know you’re not here to discuss your English grade,” she said. “So what’s on your mind?”

“Well,” Kyle stammered. “You know our show at the end of the year? I was wondering if …”

“Come on,” Ms. Arceneaux laughed.

“I was wondering if I could do a pas de deux with Claire,” Kyle said, not believing he made such a request.

“So you don’t want to dance with Olivia?” his teacher asked.

“That’s not it,” Kyle said. “I love dancing with Olivia.”

“Uh huh,” Ms. Arceneaux said. “So you want me to add something with you and Claire?”

This seemed an odd turn of events to her. Kyle was really reluctant about performing in front of the whole school, especially after he learned his costume was going to be a tunic and white tights to match Olivia’s tutu.

“So what is the reason you want to do this?” Ms. Arceneaux said.

“Claire’s dad’s been wounded in Iraq,” Kyle said. “I told her I would pray that he’d be back to see her perform. I know it would mean a lot to her. I thought it would be cool if she could do something special for him. Is there something we could do really simple, like the simple thing Olivia and I are doing?”

She had always been impressed with her pupil, both in English class and ballet. He had always seemed very kind hearted. But even this surprised her.

“I’ll get with Kathryn to see what we could come up with,” she told him. “We might be able to make a change to what we have planned. Even with something simple, it’s going to be a lot more work for you and Claire. You both have busy schedules as it is.”

“I understand,” he said. “Thanks, Ms. Arceneaux.”

She noticed he was doing pique turns as he was going down the hall, heading to his next class.

“That’s very good Kyle,” she laughed. “But try to do a better job at spotting, so you don’t run into anybody.”

That also caught her by surprise. Last semester, he was doing what he could to keep people from knowing he was taking ballet.

“What did she think?” Olivia asked when she ran into Kyle on the way to class.

“She said she had to talk to Claire about it,” Kyle said. “She said she could get with Madame Kathryn and come up with something we could do.”

“I think it’s very sweet for you to suggest that,” Olivia said.

“She’s a good friend,” Kyle said. “I just want to do something to get her mind off her dad.”

Claire’s father’s condition had improved. He was still in serious condition. He was still paralyzed. He was being moved from Iraq to Germany. She still wasn’t sure when he would be coming home.

She had a hard time focusing on her classes, but looked forward to Ms. Arceneaux’s ballet class at the end of the day.

She stopped Kyle before he entered the classroom.

“Madame Marie told me about your idea!” she said before giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Kyle blushed.

“It really isn’t a big deal,” he said, trying to be a little modest. “So, do you want to do it?”

“It will be awesome!” Claire said. “She wants me to help come up with an idea of what we’re going to do. She also wants me to help come up with our costumes.”

“You’re in trouble,” Olivia giggled.

“Don’t worry,” Claire said. “I’ll go easier on you than Olivia.”

“What do you mean?” Kyle asked.

“Oh, she was the one who came up with the idea for the costumes for your pas de deux with her,” Claire said.

Olivia nodded.

“Well, our moms really made the suggestion,” Olivia said. “I just went with it.”

“Ladies and gentleman, too much chatter, it’s time for class,” Ms. Arceneaux said.

The class was a challenging one. Ms. Arceneaux mixed things up at the barre. They didn’t work as much en croix. They did double and triple frappes along with the tendue, degage’, developpe’ and ron de jambre combinations.

She challenged Kyle to get more elevation on his jumps when they went to the center. She complimented Beth and Emilee on their turns. Claire and Olivia were graceful as ever.

“You all worked hard today,” Ms. Arceneaux said at the conclusion of class. “Claire, Olivia and Kyle, I need to see you for a moment.”

She set up a time for them to work on their pas de deuxs.

“Madame Kathryn told me we can use one of her studios at 6 on Tuesdays,” Ms. Arceneaux said. “I’ll try not to work you too long because I know you have homework and need a break. But come prepared to work hard.”

“We will,” all three said, almost in unison.

“I hope this will help Claire get her mind off her dad,” Ms. Arceneaux told Olivia and Kyle.

“I’m sure it will,” Olivia said.


Chapter 11

“So what do you think?” Olivia asked Kyle as looked at the empty room.

“It’s really big,” he said. “I’m sure it will do. It’s a lot bigger than what I’ve got now.”

