Then she dropped the bomb. "You must not donce for several days." Not dance! But what about the production? How were they going to rehearse The Sleeping Beauty without me?

    Mme Noelle answered my question before I even had a chance to ask it. She stood up and faced the class. "Mademoiselle Parsons," she said in a louder voice, gesturing to Katie Beth. "You will take over zee role of Princess Aurora - " I couldn't believe my ears. Had I lost the lead role just because I'd slipped on some stupid wet spot?

    " - for zee next rehearsal, and perhops some others, until Jessica is able to donce again," she finished.

    Phew. I was relieved. At least I hadn't completely lost my chance to perform as Princess Aurora. But still, I felt like crying. There haven't been too many times in my life when I've been unable to dance - but there's nothing that can make me quite as miserable. Mme Noelle says that injuries are a part of a "doncer's" life, and that we'd better get used to them. I don't know if I'll ever be able to take things like this gracefully.

    Mme Noelle clapped her hands. "Shall we continue?" she said. Then she turned back to me. "I would like to allow you to stay and watch zee rehearsal, but I sink you need to get off zat foot. Perhops you should have your father take you to zee doctor, and then you can go home and lie down." I nodded miserably and limped out of the studio. I couldn't help noticing, as I crossed the floor, that Katie Beth was absolutely beaming. I'm not saying that she was happy to see me get hurt - but she sure didn't look all that broken up about it.

    I smiled broadly at her. I wasn't about to give her the satisfaction of seeing me miserable.

    I headed for the pay phone and called my father's office. "Mr. Ramsey, please," I said when somebody answered. Then my dad picked up his extension. Just hearing his voice say "Hello?" made all the tears I'd been holding inside well up and overflow.