Scene 28

Scene Twenty-eight...Odile
Time: Afternoon, Saturday, April 6, 1946
Place: Ballet school
Storyteller: Janet


"I deserve to be Odile."

Mom is concentrating on her driving. "Janet, I'm going to drive home, too. I need more practice than you."

She parks near the ballet school.

"You brought your sketch pad. Will you draw me?"

"Not today. It's so beautiful, I'm going to walk in the wet sand. That should inspire a seascape."

I wave and walk toward the studio.

After warm ups, Anna speaks to me privately. "Put on your pointe shoes, please."

She calls Robert and me to the center. "Help her with the Black Swan grand pas de deux."

At the climax of the dance for two, Mistress says to me, "one fouette rond de jambe en tournant."

I stand on my left flat foot. I whip the right working leg around to the side, creating one turn. I pull the right leg in to touch the supporting knee. My left foot rises up en pointe.

Anna says, "En coda".

She counts to thirty-two as I spin...not near as nervous as when Sergey was watching.

The class claps, except for Nancy.

"This is why Master and I have chosen Janet to be Odile, the black swan. You're dismissed."

The class claps again, except for Nancy.

We're on the way back to Viridian. I can't hold it in any longer. "You should have seen Nancy turn green with envy!"

"Don't gloat, dear." Mom's holding onto the wheel with both hands...eyes glued to the road as we head west.




Popular posts from this blog

Scene 95...Epilogue

WARNING Spoiler Alert !!! This is "The End" Please read scenes 1-94 first. EPILOGUE...Scene 95...Letter From Janet Time: June 16, 1948 Place: Nice, France Storyteller: Janet Dear Paul, I can't believe you missed the Monaco Grand Prix, all because of college. Nino won in a Maserati, per usual. The Prince kept staring at me again. Doris needs to see the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco. It's on a cliff above the sea. Betty likes her job at the hospital. Also, she's taking Mediterranean cooking classes. By the looks of her, she's eating too much delicious food, or she's pregnant. William will soon be joining the faculty of medicine at Aix-Marseille University. I wonder if they'll get an apartment? Can babies live on boats? Surprisingly, Dad didn't explode about Betty moving a hundred miles away. He's busy getting the vineyard perfect for Tony's visit. Mom continues to paint with the Big Shots. Guess you heard I graduated.
Read more

Scene 21

Scene 21...Swan Lake Time : Afternoon, Saturday, March 2, 1946 Place: Ballet School Storyteller: Janet Mom is watching me drive. She says, "What do you suppose Brodskys were fighting about last week? And in front of us? When Madame called to say they accepted you, I almost dropped the phone." "Yea. I was down in the dumps, thinking I'd never see this studio again." "Park over there. "Mom points to a space in the shade. Anna introduces me to the class. The two dozen students are probably in high school.  We warm up at the barre, then move to the center. "Adagio," says Mistress. She leads us through a series of exercises, fluid and focused, performed slowly. "Arabesque," Anna continues. I stand on one leg. The other extends behind my body. My goal is to create a smooth line from shoulders to arms and into the toes of my extended leg. The door slams. Sergey enters, all smiles. I hold my pose until Mistress says ot
Read more

Scene 17

Scene Seventeen...Rubies Time: After school, Friday, February 15, 1946 Place: Doris's house Storyteller: Janet I burst through the front door without knocking. Betty is dressed for work. Doris will be home from her shift soon. "What did he give you? Show me." "Hi Janet. How are you?" my sister teases. "Don't torture me. What did you get for Valentine's Day?" "I'll tell you about our romantic evening and then show you this." She puts the little, red box on the kitchen table. I try to grab it, but Betty is quicker. "Okay, make it snappy. Skip all the boring stuff." "William ordered us the most expensive entree on Sal's menu, lobster." "I don't care about food at the moment. Move on." "We walked back to his boat, arm in arm, with Tom. A golden moon reflected on the water; is full moon tonight?" "Who cares? What did you drink? How many?" "Rum an
Read more