“So you have a problem staying in my dad’s old study?” Olivia said sarcastically.

Kyle laughed.

“Well, you know what I mean,” he said.

He hated to admit it, but the past few months staying at Olivia’s house had been great. It was a little cramped, but somehow their two families had actually seemed to forge into one.

He thought of Olivia as an older sister. It was a relationship that he was going to miss, even though they would see each other a lot in dance. They were partners. They trusted each other.

“Kyle, it’s almost time to go,” his mother shouted downstairs, her voice bouncing off the walls in the empty house.

No decision had been made on the house. There were a few more his mother wanted to see. It would also take some time to get approval from the mortgage company.

So moving out of Olivia’s house wasn’t something that was going to happen in the next few days.

“So how do you feel about it mom?” he asked as they drove back to their temporary home.

“Abby’s been great letting us stay at their house,” she said. “But wouldn’t you like for us to have a place of our own.”

Kyle nodded his head in agreement.

Deep down, his mother had her doubts. Her attorney told her that ex-husband could be getting out of jail soon.

The only person she told was Olivia’s mother, who insisted she didn’t have to rush into a decision to move out if she felt he would threaten her family again.

It was something she dared not tell Kyle. She felt her son had enough on his mind.

“How did the house hunting go?” Olivia’s mother asked when they returned home.

“They looked at a really big house,” Olivia said. “It was really nice.”

“It was nice, but it needs some repairs,” Kyle’s mom said. “But it was the nicest we’ve seen so far.”

“I know you’ll find one you really like,” Olivia’s mother said. “Oh yeah, Judith, Bob Walker called.”

Bob Walker was her attorney. Kyle’s mother’s heart skipped a beat. She hoped it wasn’t bad news.

She and Olivia’s mother went into the kitchen, where she called her attorney.

“They’re acting really secretive, what do you think is going on?” Kyle asked.

Olivia shrugged her shoulders.

“You know we’ve got to get ready for class,” she said, trying to take his mind off of what was going on. “Madame Marie and Claire will be waiting on us.”

Kyle had almost forgotten about class. They were going to work on their pas de deuxs for the school performance.

“Uh, huh, thanks Bob,” Kyle’s mother said while she talked with her attorney on the phone. “I know you did your best. We’ll get the restraining order, but hopefully he’ll behave himself.”

Kyle’s father was indeed getting out of jail.

“Are you going to tell Kyle and the girls?” Olivia’s mother asked.

“I need to tell Kyle, probably the girls too,” Kyle’s mother said. “But I’m going to wait until after their class tonight. I know he is excited about working on the pas de deauxs for the school performance. No need to worry him now.”

Kyle and Olivia both packed their dance bags and hopped in the car. Olivia’s mother once again played the chauffer.

“You two are really excited about this,” she said.

“Oh mom, it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be beautiful,” Olivia said.

“We can’t wait for you guys to see it,” Kyle said.

Olivia was right. Ms. Arceneaux and Claire were both waiting when they arrived at the studio.

“Sorry, we’re late,” Kyle said. “We were looking at houses.”

“That’s not a problem,” Ms. Arceneaux said. “Go ahead and change. Then stretch. We’ve got to get started.”

It turned out to be a lot of work. Ms. Arceneaux was picky with just about everything.

Kyle, Olivia and Claire didn’t mind. This was a performance that was to be before the whole school and in front of their families.

Even though both pas de deauxs they were working on were simple ones because of Kyle’s experience, they wanted them to be perfect. Solo parts were going to be included, which made Kyle a little nervous.
He wasn’t used to being the center of attention.

Even though Madame Marie worked them hard, it turned out to be a lot of fun. They were becoming the three musketeers. They enjoyed each other’s company.

But Kyle and Olivia both sensed something was bothering Claire.
“Heard any more about your dad?” Kyle asked.

“They transferred him to Germany,” Claire said, trying to be calm.
It didn’t work. The tears began to flow.

“They’re saying he may never walk again,” Claire said. “He has use of his arms now. But he’s having to use a wheelchair.”

“So how long is he going to be in Germany?” Olivia asked.

“I’m not sure,” Claire said. “He’s got to undergo a couple of surgeries. Mom’s going to fly over to be with him. My grandmother’s coming over to watch us. They’re saying he could be there a few weeks, then he may end up going to Walter Reed before coming home.”

