The Kiss

The Beginning

I still remember walking into the ALDC. I had just turned four. My sister was about two. She was still toddling around in that way little kids do, jolting back and forth, running with squeals of glee. I don't remember when the glee ran out of her. She sure used to have a lot of it.

I was different then too. I held my mom's hand, my eyes wide as the world grew pink and sparkly, and music thumped in my ears. In other rooms teachers called out numbers; "One! Two! Three! Four!" and footsteps followed. Pictures of ballet dancers with pretty tutus lined the walls. I started to put my thumb in my mouth, but stopped. Mom said I was a big girl, and big girls don't suck their thumbs. None of the ballerinas in the photos had thumbs in their mouths. 

"Mackenzie!" My mom yelled, and I jumped. Mackenzie had taken off down the hall towards something I couldn't see. Mom hurried up, dragging me with her. As we got closer, I saw Kenzie on the floor, giggling as a small, fluffy dog licked her face. I smiled too, and reached down to pet the dog. She looked so funny, panting hard like she'd been dancing too. 

"Baby!" A voice snapped, and I reeled backwards, sitting on the floor with a thump. A big woman with a giant necklace and a mean voice was coming towards us. She grabbed the dog and picked it up, making my sister sad. 

"What are you doing back here?" The woman asked my mom. Mom looked a little nervous. I reached out and held onto her skirt, peering out with one eye at the mean lady. 

"I'm here to enroll my daughters. My youngest saw the dog and took off..." 

The woman's whole face changed. She gave a smile almost as big as her necklace. 

"Oh! Welcome to the ALDC. I'm Abby Lee Miller." 

My mom smiled, relieved, and I stuck my head out a little farther from behind her skirt. I still held on, though. It didn't seem safe. 

"You're who we're looking for, then. I'm Melissa. These are my daughters, Maddie and Mackenzie." Mom firmly grasped my arm and brought me out from behind her. The lady smiled at me.

"How old are you, Maddie?" she asked. 

I held up four fingers. She frowned. 

"Cat got your tongue?" 

I looked at my mom. 

"She means, she wants you to say something out loud," my mom explained. 

Like what? 

"I want to take tap and hip-hop," I blurted out. The woman laughed. Was I funny? 

"I think that can be arranged." She put a heavy hand on my head and patted it, her rings clunking against my skull.