This is the sequel to His Secret. I originally wrote the stories in 2007-08 when the Iraq war was still raging. Thanks again to Patricia Allen for the proofing.
Chapter 1
It had been an unusual Christmas.
Two families sharing a house. Two families in the process of healing.
One family trying to overcome the death of a father who died of cancer a couple of years before. Another trying to heal from a father out of control and a marriage that fell apart.
After a few weeks, they seemed to becoming a patchwork family unit, one that was in the process of celebrating the holidays as best it could.
Kyle stared at the ceiling of what was once his good friend -sudden dance partner Olivia's father's study while his mother and Olivia's mother were preparing the Christmas meal.
He was still in the process of converting it into what was going to be his tiny, cluttered refuge for the next few months.
"Knock, knock," he heard Olivia say before she slowly opened the door.
"Come on in," he said.
"Still say this room needs more of a woman's touch," Olivia said with a smile.
"What part of this house doesn't have a woman's touch?" Kyle said, rolling his eyes.
"I know ... too much estrogen," Olivia said, picking at Kyle. "But you love us, you really do!!!"
"Yeah I do," Kyle said, taking a slightly serious tune. He was the lone male in a home with two mothers and four sisters, which in itself was proving a challenge.
"So what's up?" he asked.
"Our moms want us in the kitchen to help them with Christmas dinner," Olivia said. "Madame Kathryn will be here any minute. Claire's also coming over to get the gift we got her before she goes to see her dad at the base."
"Tell them I'll be down in a minute," Kyle said.
Staying at the Whites' house had been good for his mom, he thought. It was also good for Olivia's mom, too. They had each other to lean on during what was a tough time for both.
His sisters, well they fit right in with Olivia's, screaming all the time and doing their best to annoy their older siblings.
His relationship with Olivia had taken a much different turn, one he never really expected.
He was one of many boys in the seventh grade who had a crush on the incredibly popular eighth grade cheerleader.
He now looked on her as a close friend, an older sister and a mentor. He had grown closer to her than even his friendship with Beth, or Justin or Alex, which in turn also made him a closer friend with Claire.
He shared with Olivia about the girls he liked and even admitted he had a crush on Emilee. She talked to him about the boys she liked and what she thought were good traits she looked for.
She opened his eyes to different styles of music, books, movies and even art. He did his best to "educate her" on gaming and sports. She had gotten him involved with the youth group praise and drama teams at church.
Their biggest link was their passion for dance, especially ballet. They often went up into the rec room upstairs and try to choreograph and even got their sisters involved.
"Oh there you are," his mother said when he finally ended his time of reflection and came down to the kitchen. "Help Olivia get the turkey out of the oven."
Chapter 2
"That's a really nice job, thanks for all the help," Olivia's mother said, looking at the nicely set table. "As soon as Kathryn gets here, we'll be ready to eat."
It turned out to be perfect timing. The doorbell rang at exactly the time their guest of honor said she would arrive.
"She's never late," Olivia said. "That's why she fusses at us if we are ever late for class."
Kyle was there to open the door.
"Why thank you Kyle, you are a perfect gentleman," Madame Kathryn said, handing him a stack of presents to place under the tree.
"Kathryn, we are so glad you could come," Kyle's mother said, showing her to the dining room.
"My, this all looks really nice," she said. "Thank you for inviting me."
Inviting their dance teacher was Olivia's mother's idea. Madame Kathryn's son was a missionary living in Kenya. She had no other family living close by.
Kyle pulled out her chair at the table.
"Thank you again, you have such good manners today," she said.
"We've been working on that, haven't we Kyle?" Olivia said with a wink.
"Kyle, would you mind saying grace?" Olivia's mother asked as they prepared to eat.
"Yes, ma'am," he said. "Heavenly Father, we thank you for the food we are about to eat and for the many blessings you've given us. Amen."
"Short and to the point, Kyle," Madame Kathryn said with a smile.
She inquired about how Kyle's mother was doing trying to get their life back in order.
"It's been difficult," Judith Thornton said. "Since Bill set fire to the house, the insurance company isn't going to pay to have it restored. We're having to sell the property to take care of all the bills we owe."
"It's been slow going finding another place to live," she continued. "Abby's insisted we continue to stay here to keep from having to pay for an apartment while we try to put some money away and get everything finalized. With what Bill did, the financing process is going to be a bit slow."
"I've told them not to rush," Olivia's mother chimed in. "We've enjoyed having them here. They've helped us as much as we've helped them."
The conversation soon turned to dance.
"I have some interesting news," Madame Kathryn said, looking over at Olivia and Kyle. "A friend of mine, Christina Carlton, is the head of the dance department at Concordia College. She saw our production of the Nutcracker and was very impressed with some of my students."
"Kathryn, that's wonderful," Olivia's mother said.
"She is forming a youth company to dance with her college company," Madame Kathryn said. "She's extended an invitation to Olivia, Claire, Eva and Kyle. Kyle, she was amazed you've only been dancing for a few months."
"Wow! Can you believe that?" Olivia said, elbowing her friend.
Kyle was stunned.
"What all would be involved?" Kyle's mother asked.
Madame Kathryn informed them rehearsals and classes would be every Saturday morning.
"It would mean a lot of dedication and sacrifice," she said. "It will be a lot of hard work, especially for Kyle since he doesn't have much experience. I don't want to bring you along too quickly that we cut corners and develop bad habits."
Rehearsals would start in mid-January.
"Your classes at school with Marie will really help," Madame Kathryn told Olivia and Kyle. "I may even throw in a few more classes, if we need to. But I want to make sure you won't be sacrificing too much that it hurts your school work."
Kyle and Olivia both admitted it was a bit overwhelming news.
"Wait until Claire hears about this," Olivia told Madame Kathryn. "She's coming over this afternoon."
Chapter 3
It was a quiet ride to Camp Shelby. The only noise in the Thompson's car was the music coming from the CD player.
"You know, we're going to have to put on our best face for dad," Gayle Thompson told her oldest daughter, Claire. "You're going to have to be strong for your sister and brother."
"I know, mom," Claire said, sounding a bit downcast.
It wasn't easy to do.
Their father's departure for Iraq put a dark cloud over what had been an exciting Christmas break. The Nutcracker was fun. Claire enjoyed her gift from Olivia and Kyle, an art set that she really wanted.
The chance to join a junior company connected to a respected college dance program was exciting.
But all of that took a back seat. Claire was really concerned about her father.
"Why do you have to go?" she asked him when he found out a few weeks ago that he was going back to Iraq for a third time.
"I'm a Guardsman, it's my duty," he told her. "You should be proud of me, just as I'm proud of you every time you dance on stage."
"I am dad," she told him as they hugged.
But she feared he wouldn't be coming back. His best friend died when they ran over a roadside bomb during his last deployment.
She also remembered how Olivia felt when her father died of cancer. It was a feeling she never wanted to experience.
She tried to be upbeat as they pulled into the parking lot at the gym. She knew the routine pretty well.
There were the decorations of red, white and blue. There were the speeches by government officials and the unit commander. There was the meal with other families before the departure.
"Your mother told me you have a chance to join a junior ballet company," Steve Thompson said to his daughter. "You must be excited."
"Yeah, dad," she said. "I wished you could be here to see me perform."
"There will be other performances," he assured her. "I was proud of you during Nutcracker. I'll only be gone a year."
Her father then told her mother he would be going to Kuwait first. It would be a few weeks before he would actually deploy in Iraq. He wasn't allowed to tell her where.
She and Claire both knew it would be a dangerous assignment. He was a captain in an MP unit and part of their assignment would be training Iraqi policemen.
Claire put her arm around her mother and held her brother's hand as her father's bus pulled out, heading to the air base where they would make their flight around the world.
She tried not to cry. So did her mother. It didn't work. Both broke down as they returned to the car.
As they began the journey home, Claire called Olivia and Kyle on her cell phone.
Chapter 4
Kyle changed in the boys' bathroom in the auxiliary gym and rushed into the classroom.
"Glad you could join us, slow poke," Miss Arceneaux said as he rushed to put his shoes on. "Hurry and take your place at the barre.
He slid into his familiar spot between Beth and Emilee, which brought a smile from Olivia.
"He's invited Emilee to have dinner with us," Olivia whispered to Claire. "They're also supposed to go to the movies together."
"You know, they are cute together," Claire whispered back.
"Claire, Olivia, is there something you'd like to share with the rest of the class?" Miss Arceneaux said, bringing nods of "no" from the two girls.
"If not, then let's get started," she said. "Ladies and gentleman, first positions. We'll start with a demi-plie and releve, demi then grande. Port de bras forward and back. In second, demi, releve, demi, grande and toward the barre..."