Kyle and Olivia wished they could come up with the right words to say. They couldn’t. They both just gave her a hug.

“Mom says we’re going to be in for a big adjustment,” Claire said. “It’s going to be hard. He is the rock of our family.”

Chapter 12

“Okay, you two keep still,” Claire said as she concentrated on her work.

“I think I’m beginning to get a cramp,” Olivia said as she and Kyle tried to keep their pas de deaux pose long enough for Claire to capture it on canvas.

“I’m beginning to regret that we got her the paint set for Christmas,” Kyle whispered.

“You guys need to hold that pose for only a couple of minutes longer,” Claire said.

They were in the middle of the living room at Olivia’s house. Claire set up the backdrop for her friends. Their sisters were all on their knees with flowers.

Claire the artist was busy at work, that is until there was a knock at the door.

“It’s your moms holding groceries,” Claire said.

“For the first time in my life, I think I’m looking forward to helping with the groceries,” Olivia said as she and Kyle broke away from their pose.

“Oh, my back is killing me,” Kyle said as they went out the door to bring in the groceries.

“Oh how cute!” Olivia’s mom said, making note of Olivia and Kyle in their dance clothes outside as they picked up bags of groceries from the car.

“No, comment,” Kyle said, expecting his mother to do a little teasing.

“I wasn’t going to say anything, just curious,” Judith Thornton said to her son.

One trip into the living room said it all. They saw the portrait Claire was working on, the backdrop and the paint.
“You know, this is quite good!” Olivia’s mother said, admiring Claire’s work.

“I’m entering it into the school art show,” Claire said. “I’m thinking about calling it ‘Dancers Within’.”

“I would say that is a very nice title,” Kyle’s mother said.

“Claire, have you heard from your mother since she flew to Germany to be with your dad?” Olivia’s mother asked.

“She called us last night,” Claire said. “She said the flight was a bit rough. She also said she was very tired.”

“That’s quite understandable, given the length of the flight,” Kyle’s mother said. “Did she say how your dad is doing?”

“She said he was doing okay, that he was in good spirits,” Claire said. “He’s going to have surgery tomorrow.”

“We’ll keep him in our prayers,” Olivia’s mother said.

“Once we put the groceries away, Kyle could I talk to you for a few minutes,” his mother said.

Olivia looked at Claire, then at her mother.

Kyle knew it had to be something bad, probably about his father.
“Sure, mom,” he said.

They sat down for their heart to heart talk in his bedroom.

“How would you feel if we hold off on getting a house for a little while longer?” Judith Thornton asked her son.

“I dunno? I thought you were really excited about us getting a new place, mom,” Kyle said. “Is this something about dad?”

“Well, you know, he’s been out of jail for a couple of weeks,” she said. “I just don’t feel comfortable right now until I know he won’t try to do something.”

“How does Olivia’s mom feel about us staying longer?” Kyle asked.

“Abby said we could stay as long as we need to,” his mother said. “She was the one who mentioned not rushing into anything right now. She and Olivia are concerned something might happen, too.”

“Whatever you decided to do, mom, that’s okay with me,” he said.
She gave him a hug.

Even before his dad went off the deep end, his mother had been the one who kept the family together.

“So how do you feel about your dad being out?” his mother asked.

“Part of me wishes he were still locked up after what he did to you,” he said.

“And don’t forget what he did to you,” his mother said.

“But you know, before he started drinking, he really wasn’t a bad dad,” Kyle said.

“He wasn’t a bad husband, either,” his mother said.

“Do you think he’ll ever change back to the way he was?” Kyle asked.

“It’s possible,” she said. “If he gets help. It’s my prayer that he’ll be a good dad to you and the girls again. But we’ll see. But you be careful, don’t try to contact him unless you know it is safe.”

“I won’t,” Kyle said.

Somehow, his mother wasn’t reassured. Kyle always put up a brave front. He was always trying to make things right.

They both tried to dry up the tears before they returned to the living room.

“Is something wrong?” Olivia asked.

“Oh, no, everything is okay,” Kyle said. “It looks like we’re going to be staying with you guys a little bit longer.”

She put her arm around her unofficial brother.

“I’m glad you guys are going to be staying a little longer with us,” Olivia said. “Mi casa, su casa.”

