Summer of My Dreams by Nola Li Barr

Author:Nola Li Barr [Li Barr, Nola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tapioca Press

It was the first day of ballet class. I had waited for this day forever. Here it was—and I was too petrified to enter. I stood outside the entrance staring at the lettering across the front of the building. Portland School of Ballet. I was really here, and scholarship or no scholarship, I would show these girls what I was made of.

Taking a deep breath to settle my nerves, I entered the building and walked up to Mademoiselle. “Hi, I’m Gillian. It’s my first day.”

Mademoiselle was a woman in her fifties, poised and elegant. When she turned around, an image of my grandma fluttered through my mind and I instinctively stood up straighter.

“Yes, Gillian, go and change into your outfit. We’re going to start the warm-up in ten minutes.” She turned around to continue her prep work, adding over her shoulder, “And Gillian . . .”

“Yes?” I said, already halfway to what looked like the changing room at the back of the room.

“Be dressed before you come to class next time,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Yes, of course. Sorry.” I felt my face flush.

I was so embarrassed that at first, I didn’t fully notice my surroundings. There was room for me to change, a long mirror, extra outfits, toilet paper, a mop, and cleaning supplies. I realized I hadn’t entered the change rooms—I was in a closet! Mortified, I changed as fast as I could before the other girls arrived.

My outfit had come from a thrift store. Now that I was putting it on, I suddenly felt very self-conscious. The little holes in the toes of the hose would be concealed in my shoes, but the discoloring on the tutu couldn’t be hidden. My whole outfit screamed second-hand. I looked at myself in the mirror and told myself I could do this. George went through a lot of trouble to get me here and I wasn’t going to throw it all away. I could do this.

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