Kyle was glad to be back in class. He wasn't the only one. For Claire, it was also an escape, although she still had trouble concentrating.
"Claire, darling, focus," Miss Arceneaux said, very aware she was distracted.
Miss Arceneaux kept things simple in the first class back from Christmas break. But she still kept a watchful eye.
"Kyle, you can do a better job pointing your foot on those tendus," she said as they went through exercises of tendus, degagges, ron de jombres and grande battements.
"Beth, I want a little better turnout in second," she said. "A little bit higher on demi-point, Emilee."
They appreciated the scrutiny. They also appreciated the challenge.
"All of you can be a little cleaner," Miss Arceneaux said when they executed a jete, jete, pas de bouree, assemblee combination facing the barre.
The class ended with a flourish, including something Kyle had never heard of.
"What's a lame duck?" he asked his teacher as they prepared for a combination across the floor that also included pique turns.
The class always seemed to go too fast.
"Good job for a first day back," Miss Arceneaux said when they finished up with Kyle doing a bow and the girls curtsies.
"I need all of you to stay for a few minutes," she said as they took their seats on a bench on a side wall.
She informed the class that the principal was pleased the class was going well and then passed out a note to each member of the class.
"She wants us to do an end of the year performance," she said.
"You mean here, in front of the whole school?" Kyle asked, staring down at the sheet, which detailed what dance they were going to perform and costume information.
"Yes, is that a problem?" Miss Arceneaux asked.
He shook his head no. But still, there was a feeling of fear.
"You've performed in the Nutcracker, why is this a big deal?" Olivia whispered.
"That wasn't in front of the whole school," Kyle whispered back.
Chapter 5
"You look nice, she'll be very impressed," Olivia said as Kyle looked at himself in the mirror.
It startled him. He didn't know she was there. He was a little embarrassed. But he wanted to look nice for Emilee.
"She's downstairs, Claire's here, too," Olivia said. "Mom said dinner's almost ready."
"Don't you guys think you're overdoing this a bit?" Kyle said.
It seemed the whole household was making a big deal about his "first date,” although it didn't entirely feel like one. Olivia and Claire were also going. They were going to meet a couple of boys from school at the movies.
Deep down, he couldn't admit he was actually excited about it. It was Olivia's idea. She came up with it as soon as he confided in her that he liked Emilee.
Kyle pulled the chair out for Emilee when they entered the dining room. He stammered for words to say.
"I think you look pretty awesome," he told her. He felt it came out a little awkward.
"I think you look pretty nice, too," Emilee said.
"I think he dresses up pretty well, doesn't he?" Olivia asked.
"Oh, stop it, you're embarrassing him," Olivia's mother said.
"Well, he does look pretty nice," Emilee responded. "It's another side of you I haven't seen. You look so different than when you're wearing regular school clothes."
"Or wearing a tee-shirt, tights and covered with sweat," Claire said, leaning over to Emilee.
"This is what it's like all the time," Kyle said. "I'm so outnumbered."
"He gets teased a lot around here," Kyle's mom said.
"Don't worry, I like that look in you best," Emilee said, trying to reassure Kyle.
"This all looks pretty nice," Emilee said, looking at the meal of spaghetti, bread and salad.
"Believe it or not, Olivia and Kyle made it," Kyle's mother said.
"Actually, it was more Olivia than me," Kyle said.
"He actually did more than he lets on," Olivia said. "I'm trying to teach him some culinary skills. I told him it will be useful when he's all alone dancing professionally."
"Somehow, I don't believe he'll be alone," Claire said. "Somehow, I get the impression we're all going to living in some loft together in New York."
"That's her dream, at least," Kyle told Emilee.
"So is that your dream, to be a professional dancer?" Emilee said.
"I dunno," Kyle said. "That's too much in the future. I haven't been dancing that long. I'm nowhere near as good as Olivia and Claire."
"Don't let him fool ya," Olivia said. "I know his ambitions. He's the only boy I know with posters of Peyton Manning, Tiger Woods...and Paloma Herrera and Darcy Bussell on his wall."
"The Paloma and Darcy posters were actually Olivia's idea," Kyle said. "But she's got me. I'm going to be a professional football player, golfer and a dancer."
"Cute, very cute," Olivia said.
The conversation then took a more serious turn.
"So Claire, have you heard from your dad?" Kyle's mom asked.
"Oh yeah, they're in Kuwait now," Claire said. "We talked with him around three this morning."
"How are you guys making it?" Olivia's mom asked.
"Well, it's tough," Claire said. "When he gets to Iraq, mom will have the TV on CNN all the time. She doesn't get much sleep. I probably won't either, this time. It's really tough on my brother. Dad would play ball in the yard with him all the time. He misses that."
"You know, you guys coming along on this date-thing is probably a good idea," Kyle leaned over, whispering to Olivia.
"Yeah, I thought it would be good for her, too," Olivia said.
Chapter 6
Kyle was hoping no one was looking when reached over to hold Emilee’s hand during the movie. It made him feel good when Emilee squeezed his hand and leaned over by his seat.
"It's a good movie, don't you think," she whispered. "I know you're glad it's not a chick flick."
Much to Kyle's surprise, Olivia the matchmaker actually picked National Treasure 2.
"Yeah it is," he said and looked over at Olivia, who winked and nodded as if to give her approval that they were holding hands.
"They're so cute together," Olivia whispered to Claire.
"I'm afraid we're being watched," Kyle whispered to Emilee.
"Well that's okay," Emilee said.
They still had some time left over after the movie before Olivia's mother was supposed to pick them up. Olivia's and Claire's dates suggested they go the Starbucks next to the Theater to hang out.
"So what do you think of Eric and Daniel?" Olivia asked Kyle as they were walking.
"They seem really cool," Kyle said.
Eric Russell was Olivia's date. Daniel Stephenson was Claire's. Like Olivia and Claire, they were in the eighth grade. Both were star players on the football and basketball teams.
"You know you're going to put us to shame," Eric joked with Kyle when Kyle opened the door for the girls and pulled out Emilee's seat for her when they sat down.
"I don't mean to be doing that," Kyle said.
"Don't apologize for being a gentleman," Claire said with a laugh.
Eric and Daniel seemed to take a lot of interest in the fact that Kyle took ballet.
"So you are the only guy dancing in there with all of those girls?" Daniel asked.
"Most of the time," Kyle said. "There were a couple of other guys in the Nutcracker. And there probably will be some other guys when we go to Concordia for junior company."
"So what is it like?" Eric said.
"It was awkward at first, I do admit," Kyle said. "But the girls are really cool about it."
"We think it’s very cool that he is in there with us," Olivia said.
"So do you still get picked on at school?" Daniel asked.
"Yeah, some," Kyle said. "But it's gotten a little better."
He didn't tell them he wasn't exactly thrilled they would be performing in front of the whole school at the end of the year.
"You are one brave dude," Eric said.
"My dad says Kyle is the bravest guy he knows," Claire said.
Kyle was kind of shocked. He took it as a compliment.
"Your dad is the bravest guy I know," Kyle said. "Especially since he is going to Iraq."
"So Emilee, are you jealous that Kyle and Olivia are partners," Eric said, halfway joking, but interested in Emilee's response.
"Well a little, but I'm cool with it," Emilee said.
"I'm not the only one Kyle partners," Olivia said. "He also partners Claire and Eva. When Emilee goes en pointe, he'll probably partner her, too."
"Dude, how do you get to partner so many girls?" Daniel asked.
"I'm the only guy in class," Kyle said. "We work on partnering after Madame Kathryn's classes during the week. But really, we're just getting started. I'm not really that good at it."
"Oh, he's pulling your leg," Claire said. "Madame Kathryn says he and Olivia are two of the most talented students she's ever had. That's why he partners Olivia the most. They’re going to do a little pas de deux in our show at school."
"You're not jealous, are you Eric?" Emilee said, her chance to get back at him for asking her that question.
"Well, maybe so," he said. "But if you're cool with it Emilee, so am I."
"You know Kyle, if you get to partner all of those girls, maybe Eric and I should try ballet," Daniel said.
Eric was shaking his head no and was hoping his friend was kidding.
"What's wrong, chicken?" Olivia giggled.
"Oh, they're not man enough to do it," Claire said.
"I've got to admit you are right on that one," Daniel said. "Seriously Kyle, you've got our respect. For a seventh grader, you're pretty cool."
Just then, Olivia's mother's van pulled up.
"Alas, our carriage awaits," Olivia said in a fake English accent. "Eric, would you be a dear and hold the door for us."
