I knelt quickly and grabbed it before anyone saw. Then, still kneeling, I scrambled to fasten it around my neck. When I stood up, I realized that I had missed Mme Noelle's directions. I had no idea what we were supposed to do next - and I was out in front of the group, which meant I might have to go first.

    I looked around desperately. Mme Noelle's back was turned - she was just about to put the needle down onto the record. Carrie was standing next to me.

    "Quick!" I said. "What did she say?" "Tour jetis," replied Carrie. "One of us at a time, across the room." I tried to catch my breath. Tour jetts. No problem.

    "Lead off, Mademoiselle Romsey!" said Mme Noelle.

    Oh, boy. I gathered myself together and took a deep breath. Then I took off, running diagonally across the room and executing a perfect tour jete. (Which is a big, running leap, in case you forgot.) Well, almost perfect. The only problem with it was the landing.

    I landed like a sack of potatoes, sprawled out all over the floor. For just a second, I had no idea where I was. I shook my head and blinked. How could I have fallen so hard? Then I felt a sharp pain. My ankle was killing me. Everybody rushed over to where I was tying.

    "Jessi, are you okay?" asked Katie Beth. "What happened?" I sat up, rubbing my ankle. "I don't know. It seemed like I slipped on something when I landed." I looked around me, checking the floor. "Look!" I said, pointing to a nearby spot. "It's all wet." Hilary knelt to look at it. "Boy, that's slick," she said. "No wonder you fell." "Where'd that mess come from, anyway?" asked another girl.

    Then Mme Noelle worked her way into the circle of girls standing around me. "You are all right, Mademoiselle Romsey?" she asked. I nodded. "Good," she said. "All of you, back to your places," she added, waving the girls away from me. She helped me up, and then she examined the wet spot on the floor.