“Claire, do you want to stay for dinner?” Olivia’s mother asked. “We’re having spaghetti.”

“I’ll have to check with my grandmother,” Claire said. “But I think it will be okay.”

* * * *

A dinner with the whole family — or families as the case was — was a rare thing. Almost every child in the household seemed to have a dance class on any given night. That was counting the rehearsals.

Olivia thought it was a pretty neat thing when they all could finally gather around what her mother called her “holiday” table. It seemed like a holiday, too, with all eight seated around the table sharing a meal.

Being “the man” of the house, Kyle was always called on to say grace.

“Always short and to the point,” Olivia whispered to Claire.

It was there that they found out how each other’s day went at work or at school. Their mothers worked together, so there was always a story about a co-worker who did something funny, or someone in need, someone less fortunate than they were.

Kyle admitted the teasing about him taking ballet seemed to calm down at school, although he was still apprehensive about performing in front of his classmates.

“We’re going to be performing, too,” Claire said.

“That’s different,” Kyle said.

“What, because girls dance and guys aren’t supposed to?” Olivia said. “Most everybody knows you’re proving that’s not true. When they see how good you are, they’ll really know that guys dance.”

“It might even encourage other guys to try,” Claire said.

Just then a horn sounded outside the house.

Kyle saw the look the look of horror on his mother’s face.
“Dad!” he said.

She rushed to the door. Sure enough it was him, standing in the front yard.

He begged her to “come home.”

“What home, you burned it down, or don’t you remember?” she said to him.

She smelled alcohol on his breath.

He continued to beg her to take him back, that he loved the children. But then he began to threaten her. Kyle looked out the window and saw his father push his mother.

Olivia tried to grab her friend, but it was too late.

He was out the door.

“Leave her alone!” Kyle shouted.

“You go back in the house, you sissy!” his father said.

“Leave mom alone, leave us alone,” Kyle said, stepping between his parents.

“I told you to go back in the house, you ballerina!” his father shouted. “This is between your mother and me!”

Just then, Olivia’s mother came out of the house.

“I’ve called the police,” she said. “Leave them alone. Get off my lawn!”

“Look what you started!” Kyle’s father told his mother.

He took a swing at her, but Kyle jumped in front of his mother just in time for the fist to hit him in the nose.
He didn’t notice the blood gushing. He lunged at his father, knocking him to the ground.

He stood over his father just as the police pulled up.

“Why do you have to be this way!” he said in tears.

His mom, Olivia’s mom, then Olivia and Claire all had to hold him down.
Tears flowed as the police cuffed his father.

Everyone else went into the house, but Kyle watched as they drove down the road.

Olivia and Claire joined him on the front lawn. Olivia put her arm around him, while Claire wiped the blood from his face.

Chapter 13

Sacrifices.

Claire and Olivia made one when they gave up cheerleading to concentrate on ballet.

Olivia’s family made some when Kyle’s family moved in.

Claire’s family knew all about them as a family of a soldier, especially one whose future seemed very much in doubt.

Kyle thought about those sacrifices as he passed the football around with Justin. He promised his friend he would help him get ready to join the team.

Kyle didn’t care too much for basketball, or even baseball.

But football was a sport he liked. He didn’t have a passion for it, like dance. But he enjoyed playing it.

Very few people knew that Kyle was a pretty good football player when he played Pop Warner.

He earned the reputation of being a geek because of his friendship with Justin and Alex. He enjoyed playing computer games with them.

The fact that he took ballet also clouded the issue.

Very few people outside of the dance world really understood the athleticism involved in ballet — at least that was how Olivia explained it.

No one understood what kind of athlete he was — as Olivia put it — a person who thought and lived outside the box.

It was a sacrifice that Kyle wasn’t going out for football, but one he felt was worth it.

He seemed perplexed as to why Justin wanted to play football. Justin never showed any interest in playing sports for most of the time they’d been friends.

But Justin found himself connecting with his father — a self-described football fanatic.

Through their time together, he began to “acquire a taste for it.”

Justin also understood that the football team didn’t have a cut rule. Anyone who tried out made the team. This was his way of shedding his “I’m a geek” image.

Kyle respected his efforts.

Justin sought his help because he knew Kyle understood the game. He was also aware his friend was quite an athlete.

