Chapter 1.

"New York,New York," I sang, really belting out the words. "These little-town blues, are melting away," I went on as I opened my closet. I glanced inside, trying to decide which of my clothes might possibly pass for cool in the big city. After a minute, I shrugged. My clothes don't even pass for cool in my little town. There was no way any New Yorkers were going to mistake me for a fashion model.

I couldn't believe I was actually going to spend another weekend in the Big Apple. Me, Jessi Ramsey, an eleven-year-old in the sixth grade atStoneybrookMiddle School. I was going to be on my own in the most exciting city in the world!

Well, not on my own, exactly. I'd be staying with my friend Stacey McGill, who was going to be visiting her father in hisManhattanapartment. Stacey's parents are divorced, and she lives with her mother here in Stoneybrook,

Connecticut, which is the little town I was just referring to. But Stace’s dad still lives inNew York, where Stacey grew up. She visits him fairly often, and this time I was going along.

But I wasn't going to be spending all my time with Stacey. The reason I was going was so that I could attend a ballet at Juilliard. What's Juilliard? Only one of the best music and dance schools in the world, that’s all. And why was I going to a performance there? Well, because this boy I know named Quint Walter was going to be dancing in it, and he'd invited me to come and see him perform.

Ballet is my passion in life. I go to a special ballet school inStamford, which is a city near Stoneybrook. I have been studying ballet for years now, and while I may not be at the Juilliard level, I'd have to say that I'm pretty good. I mean, I don't want to sound self-centered, but I have worked really hard at my dancing, and the work has paid off. I have actually danced the lead role in several big performances.