Diary of a Daughter (Based off of "Moments")

Eleven: The Petite Group

1/17/20

Dear Diary,

Today me and May hung out with each other for the first time at her house. She has a really big house. Her parents live with her along with her older sister who is 13 and her dog Sally, who is a Yorkie. Her family is awesome! We watched movies and played games! I hated having to leave that night and I really wanted to sleep over, but they were busy tomorrow. Maybe next time! I just hope that we can still do this every time we get to hang out!

Em

---
After school that Monday, I had plenty of time to get ready for my petite classes unlike what I had for my older classes. I got home, ate a snack and did some homework before packing up and getting ready for my first class.

As we were driving to my dance studio, I kept thinking about the petite group. I didn't have Mrs. Mary as my teacher and I was worried about what the older girls would think. Would they really like me as Mrs. Mary had said? Or would they make fun of me because I was new or a lot younger than them?

As I arrived at the studio, I noticed the lobby flooded with girls, each of them getting ready for different classes. It felt a lot different here than when I was in my other classes, I guess because it wasn't so crowded.

I met up with the new teacher Mrs. Diana as she came out into the lobby to start the Petite Group classes. She was older and looked cranky.

I took a deep breath and approached her.

"H-Hello Mrs. Diana... I'm Emily." I said.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Mrs. Diana nodded, showing no emotion on her face as she shook my hand. "Mrs. Mary told me all about you. I hope what she says is true."
"Y-Yes it is." I assured.

She nodded and I slowly walked away from her and downstairs where our class would take place. I suddenly became terrified of Mrs. Diana, she looked one of those teachers who would smack you with a ruler if you did something wrong! If that is true, I hope I can leave this class and go back to my old class.

"Listen up everybody!" Mrs. Diana said moments later. "We have a new student joining us today. She's quite young for this group but Mrs. Mary has convinced me that she is right for this group. So we'll see how she does."

Everybody then looked at me, as if they wanted me to speak or something.

"H-Hi..." I said. "My name is Emily, and I'm 9 years old."
"Hello Emily." Everybody responded.
"Why don't you show us some of your strongest dance moves, please?" Mrs. Diana asked.

I nodded. My legs began trembling knowing I was in the center of attention, but I slid down into a split. Everybody gasped and went wide eyed in amazement. I then moved my upper body into a straddle and then back into a split. I then did a few heel stretches and ankle stretches.

"Well, you are flexible I will admit." Mrs. Diana stated. "But I'm going to be watching you as we begin doing across the floor routines."

I nodded.

As everybody lined up to go across the floor, a girl named Lisa asked to be my partner. As the music began and we were waiting to go across the floor, Lisa looked down at me.

"You're a really good dancer!" Lisa said.
"Thank you..." I responded shyly.

Lisa and I then began turns as we went across the floor. The students and Mrs. Diana watched in awe as I did my turns and then walked off to the other side as I finished.

When classes finished, Mrs. Diana dismissed everybody but me.

"I would like to speak with your parents." She said in an almost harsh tone, as if she were in trouble.

I trembled inside, but then finally nodded.

I slowly walked up the steps and walked over to Daddy M, who was waiting for me in the lobby. Mrs. Diana then approached the two of us.

"Hello, my name is Diana... I am Emily's new dance instructor." She said.
"My name is Mark, I'm Emily's father..." Daddy M said. "Well, one of them..."
"One of them?" Mrs. Diana asked. "Interesting..."
"Why's that?" Daddy M asked.
"You're just the first homosexual parents I have met." Mrs. Diana stated. "Please don't take that as an offense."
"None taken..." Mark said.
"So Mark, has Emily had any dancing classes before joining this studio?" Mrs. Diana asked.
"No... Not that I know of." Mark responded. "We adopted her when she was five, so we don't really know anything before that."
"I never danced." I responded. "Not even in my spare time or when music was playing."
"Really?" Mrs. Diana asked. I nodded.

She paused for a moment. Then, for the first time today, she smiled.

"Emily, you have a gift..." Mrs. Diana explained. "You said you've never danced before in your life and yet you've perfected every dance move I have taught you today! That is quite a gift you have!"
"Thank you..." I said, taking it as a compliment.
"Next week we're starting our routines for all of our classes and there's a solo I have decided to do for the Jazz routine and I think you're perfect for it!" Mrs. Diana explained.
"I don't know if I would want to do a solo just yet..." I said.
"Oh..." Mrs. Diana said, her smile dimming. "Well, if you change your mind please let me know... I will see you on Wednesday."

She then walked away. Daddy M and I looked at each other.

"I think you should try out for it..." Daddy M suggested. "If you're as good as she says you are, I believe it's something you should show everybody else."
"But I feel like if I do it, I'd be ruining it for all the other girls..." I said.
"I don't think you would be." Daddy M said. "But it's all up to you."

We then left the studio.

---

1/19/20

Dear Diary,

I started Petite Group today. I thought my new teacher Mrs. Diana was a freak at first, but after seeing me dance, she seemed really happy with me.
She wants me to have a solo for the routine for the recital. I don't know if it would be something I would want to do. Especially if it meant ruining opportunities for everybody else in my class. I don't want to suddenly become the most respected kid in class again and making everybody else feel shamed.

Should I do the solo or not??

Em