I stood staring at the tickets Andrey had given me. He had spent all the money his father had offered him for his 20th birthday on just two tickets. The problem was we needed two more.
I hadn't been dancing for about a week now. I didn't have time. For the first time ever there was something much more important then ballet. I had chosen Valentina as my replacement for prima. She was an excellent dancer and wouldn't ever leave Russia. She made that clear. I actually felt bad for her a bit. She only wanted to dance. Even if that meant that she might loose her life in her own country.
I couldn't say much though. Last week I myself was going to stay in Russia. Now I wondered why I had been so stupid!
I sat in my small room with Natya. Of course she was napping and Alisa was at class. I had to find a way to get the extra money. I wouldn't leave Russia without Natya or Alisa. I just wouldn't do it.
Then I looked in the mirror and it hit me. The ballerina. The crystal ballerina that Andrey had given me. It was still in my trunk wrapped with my ballgown and slippers. A wave of sadness went over me but I moved forward. Just opening that trunk brought back memories of the enchanting ball that seemed a lifetime ago. I wondered if I would ever see ballgowns in America.
Shaking that silly thought out of my head I opened the trunk slowly. As if it held some extreme treasure the world had never seen. There in a creme colored box wrapped in layers of thin paper was the necklace.
It still held all it's glory. Not one chip on it. Nothing it was in perfect shape. Hopefully it would buy me a ticket to America. I needed one more thing though....I lifted the midnight blue dress out carefully. Tracing the crystals gently. It had been the most beautiful gown I had ever worn. Now I was giving it away.
I still had a locket from our Mother that had been Katya's but I would die before that got sold. I carefully wrapped the dress and the ballerina back up and went to ask Madame Markova if she could watch Natya for a little while.
My plan had to work. If it didn't there was no way we would be able to leave Russia.
I buttoned up my coat and walked outside. I couldn't believe I was about to do this. I had to though. People walked the streets in a hurry. Some whispered about going ons others just rushed to wherever they were headed.
The jewlery store. The windows were no longer as fabulous as they had been years ago. The people inside looked sad and worn out and even the jewels seemed to loose their sparkle.
"Ah Miss Annika what can I do for you today?" The old shop owner looked at me with ageing blue eyes. His hair held was brown with hints of silver in it.
"Yes I was wondering if you would consider buying a piece of jewelry I am selling?"
"Let me have a look at it. Right over here." He led me to a elegant glass table with delicate white chairs.
I placed the ballerina down taking a deep breath and unwrapped her.
"Oh! Miss Annika you can't possibly want to sell this! Why we don't even make them anymore! Not since..." His voice trailed off and I got his meaning.
"Yes I do indeed want to sell it for good reasons. How much can would you be willing to give?"
When he told me the price I nearly fainted dead away. With selling my dress we could buy our tickets and have some money left over!
I sold the necklace right away. Without a doubt in my mind. It would help get us our tickets and more. For the first time ever for a long time joy flooded through me. Maybe everything would be alright after all.
