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

Twenty-Three: New Dance Season

8/3/20

Dear Diary,

Good News and Bad News...
The Good News is that Mrs. Mary found out about me being kicked out of the petite group and immediately signed me up for her classes, without us having to pay anything. I feel like I should owe her something.
The Bad News... This new manager, Mrs. Gina will be going in and observing our class this week. Hopefully with my dancing, she'll be convinced that she was wrong and that I should go back to the petite group. Because age shouldn't matter.

Em

---
That Wednesday, I had my jazz class. I was so psyched to see Mrs. Mary again as well as May. Maybe this wasn't going to be so bad after all.

As we prepared for class and started doing warm ups, Mrs. Gina came in with her black dress, long skirt and black shoes. She sat down, watched and observed us.

As we were told to go down in our split position, I did so and went all the way down. May and I smiled at one another.

"You two stop smiling at each other!" Mrs. Gina harshly yelled.
"S-Sorry..." May said.

Mrs. Gina approached me and kneeled down to me.

"Were you two smiling because you thought I would be impressed with your ability to do a proper split?" Mrs. Gina asked.
"No ma'am..." I responded. "We do it just as a friendly gesture, because we're friends."
"Well guess what?" Mrs. Gina asked. "Smiling, laughing, giggling, any of that stuff is wasting time! And wasting time means no proper dance etiquette, and no proper dance etiquette means failure!"
"I--" I stuttered.
"Don't talk back to me, you show off!" Mrs. Gina said.
"Gina!" Mrs. Mary exclaimed.
"You hush your mouth, Marianne!" Mrs. Gina exclaimed. Mrs. Mary then grew silent as Mrs. Gina looked back at me. "Just because you can do a proper split and other advanced moves these students cannot do yet does not mean you are better than them!"
"I'm not saying that at all!" I yelled.

Mrs. Gina looked at Mrs. Mary.

"Take this student out of your class right this minute!" Mrs. Gina demanded.
"Gina, I--" Mrs. Mary began.
"NOW!" Mrs. Gina interrupted.

I stood up and began gathering my bag and water and left the room with Mrs. Mary. As soon as I left the room and the door was shut behind me, I sobbed. Mrs. Mary hugged me.

"I am so sorry, Emily... You did not deserve any of this..." Mrs. Mary said.
"Who cares if I'm more advanced than anybody else? That doesn't mean I show it off or rub it in anybody's face!" I cried.
"You are not a show off, Emily!" Mrs. Mary assured me. "You are a brilliant girl with a gift! No matter who turns you down or judges you, use that gift!"
"Thank you..." I said.
"And she's only going to be in our class once and then she's done!" Mrs. Mary said. "I promise you that this will be the only time this happens."

I nodded.

Mrs. Mary then went behind the front desk and called my Dads. They both immediately came over as soon as Mrs. Mary explained what happened.

"So she got yelled at just because she was good?" Daddy S asked.
"Well what really happened was that Emily and her friend May were smiling at each other and Mrs. Gina went over and basically considered her a failure and a show off..." Mrs. Mary explained.
"Okay, where is this lady?" Daddy M asked. "I want to have a word with her!"
"Please, I would advise that you don't speak with her, she happens to be the manager of the studio." Mrs. Mary said.
"She's the replacement manager?" Daddy S asked. "Well she's certainly not doing a good job managing things!"
"Just because she's the manager doesn't mean she gets to do whatever the hell she wants!" Daddy M stated. "She needs to show dignity and respect otherwise this place will go downhill!"
"I understand that, and I agree with you..." Mrs. Mary nodded. "But there is something about her... That you both will not like..."
"Tell us..." Daddy S said.
"She's a homophobic, if she finds out you're Emily's parents, Emily will be kicked out from the studio!" Mrs. Mary explained.
"Well, we know what we're gonna do then if that does happen!" Daddy M said.
"I would rather you not..." Mrs. Mary suggested. "It would not turn out well for any of us."
"Well, I feel like eventually everybody will be wanting her out." Daddy S said.
"Maybe..." Mrs. Mary shrugged.

Just then, Mrs. Gina came out from the room she was in. My heart skipped a beat and my eyes widened.

"Excuse me, what is going on out here?" Mrs. Gina asked.
"Emily's dad and his friend came here to pick Emily up." Mrs. Mary explained.
"Uh-huh..." Mrs. Gina said, her eyes rolled.

Daddy M looked down at me.

"C'mon sweetie, let's go home..." Daddy M said in a serious tone.

I watched as Daddy M grabbed my hand with one hand and then grabbed Daddy S's with the other. I almost wanted to yell at him, because Mrs. Gina was watching.

Then, as we all got in the car, Daddy M looked at me.

"Em, I'm sorry baby girl, but that'll be the last time you'll be at that studio for a while." Daddy M told me.

I didn't know how to react. Should I be relieved? Should I be mad at Daddy M? Should I be sad that I'm probably done dance? I don't know what to think.
----

8/4/20

Dear Diary,

We got the call... I've been kicked out of the studio.

Em