Let me take you on a journey, spiraling into Rachel Leigh's mundane, ordinary life. She is the type of girl who would never try to take an interest in the world outside- most of her world was inside her head. People on the road would look at her walking stiffly and would remark "What a prim, good little girl!" never realizing that Rachel at that moment was sedately seated on an elephant, pretending to be an Indian princess.
But never mind that now.
There is an incident I rather want you to see, because so far I've only told you what an insular, thoroughly odd girl Rachel was. This was one of the rare incidents in which Rachel was made aware of the world outside in a harsh manner- something which was to make her wary of the world throughout her teenage years.
When she was ten years old, her school, McKinley Comprehensive, one of the most prestigious private schools in the country, hosted a grand annual celebration of the school's heritage. Rachel was visibly excited, buzzing with enthusiasm. The school was putting on a show on the theme 'festivals', and there was to be a carnival; dances and musicals, and she fell in love with one of the dances which had glittering dancers gaily dancing to a foot tapping beat.
Admittedly, her taste was not as radical as a gypsy dance- she had a deep, intense love for Broadway and ball room dances- but she was carried away by the wild romantic image of bejeweled girls with colorful skirts and flashing bangles, swirling gracefully, and so she submitted her name for the dance.
"You are- erm, let me see, Rachel Markham, aren't you? And you say you want to join the dance?" Her teacher, Mrs. Sullivan appraised the small girl sternly.
She bobbed her head enthusiastically "Yes, please, ma'am"
"Hmm. Well, my girl, can you dance? It isn't necessary, of course that you are an Anna Pavlova in the making, but it would be just as well if you can dance"
"Oh yes, ma'am , I can dance." She spoke with a careless assurance.
"Very well then. We rehearse in room 12 every evening. Don't be late" Casting one last look at the girl trembling with delight, she swept off in a haze of violet.
And so, rehearsals began.
YOU ARE READING
Searching for Tomorrow
Teen FictionWhat if everything you believed in crumbled to dust? What if you begin to ask questions whose answers you wouldn't want to know? This is a story about humanity. This is a story about faith, belief, and intellect. This is Rachel's story.