"Well, Kyle isn't the only one who can be a gentleman," Eric said.
Chapter 7
"You're doing fine," Olivia whispered as Kyle held her waist.
"Easy for you to say," Kyle thought as he turned her.
The pas de deux work they were doing was pretty simple. He wasn't experienced enough, or had progressed enough to do the complicated stuff.
That, in the words of Madame Kathryn, would come later.
But this was the most detailed work they had done, the most intense. They also had an audience.
Claire and Eva were awaiting their turns. Beth and Emilee were allowed to sit in on the class.
But the most important pair of eyes were Made Kathryn's. Every little move they made was analyzed. No one else was dancing.
All eyes were on them.
"You can breathe, Kyle," Madame Kathryn said, knowing her student was in deep concentration on what they were trying to do.
He tried his best not to drop Olivia. Or slip, or do anything else to embarrass himself. He wanted to make sure he held her hand right when he needed to.
It helped that Olivia knew how do guide him. They moved in concert with one another.
"You've got to admit, they do dance very well together," Emilee whispered to Beth.
"They're very beautiful, I can't wait until we're able to do it," Beth whispered back.
Kyle spent most of the time working with Olivia, although he tried his best when it came time to work Claire and Eva. For some reason, things went a little better with Olivia. She seemed lighter.
But he didn't say anything.
"One reason you worked more with Olivia is that you'll be dancing with her during your school show and during our recital at the end of the year," Madame Kathryn said. "What you'll be doing in your school show will be part of what we're going to be doing at the recital. I want to make things easier."
He appreciated it. So did the girls. A lot of what they were going to be working on would get them ready for the two shows.
After the class was over, she called Kyle, Olivia and Claire into her office.
"So you're going to Concordia on Saturday?" she asked.
"Yes, we're really excited about it," Olivia said.
"Good!" Madame Kathryn said. "You'll get good teaching. It will give you a chance to be around and work with some very talented dancers, especially the ones involved in the college program. I know it will be a good experience for you, Kyle."
The partnering work was the end of a very fun, intense class. Homework awaited.
"So how was class?" Olivia's mom asked after Olivia and Kyle finished changing and headed for her car.
"It was pretty intense, really cool," Kyle said.
"We're worked some on our pas de deux, mom," Olivia said. "He did great."
"Speaking of which, Kyle, your mom and I are working on both of your costumes," Abby White said. "We want to make sure you two match."
"That will be cool," Olivia said. "Your tunic will match my tutu."
"Oh yeah, Olivia, Janice Walker called," her mother said. "She wants to know if you want to teach at the community center. It's going to be a lot of work, especially since it will take up your Saturday with you guys at Concordia College in the mornings."
"Tell her I still want to do it," Olivia said.
"I didn't know you teach," Kyle said.
"It's a class of under privileged kids around 6 or 7," Olivia said. "I teach them a little basic ballet and jazz. It's really fun, which is why I want to do it. It's also the reason I'm drafting you to help."
"Drafting me?" Kyle said. "What if I had plans to get together with Justin or Alex after we're done with junior company work?"
"Well, it's only for a couple of hours," Olivia said. "Besides, there's money involved."
"So we get paid to do it?" Kyle said.
"Yup, getting paid for something you like to do," Olivia said. "What a concept, huh?"
Chapter 8
“Wow!” Olivia said as she, Claire and Kyle stood in the Concordia College dance studio.
It didn’t have that old, been there for years look like the studio at Madame Kathryn’s. It didn’t have that let’s convert this room into a ballet classroom look like the room in the auxiliary gym at school.
The room was new. It was state-of-the-art. The floor was wooden. The barres and the mirrors were nice.
“Ladies, your dressing room is right over there,” said Christina Carlton, pointing to a door that led into the classroom. “Kyle, your dressing room is over there.”
Kyle was impressed. He changed in a storage room at Madame Kathryn’s. He didn’t have to race from a locker-room or change in the bathroom like he did at school.
He walked into a room with lockers and showers.
“How’s it goin?” said a boy close to his age. “I’m Nick Carlton.”
He was the son of the head of the dance department.
Suddenly, two more guys walked in. They were college students. They introduced themselves as Eric and Aaron.
They seemed like normal guys, Kyle thought, as they changed.
The class was pretty full. Dancers from the college company made up more than half of the class. Dancers invited to be part of the youth company were from all over the area. Nick and Kyle were the only boys in the youth company.
Ms. Carlton put them all through intense warm-ups. It was only the beginning. The class itself was a lot more intense. Kyle, Olivia and Claire marveled at the ability of the college dancers. They were incredible.
Kyle and Claire were amazed at Olivia. She seemed to hang right in there with the college students.
Ms. Carlton divided the class into girls and boys, each group doing different things. The boys concentrated on leaps and jumps.
Kyle was amazed at Nick, Eric and Aaron. They seemed to soar when they did grande jetes. All three spun like tops doing pirouettes. They did multiple ones with ease.
Kyle, on the other hand, felt like he had two-left feet compared to his colleagues.
“Don’t let it bother you,” Eric said. “I was a late starter like you.”
Kyle was impressed. Eric was the best of them all.
“You also have to remember that Ms. Carlton had Nick dancing before he could walk,” Eric said. “You wouldn’t be here if Ms. Carlton didn’t think you could dance.”
They took a break. Ms. Carlton took a few minutes to lecture on nutrition.
“I’m not big into over-thin dancers,” she said. “I want you to eat healthy.”
She advised them on what exercises to do, recommending Pilates.
“I also want you to balance your dancing with your studies,” Ms. Carlton said. “I know many of you who are here for the youth company dance several nights a week. But if you struggle with your grades, you will not be allowed to participate. It is also important that you have enough free time.”
Class resumed with pas de deux work. Kyle worked with both Olivia and Claire. He also watched in wonder as Eric and Aaron worked with their partners. They seemed to really work in unison.
They were all exhausted and sweaty when it was over.
“Thank you for all of the hard work,” Ms. Carlton told them. She then informed them they would be working toward a performance that included several small pieces. “It’s going to take a lot of dedication.”
Kyle waited for Olivia and Claire to get changed before leaving. Olivia’s mother would be taking them home.
“Kyle, I want to talk to you,” Ms. Carlton said.
He was extremely nervous. What if she changed her mind about him? What if he really wasn’t ready?
“How did you feel during class?” she asked.
He didn’t know how to respond. How could he say he was a little overwhelmed? But he told her the truth.
“You should never compare yourselves to them,” Ms. Carlton said about Nick, Eric and Aaron. “I know you have been only dancing for a few months. I want you to relax. I’m not going to ask you to do more than what I think you can do. I see enormous potential in you. You have more talent, I believe, than Nick, Eric or Aaron. But don’t tell them I said that.”
“Thanks, Ms. Carlton,” Kyle said.
“Well, are we ready to go?” Olivia said as she and Claire emerged from the locker-room.
“I guess so,” Kyle said.
Olivia’s mother dropped Claire off first. She then pulled into the parking lot at the community center.
“Have a good time, you two,” she said.
“The girls are waiting on you,” a woman said as Kyle and Olivia entered the building.
“Let’s go change,” Olivia said.
Kyle thought it was funny. He just got through changing at Concordia College. Now he was changing back into his dance clothes.
He entered the room where 10 girls aged 6-to-10 were decked out in an assortment of leotards and tutus.
Olivia introduced herself and Kyle to the girls. They went around the room getting names.
Olivia then popped in the music and led the girls in basic ballet steps, with Kyle also demonstrating. The girls giggled at the sight of being taught by a boy. Kyle admitted it was fun.
“I just wanted to tell you that my daughter thinks it’s cool she has a boy for a teacher,” one of the mothers said as Kyle walked out in street clothes.
“Thank you,” he said.
“Told you it would be fun,” Olivia said as they collected their money.
“Nothing like making money for something you like to do,” Kyle joked.
“So Kyle, you think one of these days you would want to teach, I mean after we dance professionally?” Olivia said.
“You know, I could get used to the idea,” he said.
Part two of three. Thanks again to Patricia for the proofing.
Chapter 9
Dancing professionally, teaching and choreography were never really career goals Kyle had even thought about a few months ago.
His mother threw out things like being a doctor, a lawyer or even an engineer. He had the grades to think about those things in the future. Those were the type of jobs that pulled in “a lot of money”, his mother always said.
He also thought about teaching, regular school teaching. That was the career Ms. Arceneaux settled on after she was through dancing professionally. He really admired her.
But he also admired Madame Kathryn and Ms. Carlton. That had pretty fun jobs, too.
“So you really enjoyed teaching those kids?” his mother asked.
“Yeah, mom, it was pretty fun,” Kyle said.
