The Gift of Dancing (Book 5 of the Ava and Mia Series)

Chapter 5

"Dear Ava,

We are all so proud of all your accomplishments this year! At this time you were just getting into prelim!"

Oh wow that feels like years ago! I can't believe it's only been one year!

"In one year you've gotten 4th at the All Scotland Championships, moved into Open, gotten 7th at the North American Nationals, moved across the country and adapted to a new school and region and getting 2nd at your 1st feis here and winning the Southern Region Oireachtas! You've grown into such a lovely dancer with a bright future ahead. Because of this, we are going to be able to send you to the All Scotland Championships again this year to defend your placement!"

Wait what? I thought we weren't able to go this year.

"This amazing opportunity comes with a catch though. You will be going without me or Mia or Sadie and be staying with Mira and her mother. If you would like to wait until next year where we would all go together that is understandable. You're only 9 and if you don't want to go to Scotland without family it's fine.

-mom."

I look up and everyone's watching me.

"Wait what? I'm confused." I say.

"Every major the dance school is able to send one or two students that is unable to go due to financial reasons but they thinks deserve to go and would represent the school well. I told your teachers about how we couldn't send you guys and I tried to see if you all would be able to go with someone but they said only one of you and they wanted to send you Ava to prepare you for worlds. They have no doubts that you'll qualify."

"Why not send Mia? She got 5th... She would have qualified!"

"Let's be honest Aves... I may be good in this region but compared to everyone else in the world I don't stand a chance..."

"That's a lie but what about Sadie? She won last year!"

"I can't qualify for worlds for another 2 years... I don't need to go this year..."

I look over to mom. "It's up to you honey."

"Um yeah I'll go! Thank you so much mom!" And I hug her again.
"Don't thank me, thank your teachers!"

And then that's all. We bring our stuff upstairs and get changed for dinner. We're going to our grandparents on our moms side house. They live in Texas too but not near by. About 2 hours away. We're going then all of mom and dads sisters and my dads grandparents. Everyone lives in Texas. Mom and dad grew up in the same town and usually once you grow up in Texas you never leave... The family spread out but everyone's in Texas! I have 15 cousins!

I put on a new dress I got for today. It's a light tan/peach with a tulle skirt. I put on a light gray cardigan, button it up and put on a gold belt. I go into mom and dads room so mom can do my hair. She does a waterfall braid in the back and puts a a matching flower to hold it in. As I'm leaving, Mia is coming in. She's wearing a short sleeved dress with a green, blue and white print all over it. I see Sadie running between the bathroom and her room and she has on a bright red dress and her hair is up in this fancy poof bun thing! I go back in and put on a gold pair of flats to match the belt.

I plug my phone back into the charger so it has enough power to last me through the car rides and the day. I put a phone case I made last week on it. It's a floral one then I added a corner of these small square studs. I really like it.

I'm laying in bed reading Charlottes Web. We're reading it in school and we had to read as much as we could over the break. I'm almost done! It's actually a really good book.

Finally mom knocks on my door and says it's time to go. I grab my flats off the ground, unplug my charger, take one last look in the mirror and head downstairs.