Someday Dancer by Sarah Rubin

Author:Sarah Rubin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2012-05-31T16:00:00+00:00

I sit very still on the bus ride home, not because I am trying to quiet bad feelings and not because I am tired. I sit still because I don’t need to move to dance. I am poised for flight. I did it. And no one can ever say that Casey Quinn is an awkward child ever again. They can’t say I’m ugly, either, because when I dance I am beauty-full of grace, even in my ratty-tatty, used-to-be-white, two-sizes-too-big Converse high-top sneakers.

As the bus sways me around a curve, I hear something clink in my pocket. It is the dime Mama gave me when I first came to New York City, and the nickel left over from my ride with Mike. I can’t believe I forgot about them.

I look out the window of the bus like my eyes can take me back to buy something I will always remember. Then I stop. That was when Mama thought I would never go back to New York City. When she thought I wouldn’t get in. But I did get in. Maybe not into the School of American Ballet, but I got into Miss Martha’s school. And Miss Martha’s school is better for me. Miss Martha’s school has a heart like mine. It beats right on the surface.

Maybe I should just give the money back to Mama, to help out with the bills. I don’t need to buy anything now. But that doesn’t seem right. Just like Gran didn’t save up her money only for me to give it back to the hospital, Mama’s fifteen cents is worth so much more. It’s meant to buy a dream — at least a little piece of one. It’s meant for something special. I just don’t know what.

The bus arrives early. As I wait for Mama, I look around. The paint set is still in the window of Willy’s General Store. And now I know what the money is for: Mama’s dream. I walk into the store, holding the coins tight in my hand.

When I come out, I see Mama walking toward me. I run to meet her. My bag is heavy with the surprise paint set, and it bangs against my leg. I don’t mind at all.

“I got in! I got in!” I yell as I leap off the sidewalk right into Mama’s arms.

She hugs me fierce and smiles. “I’m so proud of you, Casey.”

“Really?” I say as we walk home.

Mama says, “Of course.”

After dinner, I sit in my room. Mama calls Mrs. Ryder person-to-person to see where Ann-Lee is living in New York City. I’m not so happy about the idea of living with the Priss. She might have worked hard to get into the School of American Ballet, but she’s still too uppity and pinky-pink for me. I won’t let a little thing like that stop me, though. Besides, we’ll be at different dance schools.

And maybe Andrea will be in New York, too — I’m sure she got into the ballet school. I have her address tucked into the frame of my bedroom mirror, and I know how to write.

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