“He did a really good job teaching them, too,” Olivia said.
“You were the one who was doing most of the teaching,” Kyle said. “I was just demonstrating what she wanted them to do.”
“He always sells himself short,” Olivia said. “The girls loved him.”
Kyle’s mom told the two she and Olivia’s mom were concerned they had too much on their plate.
They danced five days a week. They had ballet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at school with Ms. Arceneaux. They had ballet classes at Madame Kathryn’s on Mondays and Wednesdays, with jazz on Thursday night. Participating in Youth Company at Concordia College would now be taking up their Saturdays, along with teaching at the community center.
“We still have Fridays and Sundays off,” Olivia replied. “Tuesdays aren’t bad since our ballet class is at school. Besides, I’m giving up cheerleading after basketball season.”
“Besides mom, it’s fun,” Kyle said.
“Well, I just don’t want you to get burned out,” his mother said.
“Olivia, Kyle, you’ve got a phone call,” Olivia’s mother yelled from the living room. “It’s Claire. She sounds upset.”
Olivia grabbed the phone.
“Oh my gosh!” Olivia said. “That’s terrible.”
“What’s going on?” Kyle asked.
“Claire’s dad’s been wounded in Iraq,” Olivia said, trying to listen to her sobbing friend.
Claire’s father was riding in a Humvee when it ran over a roadside bomb, Olivia explained. He was taken by helicopter to an army hospital in Baghdad.
“Is he going to be alright?” Kyle asked.
“Claire doesn’t know yet,” Olivia said. “She says he may be paralyzed.”
“You think we need to go over there?” Kyle asked.
“Well, if her mother says it’s okay, I’ll take you both over there,” Olivia’s mother said.
“Claire says it’s okay,” Olivia said.
Kyle wondered when the hard times were going to stop. Olivia’s dad died of cancer. His dad was in jail after abusing him and his mom and setting fire to the house. Claire had always worried about her dad. It seemed her fears were realized.
They both gave their friend a hug when they walked into her house. They walked upstairs to her bedroom.
“Mom says I have to be strong,” Claire said. “But it’s really hard. Mom said he may have to be transported to Germany.”
“Will they let him come home?” Kyle asked.
“I don’t know,” Claire said. “Mom said it could be a long time before he comes home … if he lives.”
“What do you say that we pray for him?” Olivia said.
The three of them held hands as they sat on Claire’s bed and prayed for her father’s safe return.
Kyle wondered what would happen to Claire’s family if her dad died, or couldn’t walk when he returned. He was really active around their house.
He supported Claire dreams of being a dancer and an artist.
He was also supporting of Kyle becoming a dancer. It was something to have the support of his mother and friends like Olivia, Claire, Beth and Emilee. Having the support of another guy, especially a hero like Claire’s father meant a lot to him.
They did their best to encourage Claire. They talked about the one thing they had in common … ballet.
“It’s always been my refuge,” Claire said. “I forget about all of my troubles when I dance. Dad always enjoyed watching me dance. All of the other girls had to drag their fathers to come to their recitals. Not my dad. He was always their videotaping us. Olivia’s dad was like that too.”
“Maybe he’ll still be able to do that,” Kyle said.
“I really hope so,” Claire said, squeezing his hand.
“Claire’s dad once danced in one of our performances,” Olivia said.
“You’re kidding? I didn’t know he danced,” Kyle said.
“Well, he’s not a dancer,” Claire said. “Madame Kathryn thought it would be fun to have some of the parents in the show.”
“None of the other dads wanted to do it until Claire’s father volunteered,” Olivia said.
“That’s not entirely true,” Claire said. “Olivia’s dad volunteered, too.”
“What kind of dance did they do?” Kyle said.
“Oh it was funny!” Claire said. “They did a tap dancing routine with us. We were in second grade.”
“That’s really cool,” Kyle said. “My dad would have never done anything like that, not even for my sisters.”
“What is your dad like?” Olivia asked, not meaning to pry.
“Before he started drinking, he was okay,” Kyle said. “After that, he became pretty violent. He was never around and worked all the time. He blamed mom for me being ‘a sissy’ who couldn’t do sports.”
“Boy did he get you all wrong,” Olivia said.
“You are no sissy,” Claire said. “Anyone who has ever seen you do jumps and leaps would know you’re pretty athletic. My dad always said you are the bravest guy he knows.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that,” Kyle said. “But I can’t do anything like Nick, Eric or Aaron.”
“One of these days, you’ll be able to,” Claire said. “I can’t wait until our end of the year performance and the stuff we’ll do with Youth Company. Then people will realize how athletic you are.”
“I don’t know about that,” Kyle said. “But I’m praying that your dad will be back and okay enough when we have our end of the year performances.”
Claire gave Kyle a hug. That would mean a lot to her if her father could see her perform again.
Chapter 10
Kyle sat in Ms. Arceneaux’s office trying to find the right words to say.
“I know you’re not here to discuss your English grade,” she said. “So what’s on your mind?”
“Well,” Kyle stammered. “You know our show at the end of the year? I was wondering if …”
“Come on,” Ms. Arceneaux laughed.
“I was wondering if I could do a pas de deux with Claire,” Kyle said, not believing he made such a request.
“So you don’t want to dance with Olivia?” his teacher asked.
“That’s not it,” Kyle said. “I love dancing with Olivia.”
“Uh huh,” Ms. Arceneaux said. “So you want me to add something with you and Claire?”
This seemed an odd turn of events to her. Kyle was really reluctant about performing in front of the whole school, especially after he learned his costume was going to be a tunic and white tights to match Olivia’s tutu.
“So what is the reason you want to do this?” Ms. Arceneaux said.
“Claire’s dad’s been wounded in Iraq,” Kyle said. “I told her I would pray that he’d be back to see her perform. I know it would mean a lot to her. I thought it would be cool if she could do something special for him. Is there something we could do really simple, like the simple thing Olivia and I are doing?”
She had always been impressed with her pupil, both in English class and ballet. He had always seemed very kind hearted. But even this surprised her.
“I’ll get with Kathryn to see what we could come up with,” she told him. “We might be able to make a change to what we have planned. Even with something simple, it’s going to be a lot more work for you and Claire. You both have busy schedules as it is.”
“I understand,” he said. “Thanks, Ms. Arceneaux.”
She noticed he was doing pique turns as he was going down the hall, heading to his next class.
“That’s very good Kyle,” she laughed. “But try to do a better job at spotting, so you don’t run into anybody.”
That also caught her by surprise. Last semester, he was doing what he could to keep people from knowing he was taking ballet.
“What did she think?” Olivia asked when she ran into Kyle on the way to class.
“She said she had to talk to Claire about it,” Kyle said. “She said she could get with Madame Kathryn and come up with something we could do.”
“I think it’s very sweet for you to suggest that,” Olivia said.
“She’s a good friend,” Kyle said. “I just want to do something to get her mind off her dad.”
Claire’s father’s condition had improved. He was still in serious condition. He was still paralyzed. He was being moved from Iraq to Germany. She still wasn’t sure when he would be coming home.
She had a hard time focusing on her classes, but looked forward to Ms. Arceneaux’s ballet class at the end of the day.
She stopped Kyle before he entered the classroom.
“Madame Marie told me about your idea!” she said before giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Kyle blushed.
“It really isn’t a big deal,” he said, trying to be a little modest. “So, do you want to do it?”
“It will be awesome!” Claire said. “She wants me to help come up with an idea of what we’re going to do. She also wants me to help come up with our costumes.”
“You’re in trouble,” Olivia giggled.
“Don’t worry,” Claire said. “I’ll go easier on you than Olivia.”
“What do you mean?” Kyle asked.
“Oh, she was the one who came up with the idea for the costumes for your pas de deux with her,” Claire said.
Olivia nodded.
“Well, our moms really made the suggestion,” Olivia said. “I just went with it.”
“Ladies and gentleman, too much chatter, it’s time for class,” Ms. Arceneaux said.
The class was a challenging one. Ms. Arceneaux mixed things up at the barre. They didn’t work as much en croix. They did double and triple frappes along with the tendue, degage’, developpe’ and ron de jambre combinations.
She challenged Kyle to get more elevation on his jumps when they went to the center. She complimented Beth and Emilee on their turns. Claire and Olivia were graceful as ever.
“You all worked hard today,” Ms. Arceneaux said at the conclusion of class. “Claire, Olivia and Kyle, I need to see you for a moment.”
She set up a time for them to work on their pas de deuxs.
“Madame Kathryn told me we can use one of her studios at 6 on Tuesdays,” Ms. Arceneaux said. “I’ll try not to work you too long because I know you have homework and need a break. But come prepared to work hard.”