Beth and Emilee watched from the bleachers as Kyle explained the rules of the game to Justin. He showed him how to get into a three-point stance, how to “fire off the ball.”

He tried to show him how to throw and catch a football, which was not necessarily an easy thing to do.

Justin’s throws were often off the mark, forcing Kyle to show the leaping ability he showed in dance just to catch the ball.

He found out Beth and Emilee were not the only ones watching. So was Coach Tucker, the school’s new football coach.

“Hey Thornton, come here,” Coach Tucker yelled at him.

Kyle was curious why the coach was calling him. He hoped it was okay they were practicing on the field.

“Saw you working there with Justin,” Coach Tucker said. “We sure could use you during spring training.”
Kyle didn’t quite know what to say.

“Coach, I wished I could, but I’ve got too many things going on right now,” Kyle said.

“I understand,” Coach Tucker said. “I know you have a pretty good commitment to dance.”

Kyle was shocked. It wasn’t a putdown like he received from other coaches at the school.

“Yeah, I do,” Kyle said.

“You’re pretty good,” Coach Tucker said. “I saw you in the Nutcracker.”

“You went to the Nutcracker?” Kyle asked.

“My daughter was a mouse and a daisy,” Coach Tucker said with a laugh. “She thinks you’re the coolest person on earth because you do it. I’ve also talked to Marie; she says you’re really talented. But in case you ever change your mind…you’re welcome on the team.”

“Thanks coach, I appreciate that,” Kyle said.

“And keep working with Justin,” Coach Tucker said. “He needs to be ready when we put on the pads next week.”

“Yes coach, I will,” Kyle said.

Beth and Emilee were curious as to what Kyle and Coach Tucker were talking about.

They were amazed when they found out.

“You know he seems pretty cool,” Kyle said.

“You see Kyle, not everybody thinks ballet is sissy,” Beth said.

“Kyle, Beth, Emilee, hurry up and get your stuff,” rang a voice from atop the bleachers. “We’ve got to go!” It was Olivia.

“Well bro., we’ve got to go,” Kyle said to Justin. “We’ve got to go to dance class.”

“See you tomorrow after school?” Justin asked.

“Most definitely,” Kyle said.

He didn’t want to tell the girls, but it was pretty cool just to be “one of the guys” every once in a while.

“So how did football practice go?” Olivia asked when Kyle crawled into Olivia’s mother’s van.

“Pretty good,” Kyle said. “I think Justin will do okay.”

“I just can’t believe he’s going to play football,” Claire said. “It’s so un-him!”

“He seems to like it,” Kyle said. “He thinks it’s making him closer to his dad.”

Olivia couldn’t help but think about Kyle’s relationship with his father. It made her wonder if him helping Justin had something to do with that.

Kyle said a prayer for his own dad during Sunday school. He knew he was hurting.

“Speaking of dads, I hear you’ve got some good news Claire,” Olivia’s mother said.

“Yeah, he’s progressing,” Claire said. “Mom says they are thinking about flying him back to the States.”

“That would be cool,” Kyle said. “Then you’d get to see him.”

* * * * *

Letting the music flow

That’s how Kyle approached ballet class that night.

It was his escape from the world. He just let things flow.

Madame Kathryn knew it as well.

“Very good Kyle, you’re doing a very good job keeping up with the music,” she said.

It was almost hard to believe that a few months before, he labored to keep up when they were at the barre. He had to watch the more experienced dancers to know what to do.

That wasn’t the case anymore.

Plies, tendues, frappes, grande battements, petite battements, ron de jambres, those were no longer strangers.

His favorite part of class was center work. He enjoyed adagio. He loved the combinations.

That night they did one with jetes, assemblees, pas de bourees and sissones.

He was having fun. He wasn’t the only one.

The news that her dad was getting better seemed to bring out the dancer in Claire. Like Kyle, she really seemed to be in a zone.

“Very good, ladies and gentleman,” Madame Kathryn said after reverence. “I don’t know what’s gotten into some of you. But I want you to keep it up!”

She also pointed out their rehearsal times were growing short for both the school show and their end of the year recital.

“We need the same effort from here on out,” she said.

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Dancers Within, Part 2

These two families are practically one thanks to events. Too bad the only ad is in Germany.

    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine