Dance on Water

Brooke's Back: Competition

All week I was working on the jazz dance. Even though I was initially excited about a jazz dance, I rarely perform that style, and I knew my facials needed to be up to standards. I woke up early today to practice the dance with my mom; while we were practicing, she told me about our plans for the next couple of weeks and how Dad would come home Sunday.

My dad made me even more nervous about competitions because he would scold me if my performance fell under his expectations. If he was home, it meant business meetings and dinner parties, which I often dreaded. They involved me dressing up in a tightly laced corset under an evening gown and talking to Father's work friends who frequently were too close for comfort.

All these added stressors worsened my headache and the burning in my chest. While doing my dance for the final time that morning, I felt shaky, and my vision went black, but I could tell I was still moving. I wasn't sure what had happened until I opened my eyes in the ending pose of my dance. I glanced at my mother only to realize something terrible must have happened because she looked enraged and stomped over, her hands fisted with her nails piercing her palms. She yanked me forward when she was close enough to reach me and snarled out rapid french that my fatigued brain was struggling to comprehend, "Si vous embarrassez notre famille sur scène en tombant comme vous l'avez fait ici, vous ne verrez jamais la lumière du jour et vous souhaiterez la colère de Mme Abby parce que la mienne sera bien pire que la sienne ne pourra jamais l'être." [If you embarrass our family on stage by falling as you did here, you will never see the light of day, and you will wish for Ms. Abby's wrath because mine will be much worse than hers could ever be]

I nodded quickly, hoping she would let go of me because her tight grip was bruising my arm. She sighed, stuck up her nose, and pushed me away before gesturing for me to prepare for the day.

After quickly getting ready in warm-up clothes, I met Mother in our limo and rode towards the studio. Arriving there, we saw the bus outside and a few groups scattered about. Mother cringed at the bus before grabbing a silk blanket to put in her bag. I exited the limo to see Mackenzie running over with an excited grin, Paige and Chloe waving at me behind her. When Kenzie is close enough, she jumps on me to give me a hug. I stumble back a bit due to the unexpected force and readjust her so she sits on my hip. I am happy for a way to disguise my trembling finger, though I send a confused look to Paige, who shrugs her shoulders.

"Is this your limo? It is huge; can I ride it?" Mackenzie asks with wide eyes as she gapes at the large vehicle.

I laugh, noticing a trend with Kenzie and asking lots of questions, before responding, "Yes, it is my family's limo; I know it is massive and obnoxious. You can ride it one day, but we must get to the competition." By the time I finish answering, Chloe and Paige are here, and they grab me and my back to drag me to the bus. I laugh and tighten my grip on Kenzie to avoid dropping her.

I check that Kenzie is okay and doesn't want to be put down before entering the bus. Following the girls to the back of the bus, I look out the window and see Mother getting ready to enter the bus.

Sure, this lady scoffs at the studio, but now she is disgusted by the bus; I do not want another Cathy on this team - Christi

I can tell they think they are too good for us; I mean, Khloé is laying satin sheets down before she sits, and they arrived right when we needed to leave, in a limo - Jill

I was about to sit in the back of the bus with Kenzie, Paige, Chloe, and Nia, who were already on the bus when Mother gestured for me to join her in the front. Likewise, I sent an apologetic smile to the girls before setting Kenzie down and heading to Mother.