Meet Us at the Barre: A Series of SAB Oneshots

lemon drops & dum dum pops

Confessions of a quarantined ballerina, preparing for Nutcracker:

"And jump, and jump, and jump, jump, jump! Stop!" Henrietta shouted, clapping over the classical Tchaikovsky music playing.

Madame Henrietta, or simply "Helen" to most of the SAB dancers (behind her back) was the strictest ballet mistress they had at SAB.

Helen was training Katherine to dance the Sugar Plum Fairy in that year's SAB gala, where every level four dancer did their own variation. There was only eight dancers in the level, therefore the gala of SAB dancers would last less than twenty minutes before the main company performed.

"Your jumps are lazy! Stand up straight!" Helen called, pausing the music, shooting a not quite mad, though not quite pleased glance at Katherine, whose hands were on her knees as heavy breaths left past her lips.

Katherine forced her body up straight and caught her breath more silently now. She kept her eyes on her raggedy pointe shoes. Those would not be the shoes that she would be performing in, however.

Katherine made a mental note to have Emmie, her roommate, remind her to pancake her performance shoes when she gets home. Maybe they could watch a cheesy ballet movie and have a "pointe shoe pancake-ing" party together. That would be fun.

Katherine's head shot around as she heard Helen's angry scoff.

"Our time is up! That's all I have for you. Work on those jumps. Bring in Benjamin!" She spoke all at once, waving her hand in the air as if to swat Katherine out of the studio.

"Madame Henrietta?" Katherine asked sheepishly after taking a deep breath.

She smiled softly. "Yes, Katherine?"

"I was hoping I could ask you for advice?" Katherine spoke softly. She knew Helen had the most prestigious ballet training and the most illustrious ballet career imaginable. She'd be able to help.

"Of course, Katherine. Benjamin seems to be late, either way. What is on your mind?"

Goodness, advice Helen versus rehearsal Helen was a night and day difference. She was must softer now.

"I'm worried about my weight. I feel like I could improve my body lines and muscle tone, but I don't know what the best way to go about it."

"Well," Helen started, somewhat of a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Since the Gala is so close...about what, five, six weeks away?" Katherine nodded to confirm her idea. "Listen, Katherine. Here's the best thing you can do right now. Whenever you feel hungry, suck on a lemon drop candy, or a Dum Dum pop. Both have less than thirty calories...the lemon drops being about ten, so less than the pops. Anyways, that will give you a burst of sugar, something sweet to keep you going without worrying about consuming too much." She gently rubbed Katherine's shoulder.

Helen proceeded to explain to Katherine to also eat three, small, under fifteen hundred calorie meals. One at 6:30 a.m., one at 4:00 p.m, and one at 10:00 p.m., or to skip the third meal all together and fast intermittently.

Katherine sucked in all of this information. She idolized the woman who was speaking to her. She nodded proudly, like a child after selecting what piece of candy they would like in a gift shop, ironic.

Katherine gave Madame Henrietta a curtsey just as Ben walked into the studios to rehearse.

~~~~~

After their chat, Katherine went back to the old SAB dorm building that she used to live in, also with Emmie, when they were still young. Now that they were older, they owned their own apartment.

The dorm building still hosted the nurses and P.T. training offices if any of the SAB dancers got hurt or injured, so even the older dancers would be in the building quite often.

Katherine peered around both corners, making sure the coast was clear, before ducking down the hallway. She stayed low, trying not to draw attention to the young SAB girls that were convinced she was a Princess. They hadn't stopped gushing over the tiara they got to see her wearing during a Storybook Ballet performance.

She successfully made it to the nurses' office, knowing exactly which drawer to go to. The receptionist wasn't at his desk, so it was very simple for her to slip past.

She flung open the drawer that was stock full of peppermints and candy drops, usually utilized to settle nervous pre-performance tummies or calm little dancers down if they happen to get injured badly.

"And what is this?" Jack Carlin, the receptionist asked, leaning up against the wall. He stared right at Katherine.

"Oh, my roommate, Emmie...Emmeline, I mean...she was feeling really queasy back home, and Nurse R. said I could take a few mints home for her, just to see if that helps. She said to bring her down if it gets worse."

Jack smiled a smile that made Katherine sigh a sigh of relief. He believed her. At least he made it seem like it.

"Go ahead. I'll keep an eye out for her."

"Thank you." Katherine smiled. She scooped up another handful or two of the low calorie candy drops as she quickly rushed out of the nurses' office.

Jack didn't know about the stash in her purse, however.

~~~~~

Part two or something later...I'm too tired right now x