“We will,” all three said, almost in unison.
“I hope this will help Claire get her mind off her dad,” Ms. Arceneaux told Olivia and Kyle.
“I’m sure it will,” Olivia said.
Chapter 11
“So what do you think?” Olivia asked Kyle as looked at the empty room.
“It’s really big,” he said. “I’m sure it will do. It’s a lot bigger than what I’ve got now.”
“So you have a problem staying in my dad’s old study?” Olivia said sarcastically.
Kyle laughed.
“Well, you know what I mean,” he said.
He hated to admit it, but the past few months staying at Olivia’s house had been great. It was a little cramped, but somehow their two families had actually seemed to forge into one.
He thought of Olivia as an older sister. It was a relationship that he was going to miss, even though they would see each other a lot in dance. They were partners. They trusted each other.
“Kyle, it’s almost time to go,” his mother shouted downstairs, her voice bouncing off the walls in the empty house.
No decision had been made on the house. There were a few more his mother wanted to see. It would also take some time to get approval from the mortgage company.
So moving out of Olivia’s house wasn’t something that was going to happen in the next few days.
“So how do you feel about it mom?” he asked as they drove back to their temporary home.
“Abby’s been great letting us stay at their house,” she said. “But wouldn’t you like for us to have a place of our own.”
Kyle nodded his head in agreement.
Deep down, his mother had her doubts. Her attorney told her that ex-husband could be getting out of jail soon.
The only person she told was Olivia’s mother, who insisted she didn’t have to rush into a decision to move out if she felt he would threaten her family again.
It was something she dared not tell Kyle. She felt her son had enough on his mind.
“How did the house hunting go?” Olivia’s mother asked when they returned home.
“They looked at a really big house,” Olivia said. “It was really nice.”
“It was nice, but it needs some repairs,” Kyle’s mom said. “But it was the nicest we’ve seen so far.”
“I know you’ll find one you really like,” Olivia’s mother said. “Oh yeah, Judith, Bob Walker called.”
Bob Walker was her attorney. Kyle’s mother’s heart skipped a beat. She hoped it wasn’t bad news.
She and Olivia’s mother went into the kitchen, where she called her attorney.
“They’re acting really secretive, what do you think is going on?” Kyle asked.
Olivia shrugged her shoulders.
“You know we’ve got to get ready for class,” she said, trying to take his mind off of what was going on. “Madame Marie and Claire will be waiting on us.”
Kyle had almost forgotten about class. They were going to work on their pas de deuxs for the school performance.
“Uh, huh, thanks Bob,” Kyle’s mother said while she talked with her attorney on the phone. “I know you did your best. We’ll get the restraining order, but hopefully he’ll behave himself.”
Kyle’s father was indeed getting out of jail.
“Are you going to tell Kyle and the girls?” Olivia’s mother asked.
“I need to tell Kyle, probably the girls too,” Kyle’s mother said. “But I’m going to wait until after their class tonight. I know he is excited about working on the pas de deauxs for the school performance. No need to worry him now.”
Kyle and Olivia both packed their dance bags and hopped in the car. Olivia’s mother once again played the chauffer.
“You two are really excited about this,” she said.
“Oh mom, it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be beautiful,” Olivia said.
“We can’t wait for you guys to see it,” Kyle said.
Olivia was right. Ms. Arceneaux and Claire were both waiting when they arrived at the studio.
“Sorry, we’re late,” Kyle said. “We were looking at houses.”
“That’s not a problem,” Ms. Arceneaux said. “Go ahead and change. Then stretch. We’ve got to get started.”
It turned out to be a lot of work. Ms. Arceneaux was picky with just about everything.
Kyle, Olivia and Claire didn’t mind. This was a performance that was to be before the whole school and in front of their families.
Even though both pas de deauxs they were working on were simple ones because of Kyle’s experience, they wanted them to be perfect. Solo parts were going to be included, which made Kyle a little nervous.
He wasn’t used to being the center of attention.
Even though Madame Marie worked them hard, it turned out to be a lot of fun. They were becoming the three musketeers. They enjoyed each other’s company.
But Kyle and Olivia both sensed something was bothering Claire.
“Heard any more about your dad?” Kyle asked.
“They transferred him to Germany,” Claire said, trying to be calm.
It didn’t work. The tears began to flow.
“They’re saying he may never walk again,” Claire said. “He has use of his arms now. But he’s having to use a wheelchair.”
“So how long is he going to be in Germany?” Olivia asked.
“I’m not sure,” Claire said. “He’s got to undergo a couple of surgeries. Mom’s going to fly over to be with him. My grandmother’s coming over to watch us. They’re saying he could be there a few weeks, then he may end up going to Walter Reed before coming home.”
Kyle and Olivia wished they could come up with the right words to say. They couldn’t. They both just gave her a hug.
“Mom says we’re going to be in for a big adjustment,” Claire said. “It’s going to be hard. He is the rock of our family.”
Chapter 12
“Okay, you two keep still,” Claire said as she concentrated on her work.
“I think I’m beginning to get a cramp,” Olivia said as she and Kyle tried to keep their pas de deaux pose long enough for Claire to capture it on canvas.
“I’m beginning to regret that we got her the paint set for Christmas,” Kyle whispered.
“You guys need to hold that pose for only a couple of minutes longer,” Claire said.
They were in the middle of the living room at Olivia’s house. Claire set up the backdrop for her friends. Their sisters were all on their knees with flowers.
Claire the artist was busy at work, that is until there was a knock at the door.
“It’s your moms holding groceries,” Claire said.
“For the first time in my life, I think I’m looking forward to helping with the groceries,” Olivia said as she and Kyle broke away from their pose.
“Oh, my back is killing me,” Kyle said as they went out the door to bring in the groceries.
“Oh how cute!” Olivia’s mom said, making note of Olivia and Kyle in their dance clothes outside as they picked up bags of groceries from the car.
“No, comment,” Kyle said, expecting his mother to do a little teasing.
“I wasn’t going to say anything, just curious,” Judith Thornton said to her son.
One trip into the living room said it all. They saw the portrait Claire was working on, the backdrop and the paint.
“You know, this is quite good!” Olivia’s mother said, admiring Claire’s work.
“I’m entering it into the school art show,” Claire said. “I’m thinking about calling it ‘Dancers Within’.”
“I would say that is a very nice title,” Kyle’s mother said.
“Claire, have you heard from your mother since she flew to Germany to be with your dad?” Olivia’s mother asked.
“She called us last night,” Claire said. “She said the flight was a bit rough. She also said she was very tired.”
“That’s quite understandable, given the length of the flight,” Kyle’s mother said. “Did she say how your dad is doing?”
“She said he was doing okay, that he was in good spirits,” Claire said. “He’s going to have surgery tomorrow.”
“We’ll keep him in our prayers,” Olivia’s mother said.
“Once we put the groceries away, Kyle could I talk to you for a few minutes,” his mother said.
Olivia looked at Claire, then at her mother.
Kyle knew it had to be something bad, probably about his father.
“Sure, mom,” he said.
They sat down for their heart to heart talk in his bedroom.
“How would you feel if we hold off on getting a house for a little while longer?” Judith Thornton asked her son.
“I dunno? I thought you were really excited about us getting a new place, mom,” Kyle said. “Is this something about dad?”
“Well, you know, he’s been out of jail for a couple of weeks,” she said. “I just don’t feel comfortable right now until I know he won’t try to do something.”
“How does Olivia’s mom feel about us staying longer?” Kyle asked.
“Abby said we could stay as long as we need to,” his mother said. “She was the one who mentioned not rushing into anything right now. She and Olivia are concerned something might happen, too.”
“Whatever you decided to do, mom, that’s okay with me,” he said.
She gave him a hug.
Even before his dad went off the deep end, his mother had been the one who kept the family together.
“So how do you feel about your dad being out?” his mother asked.
“Part of me wishes he were still locked up after what he did to you,” he said.
“And don’t forget what he did to you,” his mother said.
“But you know, before he started drinking, he really wasn’t a bad dad,” Kyle said.
“He wasn’t a bad husband, either,” his mother said.
“Do you think he’ll ever change back to the way he was?” Kyle asked.
“It’s possible,” she said. “If he gets help. It’s my prayer that he’ll be a good dad to you and the girls again. But we’ll see. But you be careful, don’t try to contact him unless you know it is safe.”
“I won’t,” Kyle said.
Somehow, his mother wasn’t reassured. Kyle always put up a brave front. He was always trying to make things right.
They both tried to dry up the tears before they returned to the living room.
“Is something wrong?” Olivia asked.
“Oh, no, everything is okay,” Kyle said. “It looks like we’re going to be staying with you guys a little bit longer.”
She put her arm around her unofficial brother.
“I’m glad you guys are going to be staying a little longer with us,” Olivia said. “Mi casa, su casa.”
“Claire, do you want to stay for dinner?” Olivia’s mother asked. “We’re having spaghetti.”
“I’ll have to check with my grandmother,” Claire said. “But I think it will be okay.”
* * * *
A dinner with the whole family — or families as the case was — was a rare thing. Almost every child in the household seemed to have a dance class on any given night. That was counting the rehearsals.
Olivia thought it was a pretty neat thing when they all could finally gather around what her mother called her “holiday” table. It seemed like a holiday, too, with all eight seated around the table sharing a meal.
Being “the man” of the house, Kyle was always called on to say grace.
“Always short and to the point,” Olivia whispered to Claire.
It was there that they found out how each other’s day went at work or at school. Their mothers worked together, so there was always a story about a co-worker who did something funny, or someone in need, someone less fortunate than they were.
Kyle admitted the teasing about him taking ballet seemed to calm down at school, although he was still apprehensive about performing in front of his classmates.
“We’re going to be performing, too,” Claire said.
“That’s different,” Kyle said.
“What, because girls dance and guys aren’t supposed to?” Olivia said. “Most everybody knows you’re proving that’s not true. When they see how good you are, they’ll really know that guys dance.”
“It might even encourage other guys to try,” Claire said.
Just then a horn sounded outside the house.
Kyle saw the look the look of horror on his mother’s face.
“Dad!” he said.
She rushed to the door. Sure enough it was him, standing in the front yard.
He begged her to “come home.”
“What home, you burned it down, or don’t you remember?” she said to him.
She smelled alcohol on his breath.
He continued to beg her to take him back, that he loved the children. But then he began to threaten her. Kyle looked out the window and saw his father push his mother.
Olivia tried to grab her friend, but it was too late.
He was out the door.
“Leave her alone!” Kyle shouted.
“You go back in the house, you sissy!” his father said.
“Leave mom alone, leave us alone,” Kyle said, stepping between his parents.
“I told you to go back in the house, you ballerina!” his father shouted. “This is between your mother and me!”
Just then, Olivia’s mother came out of the house.
“I’ve called the police,” she said. “Leave them alone. Get off my lawn!”
“Look what you started!” Kyle’s father told his mother.
He took a swing at her, but Kyle jumped in front of his mother just in time for the fist to hit him in the nose.
He didn’t notice the blood gushing. He lunged at his father, knocking him to the ground.
He stood over his father just as the police pulled up.
“Why do you have to be this way!” he said in tears.
His mom, Olivia’s mom, then Olivia and Claire all had to hold him down.
Tears flowed as the police cuffed his father.
Everyone else went into the house, but Kyle watched as they drove down the road.
Olivia and Claire joined him on the front lawn. Olivia put her arm around him, while Claire wiped the blood from his face.
Chapter 13
Sacrifices.
Claire and Olivia made one when they gave up cheerleading to concentrate on ballet.
Olivia’s family made some when Kyle’s family moved in.
Claire’s family knew all about them as a family of a soldier, especially one whose future seemed very much in doubt.
Kyle thought about those sacrifices as he passed the football around with Justin. He promised his friend he would help him get ready to join the team.
Kyle didn’t care too much for basketball, or even baseball.
But football was a sport he liked. He didn’t have a passion for it, like dance. But he enjoyed playing it.
Very few people knew that Kyle was a pretty good football player when he played Pop Warner.
He earned the reputation of being a geek because of his friendship with Justin and Alex. He enjoyed playing computer games with them.
The fact that he took ballet also clouded the issue.
Very few people outside of the dance world really understood the athleticism involved in ballet — at least that was how Olivia explained it.
No one understood what kind of athlete he was — as Olivia put it — a person who thought and lived outside the box.
It was a sacrifice that Kyle wasn’t going out for football, but one he felt was worth it.
He seemed perplexed as to why Justin wanted to play football. Justin never showed any interest in playing sports for most of the time they’d been friends.
But Justin found himself connecting with his father — a self-described football fanatic.
Through their time together, he began to “acquire a taste for it.”
Justin also understood that the football team didn’t have a cut rule. Anyone who tried out made the team. This was his way of shedding his “I’m a geek” image.
Kyle respected his efforts.
Justin sought his help because he knew Kyle understood the game. He was also aware his friend was quite an athlete.
Beth and Emilee watched from the bleachers as Kyle explained the rules of the game to Justin. He showed him how to get into a three-point stance, how to “fire off the ball.”
He tried to show him how to throw and catch a football, which was not necessarily an easy thing to do.
Justin’s throws were often off the mark, forcing Kyle to show the leaping ability he showed in dance just to catch the ball.
He found out Beth and Emilee were not the only ones watching. So was Coach Tucker, the school’s new football coach.
“Hey Thornton, come here,” Coach Tucker yelled at him.
Kyle was curious why the coach was calling him. He hoped it was okay they were practicing on the field.
“Saw you working there with Justin,” Coach Tucker said. “We sure could use you during spring training.”
Kyle didn’t quite know what to say.
“Coach, I wished I could, but I’ve got too many things going on right now,” Kyle said.
“I understand,” Coach Tucker said. “I know you have a pretty good commitment to dance.”
Kyle was shocked. It wasn’t a putdown like he received from other coaches at the school.
“Yeah, I do,” Kyle said.
“You’re pretty good,” Coach Tucker said. “I saw you in the Nutcracker.”
“You went to the Nutcracker?” Kyle asked.
“My daughter was a mouse and a daisy,” Coach Tucker said with a laugh. “She thinks you’re the coolest person on earth because you do it. I’ve also talked to Marie; she says you’re really talented. But in case you ever change your mind…you’re welcome on the team.”
“Thanks coach, I appreciate that,” Kyle said.
“And keep working with Justin,” Coach Tucker said. “He needs to be ready when we put on the pads next week.”
“Yes coach, I will,” Kyle said.
Beth and Emilee were curious as to what Kyle and Coach Tucker were talking about.
They were amazed when they found out.
“You know he seems pretty cool,” Kyle said.
“You see Kyle, not everybody thinks ballet is sissy,” Beth said.
“Kyle, Beth, Emilee, hurry up and get your stuff,” rang a voice from atop the bleachers. “We’ve got to go!” It was Olivia.
“Well bro., we’ve got to go,” Kyle said to Justin. “We’ve got to go to dance class.”
“See you tomorrow after school?” Justin asked.
“Most definitely,” Kyle said.
He didn’t want to tell the girls, but it was pretty cool just to be “one of the guys” every once in a while.
“So how did football practice go?” Olivia asked when Kyle crawled into Olivia’s mother’s van.
“Pretty good,” Kyle said. “I think Justin will do okay.”
“I just can’t believe he’s going to play football,” Claire said. “It’s so un-him!”
“He seems to like it,” Kyle said. “He thinks it’s making him closer to his dad.”
Olivia couldn’t help but think about Kyle’s relationship with his father. It made her wonder if him helping Justin had something to do with that.
Kyle said a prayer for his own dad during Sunday school. He knew he was hurting.
“Speaking of dads, I hear you’ve got some good news Claire,” Olivia’s mother said.
“Yeah, he’s progressing,” Claire said. “Mom says they are thinking about flying him back to the States.”
“That would be cool,” Kyle said. “Then you’d get to see him.”
* * * * *
Letting the music flow
That’s how Kyle approached ballet class that night.
It was his escape from the world. He just let things flow.
Madame Kathryn knew it as well.
“Very good Kyle, you’re doing a very good job keeping up with the music,” she said.
It was almost hard to believe that a few months before, he labored to keep up when they were at the barre. He had to watch the more experienced dancers to know what to do.
That wasn’t the case anymore.
Plies, tendues, frappes, grande battements, petite battements, ron de jambres, those were no longer strangers.
His favorite part of class was center work. He enjoyed adagio. He loved the combinations.
That night they did one with jetes, assemblees, pas de bourees and sissones.
He was having fun. He wasn’t the only one.
The news that her dad was getting better seemed to bring out the dancer in Claire. Like Kyle, she really seemed to be in a zone.
“Very good, ladies and gentleman,” Madame Kathryn said after reverence. “I don’t know what’s gotten into some of you. But I want you to keep it up!”
She also pointed out their rehearsal times were growing short for both the school show and their end of the year recital.
“We need the same effort from here on out,” she said.
This is the final part. Thanks for indulging me. Thanks Patricia Allen for proofing. And hopefully it starts on the right chapter!
Chapter 14
There were times when Kyle wished for a little normalcy.
But he had forgotten really what normal was. It seemed like everything was moving way to fast.
His mother filed for divorce from his father. He had no objections.
He still hoped his father would change, but he knew his parents would never get back together.
“I still care for him because he is your father,” his mother told him. “I hope one day he’ll be the kind of father you and your sisters will be proud of. But I don’t love him anymore, at least not the way I used to.”
He was actually proud she was trying to put her life back together. She and Olivia’s mother both started dating again, Olivia’s mother for the first time since her father died.
“There was a time I’d have a problem with mom dating,” Olivia told Kyle. “I didn’t want her to forget dad. But really, it’s time she got on with her life and had some fun.”
Their mothers double dated a lot. Olivia liked the idea that Kyle’s mom was dating her uncle.
“You know, if they got married, then we really would be family,” Olivia said.
Kyle and Olivia were also a little perplexed. Kyle’s mom stopped house hunting, even with his dad back in jail.
Instead, she and Olivia’s mother talked about adding on to the house. They talked about converting the garage into a bedroom and building a room over the patio. They even talked converting the attic into a “ballet” room, with barres and all.
“All of our children dance,” Olivia’s mother said. “We might as well make it a room they all can enjoy.”
Kyle and Olivia both like the idea.
As much as things were changing at their house, things were really changing at Claire’s.
Her father was transferred from Germany to Walter Reed Hospital. After another surgery and rehab, he finally came home.
Olivia and Kyle came over the day they built a wheelchair ramp for Claire’s father. Other parts of the house were modified.
“There’s still a chance he may walk again,” Claire said in tears as she locked arms with her friends.
It was hard on her. Her father was a “jack-of-all-trades.” If there was anything in the house that needed repairing, he would fix it. It was the same with the cars his family owned.
He also loved the outdoors.
He did his best to keep upbeat, but Claire noticed his depression.
“I feel helpless,” he told his daughter.
He took joy in his children.
He watched from his wheelchair at the fence while Claire’s brother Ben played baseball.
Kyle was amazed how supportive he was when Ben announced he wanted to take ballet and ended up in class the final few weeks at Madame Kathryn’s with Kyle’s and Olivia’s sisters.
“I may be a soldier, like to hunt and fish,” Claire’s father said with a laugh. “I’m not Cro-Magnon Man. He sees you doing it and wants to try. I try to support my kids in everything they want to try.”
Claire devoted herself to both her art and dance. Her “Dancers Within” painting won first prize in the school’s art contest.
Her father was the guest of honor at the school when she received her blue ribbon.
The painting took its place in the living room.
“She really captured you two,” he told Olivia and Kyle. “She saw your passion.”
“It’s also her passion,” Kyle said.
“I know,” her father said. “And Kyle, I appreciate you suggesting the pas de deux you two are doing at the school performance and the recital. I know how much it means to her.”
Kyle also knew it meant a lot to him. He admired Claire’s father. Her father was everything his father wasn’t: a war hero and a very supportive father for his children regardless of what they chose to pursue or what other people thought.
“How is your father doing?” Claire’s father asked Kyle.
“I really don’t know a whole lot,” Kyle said. “Mom’s gotten a restraining order. I’m not allowed to see him in jail.”
“That’s understandable,” Claire’s father said. “I would be the same way, if I were her.”
“He’s supposed to go to rehab after he gets out,” Kyle said.
“Hopefully, that will be good for him,” Claire’s father said. “Kyle, would you mind if I go visit him?”
“I don’t mind,” Kyle said. “Don’t know if it will do any good.”
“You never know, it might,” Claire’s father said. “Never cease to pray for him.”
“I won’t,” Kyle said. “I pray for him just like I pray for you.”
“Then there is hope for him,” Claire’s father said. “I’ve felt your prayers, the prayers of my family and friends. Felt them the entire time I was in Iraq. It helped get me back home alive.”
“Sir…if you don’t mind…,” Kyle said.
“What is it, Kyle?” Claire’s father said.
“I’m still praying that you’ll be able to walk again,” Kyle said.
“I appreciate that,” he said. “I still haven’t given up hope of walking again. You shouldn’t give up hope that your father will change.”
Chapter 15
“Hand me that piece of tape,” Olivia told Kyle as they worked on the bulletin board at school.
“Why do we have to make signs about our performance?” Kyle asked. “I mean, it’s going to be a school assembly. Everybody has to come.”
“I can’t believe you’re treating this like an ordinary school assembly,” Olivia said. “It’s a pretty big deal.”
Kyle knew she wasn’t kidding. School board members were coming to the performance, as were members of the community arts guild.
Ms. Arceneaux was hoping to turn her exploratory class into a full-fledged P.E. class next year. She also wanted the school board to consider adding dance to the curriculum at the high school.
“Wow, those are very nice drawings on those posters,” Coach Tucker said as he inspected Olivia’s and Kyle’s work.
“Claire drew the pictures,” Kyle said.
“I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised,” Coach Tucker said. “Especially after seeing her work at the art competition. So I take it from this that Ms. Arceneaux is really going all out.”
“Yes, Madame Marie really is,” Olivia said.
“Well, more power to her,” Coach Tucker said. “My daughter really wants to take the class next year.”
“So she’ll be in sixth grade next year?” Olivia asked. “She was really cute in the Nutcracker.”
“Oh yes, and she’s very excited,” Coach Tucker said.
“Well, she’ll have very good leaders in the class in Kyle, Beth and Em,” Olivia said.
“How do you know I’ll be in the class next year?” Kyle said, just trying to see what kind of reaction he would get from Olivia.
“Oh stop it!” Olivia said. “You know you’ll be in there. You can’t stay away. I’m really envious. There won’t be a class like that at the high school.”
“Well, I will miss you guys,” Kyle said.
“It’s not like you won’t be seeing us anymore,” Olivia said with a laugh. “Last I checked, we still live in the same house, take the same classes at Madame Kathryn’s and are in junior company at Concordia. Or have you forgotten.”
“Well, you know what I mean,” Kyle said.
“Hey look, it’s the ballerinas!” a voice shouted down the hall.
“Oh…Paul,” Kyle said.
“And his little pal, Chuckie,” Olivia said.
“Gentlemen, aren’t you supposed to be in class?” Coach Tucker said.
The two boys didn’t see their coach when they came around the corner.
“Uh…yes sir,” Chuck replied.
“Well, just so you know, if you two were half the athlete Kyle is, you’d be starting,” Coach Tucker said. “Remember that, the next time you decide to make fun of him. Now get to class.”
“Coach, you didn’t have to do that,” Kyle said. “I’m sort of used to that by now.”
“I know,” Coach Tucker said. “You’re a brave soul Kyle. I still wished you could fit it into your busy schedule to come out for football in the fall…. You two have fun. I’ve got to go keep some more boys in line.”
* * * * *
“Michael Thornton, you have company,” the county jailer said as he unlocked Kyle’s father’s cell.
Kyle’s father walked into the visitors’ room, not knowing who to expect. The only person who came to see him was his attorney.
He was surprised to see Steve Thompson, Claire’s father, sitting on the other side of the glass.
“Steve Thompson, haven’t seen you in ages,” Michael Thornton said. “Sorry to hear about what happened to you in Iraq.”
“Well, it’s something you have to prepare for when you go,” Steve Thompson said.
“I’m glad to see you, but don’t know why you’ve come,” Michael Thornton said. He was actually glad to have any kind of company.
“I promised Kyle I’d come by to check on you,” Steve Thompson said.
At first, Kyle’s dad was quiet.
“So why did the little pansy ask you to come see me?” Michael Thornton.
“You know, I didn’t have to come,” Steve Thompson said. “I could leave right now. I’m not going to tolerate you putting your son down.”
“Okay, okay,” Michael Thornton said.
“Besides, the last I checked, that kid you call a pansy decked you pretty good during that little show you put on in front of Abby White’s house,” Steve Thompson said.
“Well, you would feel the same way if your son took ballet,” Michael Thornton said. “Judith really turned him into a sissy.”
Claire’s father was really stunned.
“Do you really know your son?” Steve Thompson said. “I think Judith has done a very good job with him. He is more of a man than you are, to be honest. He’s a brave kid. He is very loyal to his friends and looks out after his mother. If my son turns out to be just like him… then I would be a very proud father. As a matter of fact, my son just started dancing, and part of the reason was because of Kyle.”
What he said really stunned Kyle’s father.
He began to tear up.
“I’ve really screwed up my life, Steve,” Michael Thornton said. “With Judith, with Kyle. With Caitlyn and Katey.”
“Yes, you have, Mike,” Steve Thompson said. “It’s too late for you and Judith. But you can change. You can still be a good father to Kyle and the girls. But you’ve got to want to change. You’ve got to want to get help. It’s not going to be very easy. But you’ve got to want to do it.”
* * * * *
“Ouch!” Kyle said.
“I told you not to move,” his mother said.
Kyle, Olivia and Claire were standing in the middle of Claire’s living room in their school performance and recital costumes.
Their mothers were at working hard to make sure everything looked perfect. The performance was only a week away. The recital was two weeks away.
Claire’s father sat in his wheelchair watching the women at work. He was really amused.
“We’re three former dancers,” his wife said. “We take our work very seriously.”
“So Kyle, you’re really looking forward to this?” Steve Thompson said.
“Well everything, except one thing,” Kyle replied.
“The makeup” Claire and Olivia both shouted at the same time.
No one saw that he had makeup during Nutcracker. They were too far away. No one was allowed on stage.
That would not be the case at school. But still, it was worth it. Kyle had to admit, he really looked forward to performing, even if it were in front of a lot of people he knew at school.
“Hopefully, they’ll look past that,” Steve Thompson said.
“If you’re going to be a dancer, you’ve got to get used to the makeup,” Olivia said. “You’ve got to get used to the silly clothes.”
“Speaking of silly clothes, Bennie, what’s happened to you?” Steve Thompson said as his son and Kyle and Olivia’s sisters came into the living room.
They had their recital costumes on.
“I’m supposed to be a tree,” Ben said, wearing a long brown tunic over green tights, a green turtle neck and wearing a headpiece with branches and leaves.
“Welcome to ballet my friend,” Kyle said with a laugh and giving him a high five.
“You’re going to be a very cute tree, little bro!” Claire said.
“Bennie, girls step up, it’s your turn,” Gayle Thompson.
“Thank goodness, we’re done!” Claire said as she Olivia and Kyle went to change clothes.
It was hard for them to believe all of their hard work was almost over.
Chapter 16
It was an amazing transformation.
Backstage at the school auditorium was transformed.
There was a makeup area, a costume area and a changing area. Bed sheets partitioned the changing area where Kyle would dress and the girls would dress. There would be at least three costume changes.
Ordinary parents suddenly became stage parents. Claire’s mom and Olivia’s mom directed everything. They were the veterans of countless recitals and helped behind the scenes at the Nutcracker for several years.
Claire’s mother was the makeup artist. She did her best to apply her craft on Kyle’s face after Ms. Arceneaux led her 14 dancers through warm-ups on stage.
“Oh my gosh! There are so many people out there,” Beth said after she peeked through the curtains.
“Calm down, you won’t even know they are there,” Kyle said, trying to reassure his friend.
He understood the butterflies. He went through the same thing in December with the Nutcracker. But after going through six performances of the Nutcracker, he felt like an old pro.
“Don’t you look nice,” Olivia said with a laugh. “You should wear makeup all the time.”
It was her turn to take get “all dolled up.”
Kyle played along singing “I feel pretty, I feel pretty.”
That brought laughter from Beth and Emilee. It helped to calm her nerves.
“Oh wow! You look incredible,” Kyle said as Claire emerged from the girls’ changing area.
While Kyle hated the makeup part and to a degree the costume part, he liked the transformation the girls went through. To him, they looked incredibly gorgeous. To him, that was one advantage to being the only boy in a ballet class in middle school.
“You better hurry and get dressed, there is not much time,” Ms. Arceneaux said.
She was like a mother hen making sure her chicks were ready for their big debut.
One year of class and several weeks of rehearsal came down to this.
Kyle felt the butterflies again when the middle school concert band began to play. They were to be the “orchestra” for the performance. It was Ms. Arceneaux’s idea to get more students involved.
She gave them the music to practice in January. Her dancers performed for the first time with the “orchestra” during dress rehearsal.
It wasn’t the community orchestra that played during the Nutcracker, Kyle thought. There were a few clunkers here and there, but overall, they did a good a job. The kids in the orchestra seemed to be just as excited to play as the dancers were to perform.
Suddenly, the curtain rose.
“It’s showtime,” Claire whispered to Olivia.
Ms. Arceneaux kept things pretty simple. The steps in the dances were ones they had gone over in class it seemed like a hundred times.
All 14 students were in the first dance, doing steps very much in sync and in time with the music. Ms. Arceneaux beamed as each of her students performed the combinations in the dance very well, which brought applause from the audience.
Olivia, Kyle and Claire went to change as Beth, Emilee and three other girls performed another dance.
“I saw your dad out there in the audience,” Olivia said. “He seemed like he was enjoying himself.”
That brought a small smile from Claire.
“Good luck,” she whispered back as Olivia took the stage for a solo that led up to her pas de deux with Kyle.
To no one’s surprise, Olivia wowed the crowd. She was the best dancer in class and Ms. Arceneaux gave her the most difficult combination to do in her solo.
Kyle entered the stage for their pas de deux. It was a simple, beautiful combination.
“Oh my gosh, Judith, it’s so beautiful,” Olivia’s mother said to Kyle’s mom.
It brought a few bravos from the audience.
Kyle’s heart was pounding. Next came his solo. It was to be the transition from his pas de deux with Olivia to his one with Claire.
It included a couple of grand jetes. He wanted to impress the crowd with his elevation.
He was successful. He then turned a triple pirouette.
Kyle didn’t know his father stood watching in the back of the auditorium. He was released from jail earlier in the day. Claire’s father invited him to the performance.
He knew he had to stand far off because of the restraining order. Even though he was not a ballet fan, he had to admit his son was quite good. He couldn’t help but be proud when Kyle’s solo brought large applause.
“Bravo Kyle!” he heard a man shout. It was Coach Tucker.
“It’s hard to believe he has only been dancing a year,” Kyle's father heard a woman said. “Ms. Arceneaux is right. He is a very gifted young man.”
Finally, things grew quiet. Claire gingerly made her way to the center of the stage. She performed her solo with grace, Kyle thought.
Then it was time for their pas de deux. He knew he had to hold her just right. Just like with Olivia, they seemed to dance very well together. It was a simple piece, one Ms. Arceneaux called very romantic.
The pas de deux brought tears to Claire’s father’s eyes. It was the best he thought she’d ever danced.
As with the other pieces, the dance ended with applause. Suddenly, the crowd grew very quiet again. Everyone noticed that Claire’s father stood from his wheelchair to applaud his daughter.
That brought even more applause from the crowd. It was the one time Claire ever noticed the audience at the end of a dance.
“He’s standing! He’s standing,” she whispered to Kyle as they exited the stage. She then gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you so much for doing this!” she said.
“You two hurry up and get changed,” Ms. Arceneaux said. “It’s almost time for the grand finale. And good job both of you! I’m so proud.”
The grand finale included the entire class. Other than Olivia’s solo, it was the most complicated dance of the night. It was also the most fun.
Again, the crowd roared with approval. A group of fifth graders who danced at Madame Kathryn’s studio brought each of the dancers flowers during final bows.
“That was incredible,” one of the school board members told Ms. Arceneaux when the performance was over. “I’ve been talking with some of the members of the art guild. They like your ideas about adding dance to the curriculum at the high school. They want to help raise money to provide funding. You did such a great job putting this together.”
“Thank you, but the credit really goes to my dancers. They’ve worked really hard over the last several weeks.”
Olivia’s and Kyle’s mothers were waiting when Kyle and Olivia emerged from their dressing rooms.
“We are so proud of both of you,” Kyle’s mother said.
“Your pas de deux brought us to tears,” Olivia’s mother said.
“Everything we do brings you to tears,” Olivia said, halfway laughing and halfway crying.
“Claire, look,” Kyle said when Claire emerged from the girls’ dressing room.
Her mother was helping her father walk down the hall to the backstage area.
“Dad!” Claire shouted. “Look at you!”
“I’ve been working up to this,” he said. “I tried moving my legs a little during rehab. Your performance was so beautiful. I wanted to try to see if I could stand. I wanted to do it for you.”
She gave her father a hug.
“I’ve still got a long way to go before I can really walk,” he said.
“I’m going to help you every step of the way, dad,” Claire said.
A woman approached Kyle with a note.
Kyle opened it. He tried to fight back tears.
“What is it?” his mother asked.
He handed it to her.
“Kyle, I’m not a fan of ballet, but you were amazing. I’m sorry I didn’t support you. I’m sorry for what I did to your mom and you. I’m going to do my best to change. I want to be the father you and your sisters can be proud of. Don’t give up hope.
Love dad.”
The End