Chapter Six

Chapter Six: A Ballet class

One cool but not cold morning, Mama made eggs for breakfast, and then she did Rosie’s school work with her. And of course, taught everyone else school. At around 1:00 in the afternoon, Mama checked the mail, and there was a letter from Aunt Michele. She quickly went inside and read it. It was an invitation for her girls to do the Ferrier’s Aunt Marie’s ballet class! Mama gasped, and told the girls at once. “Rosie, Sarah, come here!” said Mama. So they went to Mama, who was sitting on the couch in the living room. “What is it, Mama?” asked Sarah. “Well, you know the Ferriers Aunt Marie, she is a ballet teacher now and she invited you guys to do it!” “Wow, yes, this is great!” said Rosie. “Oh, yeah this is GREAT, I always wanted to do ballet, and I finally can!” exclaimed Sarah. Then she looked at the letter. “But it is from Aunt Michele.” She said, confused. “Oh, well I think their Aunt Marie told Aunt Michele to send us this.” Mama explained. And guess what, Alice Irene and Cecile are doing it too!” “Yay, this is so exciting! When does it start?” asked Sarah. “This Monday 2:00 to 4:00 and for Rosie 1:00 to 1: 30,” answered Mama. “That is in three weeks Rosie!” exclaimed Sarah. “Yay!” said Rosie. “Can we play dollhouse now?” But don’t you want to go outside and pick strawberries?” “Okay, let’s go.” answered Rosie. The two girls went outside and ran to the strawberry bushes. They knelt down and picked mounds of berries, then brought them inside to Mama, who put them in the fridge so the berries could get cold to bake with. “Oh, thank you girls.” said Mama. “I’ll make a pie out of these with some others tomorrow, how does that sound?” “Wonderful!” exclaimed Rosie and Sarah. Mama gave them a smile. Helen was outside riding on her horse all this time, and the boys were helping Papa work. Mama heard Charlotte crying upstairs waking from her nap. But Mama was busy she needed to change Joey’s diaper, she needed to clean the kitchen, and she needed to do the laundry. So she called out to Evelyn to do it. Evelyn came running in the house panting from riding on her horse. And right away went upstairs to get Charlotte. Soon, she came back down, balancing Charlotte on her hip. “Evelyn! Evelyn!” cried Sarah.

“What?”

“Aunt Marie is a ballet teacher, and she’s teaching me, Alice, Rosie Irene, and Cecile!”

“Wow! That sounds wonderful!” replied Evelyn.

“I always wanted to do ballet,” Sarah said, and began dancing around the room. Mama laughed and hugged Sarah, as she swept the floor. And I will see Cecile every week!” she added.

“Yes, dear it will be fun won’t it?”

“Oh yes!”

“Why do we go outside and play a game?” asked Evelyn.

“Okay” said Sarah, let’s get the boys.” But they did not have to, they were already outside.

So the three weeks went past slowly, making the girls wait. But Mama went shopping with them to get ballet cloths so that was fun for them, while they were waiting. But the day came September 8^th finally; Sarah and Rosie were very, very excited. They had their black leotards, white new tights, and a darker pink waist bands. “We finally can go! You can finally can go!” exclaimed Rosie.

“Yeah!” cried Sarah.

“Alright Sarah, get in the car.” said Mama. Sarah cheered and ran as fast as she could into the van.

“I can learn all these ballet steps, and grace full moves!” said Sarah.

“And so can I!” added Rosie. Soon, Charlotte, Sarah, and Mama were in the car, and they drove off to the studio. They heard Charlotte gurgle and laugh, and Sarah said, “Looks like Charlotte is happy she’s going.” Mama laughed and agreed. It was only a fifteen minute drive and soon they were there! “We are here!” exclaimed Mama. “Yay!” the Sarah cheered. Mama got Charlotte out of the van, and they all walked to the studio.

When they reached the inside, Aunt Marie greeted them with a laugh and a hug, welcoming them. “I’m so glad you could take the class, oh she is so cute!” Miss Anderson said. (Aunt Michele’s sister.) Then Mama told Miss Anderson how much Sarah loved ballet. “I’m glad to hear that, Come and see your cousin.” So Mama said good-bye to Sarah and gave her a hug, then went out the door. “Cecile!” cried Sarah.

“Sarah!” cried Cecile. And they both ran and hugged each other tightly.

Sarah quickly took off her jeans that covered her ballet suit and put on her ballet shoes. Aunt Marie had them all stand up in a row. And she taught them dance steps, and a lot of ways to move their arms and legs gracefully. When she saw the whole class do them perfectly, she said, “Good, now we are going to do it with music.”

It lasted two hours, Sarah’s favorite part of Monday. She did not want to leave when Mama came to pick her up. But of course she had to, and she knew she would come back the next week.

When they came home, Sarah told everyone all about her first ballet class. She told them how nice Miss Anderson was, and that it was so professional. That made Rosie even more excited to have her ballet class. Mama said that she was so happy she liked it.

“Oh, Mama, I love it even more than you think! I fun!” Mama gave her a large grin and said, “Then I think you will be a very famous ballerina some day.”