Dance for me

Pen went to her room and began packing. She did not want to depend on her sister for the rest of her life, so she decided to leave home. She opened her closet to take the essentials, because the choice of her closet was enormous, her parents always bought her the most beautiful and expensive dresses of famous designers, also the dance costumes for the performance were sewn for her to order. Her choice of shoes was also more than two hundred pairs. They never spared anything for her, and fully shared her passion for dance, they themselves gave it to ballroom choreography at the age of five. Her mother though worried about the possible occupational injuries that almost all dancers and other girls are jealous of her popularity, but she did not forbid Pen to dance. They raised Kelly a little more strictly, because as a child she was a spoiled child, and this consisted in her behavior toward other children, but not because of an overabundance of attention and love toward her. She didn’t need anything, and neither did Pen. Kelly got straight A’s and went to medical school as a veterinarian. She married at 22, but divorced three years later because her husband was 20 years older than her and kept raising his hand at her, suspecting her of constant cheating. One time he beat her half to death, she was in a coma for three days, but a miracle happened and she recovered. After that she reported him to the police and filed for divorce. She has a hard fate, but that doesn’t give her the right to do this to me,” thought Pen, picking up her suitcase and beginning to put all her things in it.

“My darlings, how I miss you now,” she whispered faintly, when the picture of her parents was in her hands. They were so happy and carefree in it. It was a picture from her fifteenth birthday. Mom and Dad were holding a gift box for her that contained a medium-sized porcelain statue of a dancing couple. That’s when they told her to go all the way to her goal. Pen can’t remember moments like this without tears, but she has to be strong.

The last thing she has to do now is call her best friend from her high school days. She picks up the phone and dials her number.

“Niki, hi.”

“Honey, I’m so glad to hear from you, how are you doing?”

” I’m fine. But there’s just one problem, I’ve decided to leave home.”

“What? Why?” Nicki’s questions came right off the bat.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Because Kelly wants to make me give up my hobby. You know what I mean, right?”

” She doesn’t like the fact that you’re dancing and giving up what she thinks is a part of your life to this useless activity, does she?”

” You’re absolutely right, Nicky.”

“Well, come anytime, I live alone and I’ll be glad to see you.”

“Thank you, I’ll be sure to come. You’re always helping me out, and I really appreciate it.”

“Come on, we’re best friends, and our friendship has been tested over the years.”

“You’re right, Nicky. That’s it, I’m gonna keep packing.”

“Okay, I’ll wait for you, ” Nicky answered her, before Penelope turned off her phone.

It had been a week since Pen had left home and tried to get a job. But no one would hire her because her age prevented employers from doing so. Oh, and it seems that Kelly, had a hand in that, too. At Juilliard, Pen didn’t show up for more than two weeks; everyone was well aware of her situation and so they didn’t pay much attention to her absences. The city championship was ahead of her, though, and the prize was the New York Champion’s Cup. Sam had been preparing Pen and David for it for a long time, so he was very worried about Pen’s condition, and wanted to help her in every way possible. But here he was powerless.

She walked into the dance hall during practice. Everyone immediately noticed her.

” Hey, guys. Can I go in the gym, Sam?” She asked Sam.

“Of course, honey, it’s good to see you,” Sam announced and ran up to her to hug her.

“We missed you so much. We’d given up hope that you were coming back. It’s hard to pull yourself together after such a shock and tragedy. Well, good for you. Pen you’re a natural-born dancer and you have no right to give up. This is your dream, so live it. May it help you to cope with all life’s problems that come your way, to overcome all difficulties and bitterness of loss.

Again please accept my condolences.”

“Sam, I know you don’t have to worry so much. I’m back and ready to conquer the dance Olympus.”

“I’m glad, then we’ll see everyone tomorrow, practice is over,” Sam shouted as he stepped away from Pen and everyone started running out of the dance hall. There were only five couples on his team, which consisted of ten people. David and Penelope’s couple was the best in terms of awards and international awards. Sam has been dancing since he was in high school, it was ballroom dancing that fascinated him the most, sensual and vibrant that is always performed in pairs. But it was the rumba that captivated him. It is no exaggeration to say that it is the most beautiful dance, imbued with feeling and even some elements of eroticism. Despite this, learning to dance it is easy enough compared to other Latin American dances. The rumba is a relatively slow dance with an uncomplicated basic movement. However it is absolutely impossible to dance it neutrally, without putting soul into it. Dancing the rumba, each couple tells their own love story. Latin American dances captivate by their emotionality and fountain of energy. The fast pace, dizzying spins and rousing melodies, all this makes Latin American dancing very popular. This is the kind of dance, and in particular the rumba, that Sam teaches his students.

“Pen, you’re good to be back,” David, her dance partner and good friend, said.

” Hello, nerd. I missed you,” she admitted and gave him a big hug.

“How are you? “David began to ask Pen.

“I’m better now. But it will be even better when they find their killer. I’ll strangle him with my own hands.”

” How are things with your sister? You didn’t come home?”

” No. I talked it over with her. I left home and I’m looking for a job. But Kelly must’ve done a good job, because everywhere I go, I can’t get a job.”

“Pen, I don’t know what to say. She’s a real bitch.”

“I know, David.”

” She even bought me an apartment, can you believe it? But I don’t want to live there. I’m staying at Nicki’s. She even had her keys and papers delivered by courier.”

“Pen, that’s silly. Just forget it. And live your life at your own pleasure.”

“Are you suggesting I move into the new apartment my sister bought me so I don’t get in her way?”

“Yeah, to spite her, be smart.”

” No, I’m not doing that. David, I need a job. Help me find one, please.”

“Pen, I have one option, but I’m not sure you’ll take it.”

” What’s that?”

“It’s not a job for you, you,” but before he could finish, Pen interrupted him.

“What is it? I’ll take any job.”

“My father’s restaurant needs waitresses.”

” I’ll do it.”

“But, Pen, you don’t know how ungrateful that job is. You might be humiliated, even harassed. I can’t let you go where you’ll be humiliated.”

“Why be humiliated?”

” Pen, you’re a rich girl in the past, for whom any whim, was fulfilled the second you wished. Hotly loved by your parents in the past and needing nothing. Don’t you think you’ve had any jealousies?”

“Yes, we all have.”

“But now they’ll have a chance to humiliate you even more, and they’ll take it, don’t you doubt it.”

” I don’t care who they think I am or will think I am, I want to work, I need the money.”

” I’ll talk to my father. But I’m asking you to come to your senses before it’s too late. And he’s never had a waitress under the age of twenty. I think your age will be a little problem.”

” I’ve made up my mind. Talk him out of it.”