bridge and up the lane to Dother Hall, I was thinking, I bet they all had a pillow fight in the dorm last night and lashings and lashings of ginger beer. And as I was feeling a bit left out I saw Ruby skipping off to her mates. Yes, quite literally skipping. She saw me and shouted, “Oy, squeeze you later!!!”
It was like having a mad little sister. Which I’ve never had before.
And I had nice new friends.
And I had been kissed.
Also my corkers are on the move.
And I’ve still got the chance to do something to impress everyone at Dother Hall.
With my secret hidden talent.
That was secret.
And hidden.
Secretly.
It was a beautiful day, so I thought that I wouldn’t wear my crash helmet on the imaginary Harley. I was riding along with the wind rushing through my hair, but then, nearly at the gates of Dother Hall, my lovely country drive was spoiled. I had to squeal to an imaginary halt because out of a bush jumped Vaisey, Jo, Flossie and Honey.
Vaisey said, “Were you driving your imaginary Harley Davidson?”
I nodded.
Honey said, “Can you give me a wide? I’m weally exthauthted.”
The ballet class was another low spot of embarrassment. When I tell you that the high spot was putting my special ballet shoes on, you’ll get the picture.
Madame Frances hobbled in to her usual chair and adjusted her hot water bottle. “Aaah. The ballet is the only true art. Before I had my accident I…”
I said to the girls under my breath as she rattled on about her bad feet, “Is there anyone in this place who hasn’t had an accident?”
This is the ballet.
We had to point our feet and go up and down. And then put our legs on bars, still pointing our feet, and go up and down. Then we had to hold each other’s legs and go up and down. Pointing our feet. And then we did a bit more pointing and going up and down.
How can that be a good thing?
I said to Flossie, who had had to selloptape her glasses to her head with all the pointy leg business, “When did this get invented? It’s not proper dancing.”
Flossie looked at me, “Lullah, I don’t want to be unnecessarily rude, but I have seen your Irish dancing.”
At the end we had to do jeté which essentially means you leap up in the air with pointy feet.
Honey was really good at ballet. Really elegant and floaty. Even Flossie was good, although I think the sellotaped glasses spoiled the total effect. Jo was good armwise but could only leap about an inch off the ground. When it was my turn, I was pleased because I went higher than everyone. I did it again and then noticed that Flossie and the others looked like they were having a fit.
Flossie said, “It’s just that, it’s just that…”
And then she started laughing uncontrollably.
I said, “It’s just that what? I was leaping quite high.”
Jo said, “I know, I know, the leaping is good – it’s just that when you leap you make a rabbit face.”
Madame Frances was crying into her flask as we went out.
Despite a lot of protests from the girls, I am trying to get them to be in my bicycle ballet at the performance lunchtime. If I’m going to be on the course next term, I am going to have to pull out all the stops.
I said, “And the bicycle ballet might be a truly unforgettable event.”
Jo said, “That is what we are all afraid of.”
First I started with pleading. And saying I would get chucked off the course. And that they would never see my knees again.
Everyone looked at my knees.
I sensed they might be crumbling.
In the end they agreed that they would do the bicycle ballet.
Now all I have to do is to make up the bicycle ballet.
I’m going to go and make notes in my performance art notebook.
The others wanted to know what it’s about.
Aaah.
I said, “Well, the idea is that…not everyone is a ballet dancer…but that all life is art…and beauty can be found in the everyday…stuff”
They still looked a bit puzzled. They weren’t alone.
Vaisey said, “Will there be singing in it?”
I said, “Yes, of course.”
She got interested then.
“Will I be singing in it?”
“Oh, yes.”
“What will I be singing?”
Honey and Jo and Flossie all said, “Why can’t we sing in it?”
I said, “You can – you’re all singing in it!”
Vaisey said, “What are we singing?”
And I said, “Well…it’s the Sugar Plum Fairy…theme song.”
We’re going to