"Okay class, lets take it from the top again." Ann-Marie called to the class of eight and nine year olds in her five o'clock ballet class. "Get into your first formation." She clapped her hands. "Whitney! Come in here and help me watch." Whitney quickly finished tying up her ballet slippers, then ran into the studio and stood beside Ann-Marie. The Swan Lake song started, and the class began their dance. Whitney stood in front of them, and led them through the part they had learned today. It was the first lesson of the new group of six month long sessions. Whitney was Ann-Marie's new assistant. She had been dancing with her since she was three, and her old assistant had left to go on to bigger and better things. So then she picked Whitney.
A few of the parents had stayed to watch, but most of them had left. After teaching them their first few counts of their recital dance, and running over it a few times, the hour long class was over. Whitney left the studio and went behind a counter in the lobby. While the kids were leaving, she lifted her leg onto the counter to take off her boots when a woman with long blond hair approached the counter.
"Hi."I'm Diana Hanson- Jessie's mom."
"Hi Diana."
"I was noticing you're very young and graceful."
"Thank you."
"How long have you been dancing?"
"Twelve years, since I was three."
"Wow. Twelve years. That's a long time."
"Yes it is."
"Are you the one who teaches the class?"
"No. I'm Ann-Marie's assistant."
"Well, I was wondering, that maybe you could privately tutor Jessie once a week at our house. We have plenty of room, and you'd be payed of course. I'd also like you to begin teaching my other seven year old daughter. Seperately though."
"I'd love to. What days?"
"If it's okay with you-" Jessie stood next to her mom and tugged on her sleeve.
"I'm ready mom."
"That's good- wait a minute. Anyway, from seven to nine on Tuesday nights."
"Sounds great. When do you want your first lesson?"
"How 'bout tomorrow? Get started right away. Today is Monday, isn't it?"
"Yes it is."
"I can pick you up at six thirty then, tomorrow."
"Great. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Thanks. Good bye-"
"Whitney."
"Whitney. Pretty name."
"Thanks. Bye." Jessie slipped her hand in her mothers' as they walked out to their car. Whitney switched legs and undid her other slipper. Gathering her stuff, she said good bye to Ann-Marie, then went outside to meet her waiting dad.
"So. How did your first day of assisting go?"
"Very good. So good, that one of the moms want me to personally tutor her two girls, on Tuesday from seven to nine."
"Are you going to do it?"
"Of course. She's going to pay me too."
"You've got it made. Is this going to be too much for you? I mean, with school all day, teaching Monday through Friday, then tutoring on Tuesdays after class and your homework in between?"
"I'll be fine. Besides. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, class starts at five thirty and goes till six thirty. Then on just Tuesdays, Mrs. hanson will pick me up, and I tutor till nine. Thursday, class ends at six thirty. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, class starts at seven and ends at eight. There's still plenty of time to do homework. I get home from school by two."
"I hope you're right."
"I'm positive." They pulled into the garage and went in. The house was small, since it was just Whitney and her dad, Mike. It was a one story rambler, in the residential area of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In Whitney's room, she got out of her dance clothes and into pajamas. She went to find her dad, and her dinner. After stuffing herself with spaghetti, she told her dad that she was going to bed.
"Kay Whitney. Sleep well."
"Thanks. Night dad." She headed back to her room, took a quick shower, then crawled into bed.
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