Gleam (H.S.)

Chapter 1

The dim starlight momentarily blinded my eyesight as I stepped out from the light of the entertainment house. The dance had gone well, I suppose. As it should; we had rehearsed weeks upon weeks to perfect the complex movements given to us. My instructor, Lee Timbere, was a very well known teacher around here in the quiet town of Manor. We liked our entertainment just as much as the men enjoyed their beer, the women adored their pearls, and the children craved those chocolate sweets given on Sunday nights.

I started on my way down the concrete path to my home. My steps grew faster as I imagined the steamy bath I plan to take once I reach my bedroom. The muscles adoring my calves and thighs are still burning sore due to the performance that had finished not too long ago.

The crowd was roused tonight. More than so usual, I would say. For yet a reason still unclear; perhaps their was a celebration of some sort. Not like I would know anyways. I never paid enough attention to the newest of news happening around in these parts of South Carolina. Nothing too exciting ever happens anyway. Mrs. Lou's cat ran away; Noah Ricker, the son of Joshua Ricker was hospitalized in a rumble taking place in the South part town; Sarah Tufa's maid stole a necklace of hers. Towns gossip has never sparked an interest of mine.

My Mother swears she had done something wrong somewhere in the past seventeen years raising me; because I never seem to want any part of her tea sessions with the other ladies around in the North parts of town. Says something must have gone dreadfully wrong for me to not want to even sit with the "most graceful women in Manor".

Personally, I have some real colorful words for all seven of those dreadful, slithering women.

My ears perk up as a hear my one good friend, Anne Smitt, call my name out loud for all to accidentally hear.

"Rettie! Wait up!" She hollers.

Anne has been my friend since birth. Our Mothers had met during a summer dance school when they were merely sixteen years of age. Since then they had gotten married and conveniently both had daughters just two years apart. Anne had been my guidance throughout many things. Due to her being two years older than I, she aided me and helped guide me throughout my first year of Dance Academy when I reached the age of six. She, already joined in two years prior, never let me fall back and pushed me harder when I couldn't keep up with the older girls. Anne is like a sister to me; a loud, bubbly sister at that.

I turn around, slowing down my pace to allow the redhead to catch up with me. She stops at my side and joins my steady pace, adjusting her bag on her shoulder; most likely filled with her dance materials from the show.

"Phew, what hurry are you in? My dear! You ran faster out of that dressing room than a rabbit try'na escape a wolf catch!" She laughs while flicking a scarlet curl that had fallen in front of her freckled face.

"I was just excited to get home," I laugh casually. I was excited to get back home and bask in the comforts of my own room; but the main reason for fleeing so quickly out of the building after the show was more so due to the other girls in the show. After every performance the girls seem to find entertainment in watching the young men who come to find themselves some entertainment in us dancers and refreshments after a long week.

I have never really fit in with the other girls at the studio, for clear reasons too. I mean, on stage we seem to get along just fine; but off stage is where they like to talk just like all the other women growing up in Manor.

"Yeah yeah," she waves her hand carelessly. "Well, anyway I was going ta' tell you about my latest discovery before you decided it was a grand idea to hurry on outta' there in the blink of an eye!" She half-scolded me.