Josey barely got to sleep and Megan woke her up, “Aren’t you supposed to be awake and with Stacy.” Trying to wake up, Josey made her way to the dance arena.”

Stacy said when she arrived, “I didn’t expect you for another twenty minutes. I’m proud you’re open to learning. “

Stacy had a list of words and terms like demi-plié, Arabesque, Chassé – a traveling step, and ballare the Italian word from which ballet comes that Josey was to research and learn. Josey soon found a student book and began her studies. A half-hour later Stacy stopped Josey and she learned the words; Stacy had Josey enact the movements with the words. When Josey asked why; Stacy said, “You’ve been stumbling through the first week. Ballet has its own language and understanding that helps you to learn ballet. You’ve been exposed to this during the first week, along with the three weeks Megan helped you prepare for camp. You should be way ahead of where you are. You fighting against suggestions from others has kept you from growing like you could.”

Saturday afternoon, Josey was excited and said it was like putting a jigsaw picture together. Stacy had Josey put on a new panty and tutu. She enjoyed putting steps together first as she wished and then to Stacy’s playing music. The music had drawn Megan, Cyndi, and others. Josey was surprised at the end when her audience applauded.

Josey thanked Megan for helping her before coming to camp. She told Megan, “You helped me to get ready for Camp, but worked against some of what you taught me. It’s more fun since Stacy chided me and helped put the words, instruction, and dance together.”

Megan said, “It looks like you were enjoying dancing. Your steps were more fluid.”

Josey asked, “Instead of going to dinner please dance with me?”

Megan said, “We could do that or after Sunday dinner, we could put on some leggings and a top and enjoy dancing among the fireflies.”

“Would you do something silly like that for me,” Josey asked.

Heather who was close by said, “It’s a fun thing we like to do on weekends. For us it’s not about you but something we regularly do. Would you mind a small group being with you? We could go to another part of the camp if you’d rather not have the rest of us.”

Josey said, “I’d like to become part of the group.”

Sunday morning nearly half of the group went to two churches in the community. Josey went to the Methodist Church but was anxious someone might have a problem with a transgirl being there. Joey liked singing but didn’t know if Josey’s voice would give her away. She sang but stopped when a woman in front of her turned around. “Darling with that voice you should be singing out.” Josey thanked her for the compliment but kept singing the way she had been.

Michael Hames one of the male ballet dancers sat near her; he introduced himself during the passing of the peace. They talked after the service. Michael asked, “How many times have you been lifted during a ballet? I saw you from a distance, dancing to your heart’s content last night. You have a good heart for dance and music. When it comes time, I would like to dance with you.”

Josey felt her heart miss a beat; she was unable to speak at first. “That is a nice compliment, but it may be a while before Ms. Walters thinks I’ll be ready for more than simple steps.”

Michael said, “I don’t think so, Ms. Walters asked me if I would be willing. She said though you are a novice, she wanted to try to bring you further along sometime this summer.”

“But I’m not sure how one goes about being in sync with another dancer,” Josey said. “I wouldn’t want you to get hurt if I mess up.”

Megan who was next to her giggled; Michael said, “Once we’re in sync as you put it; I believe we’ll be able to do it.”

Megan said to Michael, “You mentioned that possibility too early. Please let me talk to Josey; she has enough to think about. She needed to focus on things one at a time, or she would become overwhelmed. Thank you.”

Megan turned to Josey, “Let’s get going, you can ride with me.”

Megan talked privately with Josey about needing good hygiene in her privates. It embarrassed Josey, but fortunately, Megan helped her. Megan said Josey needs to plan and be sure she finds time to keep herself clean.

Megan found it easy to change the subject, by talking about how well Josey was doing. “It appears, Stacy’s time with you helped you along.”

Josey, “She had my number and wasn’t shy in calling me to task. I was set to take a stand, but the way she explained it; I found myself learning and doing it as she showed me. I know I have much to learn. And don’t be surprised when I have one of my fits. This might be a big change, but it’s not a miraculous miracle.” We both had a good giggling fit.

Come morning Aunt Beth and Joy had trouble holding their composure when Josey appeared as a different camper. Beth told Anna Roche Josey’s instructor for the morning, “Stay with your group throughout the day, and focus on the experienced ballet dancers bringing the novices along at a faster pace. I sense there is a willing spirit open to learning through that.”

Anna was happy to be given such an assignment. “Megan, I want you to pair with Josey and the others, who are experienced to pair with a younger or less experienced dancer. You will lead the younger ones by example and assess which profit from this come lunchtime.”

Megan took me and the other experienced ballerinas took another dancer who they could relate to. First, we did our stretches and the five positions over again. I was doing things better by following her lead. Then she did five to ten choreographed steps and I did what she did. She’d watch and show me how to do them better. Finally, she put twenty steps together and I was soon able to do it to her satisfaction. The hardest to do was an arabesque as I turned. I was sure I did something wrong, but Megan complimented me. The third time Anna Roche complimented the both of us.

“Megan, you make a good leader; I’d have been pleased if she could do that early next week. I’ll take Josey and the others after lunch; focus on improving yourself after lunch by doing parts as choreographed in Swan Lake.

I was exhausted, and in need of the break come lunchtime. Aunt Beth, Anna Roche, and Megan met after lunch. I washed and napped.

I loved Anna Roche’s French accent as she worked with me in the afternoon. Anna had me practicing moves to dance, but I did not know which ballet I was dancing to. We had rehearsed again; we had lost track of time until Megan called us. “You need to stop and get ready for supper or you’ll be late.”

Anna asked, “Could you watch Josey once before we stop?” Without waiting for Megan’s response she began the music.

Josey hesitated and said, “But…” Anne started the music again, and Josey began to dance. Josey had to concentrate and kept Megan out of focus as she danced. The piece was about over and Josey was pleased she remembered the steps. Anne and Megan clapped, and Josey asked, “Did I do well?”

Megan turned to Anna, “You introduced her to a part from the Nutcracker?”

Anna said, “I was sure she would not recognize it. And with her relaxed, she followed the steps as I showed her. We got lost in time and she accomplished much.”

“The Nutcracker, I heard of that, but where was the march of the soldiers?” asked Josey.

“You were given that piece of the music,” Megan told her. “You shouldn’t have been ready for it.”

Anna said, “You and she shouldn’t have accomplished what you did this morning. Josey didn’t know how much she was tackling. She is good at following what we show her. Enough for now; it’s the end and we need to get ready for dinner.”

Josey took a shower and was soon ready for dinner. Aunt Beth called Josey saying, “I heard you had an amazing day Josey.”

Josey instead of saying ‘Thanks,’ she said, “I’m in over my head. Things are going well, too well. Megan and Anna Roche both had me dancing; dancing I shouldn’t be able to do. If tomorrow they expect me to do that I’m afraid I won’t be able. Help me, Aunt Beth.”

Beth said, “You have dinner with the others and I’ll find you around 8 p.m., we’ll talk then. You should celebrate what you did.”

Dinner was vegetable stir with chicken and rice; none of the tasty sauce. Josey looked at her reflection as she left the cafeteria. She saw a thin ballerina; Josey was pleased, Joey not so much. She went up on her toes to see if she could. She couldn’t sustain being on her toes. Stacy saw her, “You’re coming along, you’ll get there.”

Josey said, “Not that important as that I was dancing as a ballerina. You were right, there are tricks but dancing to learn. Something has changed in me. You helped me to change.”

Stacy had Josey stop with her as they sat on a bench along the path. Stacy said, “You have changed, but how did I help?”

Josey had to pause and think, “I was doing what I had to, you helped me to see a larger picture. I was looking for a trick; you gave me the language of ballet. You changed me.”

Stacy asked, “Do you like ballet more now?” Josey stood up and was ready to cry as Stacy took her time standing up. Josey hugged Stacy and wept in her arms. They were sitting again as a group surrounded them. “I’m not used to how girls care and show feelings.”

Someone said, “You’re one of us, what aren’t you used to?” Neither Josey, Stacy, nor Megan knew how to explain what she said.

Once back to her room with Megan, “It’s true they don’t know who I am.”

There was a knock on the door, Beth was there. Beth asked, “Josey, when did you find the poise of a ballerina? It’s not that of a novice.”

Josey’s voice still cracked from tears in the way. “Weren’t you the one who instructed them how to treat me? You wanted to see if I changed. You expected I had.”

Aunt Beth smiled, “I was hoping you’d become a ballerina, but not this soon. We’re early into camp. I’m happy for you.”

Josey said, “But being Josey, a ballerina, someone who belongs here is becoming real to me. What kind of boy feels like this?”

After Aunt Beth left to go to her bungalow, Josey changed into shorts and a top. She went down to their community room; wanting to talk about what others had done. Jenny talked with Josey, saying the fun she had was learning to jump in anticipation of someone catching her. “Finally, I jumped and Stacy caught me and I twirled as she sat down.”

Josey was able to picture the sequence and sensed the joy that Jenny felt. Josey thought back to her day and was moved more deeply by what she had done. She joined other girls watching the Nutcracker. When she recognized the ballet she had done today; she was in awe of what she accomplished.

She showered, preparing to go to bed. Megan and she visited until both tired and were ready to sleep. The lights went out, and sleep overcame Josey. She was a ballerina in her dream, and Michael Hames was her partner. She was soaring over him as she felt his hands on her waist and thigh. She liked his touch but realized she was just another ballerina to him.

The camp had progressed into July, and Josey’s Mom had come over the 4th of July celebration unannounced; Aunt Beth had pointed out Josey, but Josey’s Mom didn’t recognize her. Finally, Beth brought Jennifer to Josey and said Jennifer let me introduce you to our rising star Josey Anders.

Jennifer said to Josey, “How can it be? You’re one of the experienced girls. I saw the last of what you did and was taken back.” She collected herself, “Josey, were you practicing with Megan more than I knew?”

Once over the surprise that her Mother was here, Josey became conscious of herself being in tights and a tutu. “I’m embarrassed Mom; I should have been better dressed.”

Mom stepped forward and hugged her, “You’re a ballerina; I’m a little surprised by how much you look like my daughter, not my son.”

Beth said, “She’s been part of our group showing those from the community about ballet…”

Story to be Continued…