Dancing Queen

Chapter 5

"We did it! Woah!" Inge yelled and started clapping, triggering joyful screams from the girls.

Frida approached laughing and also applauding "You were all perfect!" she praised the girls, watching them hop and laugh with each other. She felt a touch on her elbow and turned to find Oliver, her co-worker.

"As a first time, I'd say it was phenomenal!" Oliver exclaimed, hugging her.

Frida laughed "It was, I didn't think it could be so good. They were wonderful".

"They were amazing and you were amazing too".

Frida looked at him with an affectionate smile "It's all their work. I can give them the tools, but they create the art".

"Shut up and enjoy the praise, girl" Inge told her, approaching the two and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Frida? There are other parents outside who would like to come in, what do I do?" Wilma asked nearby.

"Sure, let them in" Frida smiled and in a short time a cloud of enthusiastic and smiling parents invaded the backstage area. Every little girl ran towards her parents almost flying, wanting to hug them. Frida watched them with folded arms, a smile on her lips that didn't want to disappear. Then, to her right, a small figure caught her eye.

Heléne was sidelined, almost hidden behind one of the backstage curtains, tugging on her tutu and shuffling her little feet. Frida looked up at the entrance doors 'Where are you Benny?' she thought, frowning.

She slowly approached the little girl and stood next to her "Hey, honey, you ok?".

Heléne raised her face, her big eyes wide open and almost afraid "... Yes" she said in a trembling tone.

Frida knelt next to her "Don't worry, papa will be here soon. You know how he is, he's always a big latecomer. We always tell him that in class, right?" she chuckled softly, trying to calm her down. But the little girl nodded without much conviction, her eyes fixed on the doors.

Frida pursed her lips "Ok, how about we get closer to the doors and wait for him there?" and she held out her hand.

Heléne looked briefly at her hand and then at her and Frida just had time not to lose her balance when the little girl lunged towards her and wrapped her arms around her neck.

Frida scoffed amused and hugged her briefly "Ok, in the carriage, miss!" and stood up with the little girl in her arms. They pushed their way through the crowd, pausing only a few seconds here and there to say hello to a few parents who thanked her for the good job done. Heléne remained the whole time with her head leaning against her shoulder, her eyes still fixed on the doors.

When they arrived at the backstage entrance, Frida leaned against a jamb and arranged the little girl in her arms better "So, I think dad was leaving the house and realized he couldn't get the giant pink teddy bear into the car that he wanted to bring here as a wonderful surprise at the end of the show. So he had to get it out of the car again, but it got stuck. And then he had to fight to get it out. He finally made it and so he had to go back in to put it down, but as he climbed the stairs of the house... SPLASH! He ended up in a puddle and got all wet!" Frida sighed in relief when she finally heard her giggle "What do you think? Could it be the reason why he's late?".

"... I want it red".

Frida frowned "What do you want red?".

"The teddy bear" Heléne replied in a low voice, playing with her necklace and finally taking her eyes off the corridor.

Frida laughed softly "You're right, red is much more beautiful" and kissed her head.

Finally, Benny came out the door at the end of the corridor, almost running.