by Jake Maddox
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: Dancing Dilemma
CHAPTER 2: Practice Problems
CHAPTER 3: Marissa and the Rose Fairy
CHAPTER 4: Audition Worries
CHAPTER 5: Dance Your Heart Out
CHAPTER 6: Surprise!
CHAPTER 7: Madame Insists
CHAPTER 8: Marissa’s Mess
CHAPTER 9: Kelly’s Confession
CHAPTER 10: The Rose Fairy
About the Author
About the Illustrator
Glossary
More About Anna Pavlova
Discussion Questions
Writing Prompts
Copyright
Back Cover
Chapter 1
DANCING DILEMMA
The ballerinas stuffed their dance bags inside their lockers and slammed the gray metal doors. All the dancers at Madame Stone’s ballet studio were ready for their after-school practice — except for Marissa.
As the other girls left the changing room, laughing and talking to each other, Marissa stood at her locker. She held her practice outfit in her hands.
Everyone had to wear the same thing: a black leotard, pink tights, and pink ballet slippers. Warm-ups were about to start in the big exercise room next door, but Marissa was still wearing the comfortable sweatpants and T-shirt she had worn to school that day.
A girl with a freckled face looked around the door. “Hey there,” Marissa’s best friend, Rachel, said. “Warm-ups are starting. You know Madame hates it when we’re late.”
Marissa looked up. “I know, Rachel. I just can’t,” she said.
Rachel walked into the room. She sat down on the bench next to Marissa. “You can’t what?” she asked gently.
“I can’t put on the practice outfit,” Marissa explained. She stared down at the black leotard and pink tights.
“Why not?” Rachel asked. “We all wear that outfit every day. You’ve been dancing here forever. What’s the matter?”
Marissa sighed. “I just feel weird putting on the leotard and dancing in front of everyone. I feel like the other girls are staring at me,” she admitted.
Rachel put her arm around her friend’s shoulders and gave her a hug. She knew that Marissa felt self-conscious about her body.
Over the last year, Marissa had grown a lot taller and bigger than the other girls in the ballet studio. She was almost as tall as Madame Stone, their dance teacher.
“Don’t worry about it so much,” Rachel told Marissa. “You love dancing. Just think about the music and the steps.”
Marissa stood up. She quickly stuffed the leotard and tights back into her locker. Then she shut the metal door. “Okay, I’m ready,” she said.
“But you didn’t change,” Rachel said.
Marissa started walking toward the exercise room. “I’ll just dance in my sweatpants and T-shirt,” she said. “I told you, I don’t want to put on the leotard.”
“But Madame Stone has rules about what we wear!” Rachel protested, following her friend.
“Maybe she won’t care,” Marissa said. She pushed open the door to the practice room.
“She’ll care,” Rachel said quietly.
Chapter 2
PRACTICE PROBLEMS
Marissa hurried into the big exercise room. The walls were covered with mirrors and lined with ballet barres. Andy, the piano player, was playing some lively music.
The other girls were already warming up. They stood in front of the mirrors, holding on to the barres.
Madame Stone called out, “And plie one, and plie two.”
Marissa hurried to an empty spot in the corner. She hoped Madame wouldn’t notice her sweatpants right away.
Marissa put one hand lightly on the barre and began her plies. She carefully held her feet in first position.
Suddenly, she realized that Madame Stone had stopped counting and was staring at her. All of the other girls stopped their exercises and turned around to look.
“Marissa,” Madame Stone said, “where is your leotard and tights?”
Marissa could feel her cheeks turning red. She stared at the floor.
Madame Stone gave her a long look. “Oh well,” Madame said. “If you forgot your leotard, it doesn’t really matter for this one class.”
She turned back to the rest of the students. “Girls! Pay attention! Ready and go,” Madame instructed.
Marissa slid one leg out to the side and back again, being careful to point her toe each time. She stared at herself in the mirror as she practiced. Marissa could see that she was at least six inches taller than the other girls around her. She was also heavier. Everyone else looked like butterflies, but she felt like an elephant.
“Marissa,” Madame Stone called. “We are ready to start our practice routines. Would you please show us the first steps of routine A?”
After the warm-ups at the barre, the dancers always moved out into the center of the big, open floor. They practiced more complicated jumps, leaps, and turns.
Usually, this was Marissa’s favorite part of the class. Madame Stone often asked her to demonstrate certain moves. Marissa had always loved it. But ever since she started growing so much, Marissa had been dreading dancing in front of everyone. She felt like a giant, thundering creature, not a graceful ballerina.
But she knew she had no choice. Madame Stone was waiting for her. So was the rest of the class.
She slowly walked to the front of the room as Andy began the music. As she lifted her right leg, Marissa saw Kelly and Clarice. They were whispering to each other and giggling.
They’re talking about how I look up here, Marissa thought as she began to dance. She stumbled and fell to her knees.
Madame Stone signaled to Andy to stop playing. “Marissa, are you all right?” she asked.
Marissa quickly got to her feet. “I’m fine, Madame,” she said. Rachel gave her an encouraging smile. Kelly and Clarice were still laughing.
Madame started the music again. This time, Marissa couldn’t find the rhythm. She fumbled through the arabesques and leaps as fast as she could. All she wanted to do was finish the demonstration.
When Marissa was done, Madame was quiet. Marissa could tell she knew something was wrong.
Finally, Madame said, “Thank you, Marissa. Let’s have everyone on their feet to try this routine.”
For the rest of class, Marissa tried to forget about Kelly and Clarice.
At the end of class, Madame Stone clapped her hands. “Girls, give me your attention, please,” she said. “Our recital is coming up soon. This is the time when we show our family and friends the progress we have made in ballet.”
Marissa looked around. All of the dancers started whispering with excitement.
“The piece we are going to perform this year is called The Rose Fairy,” Madame Stone went on. “The dance tells the story of a Rose Fairy. She has lost her other flower friends and is looking for them. If you want to dance in the recital, you’ll have to try out for the part. The auditions will be next week. That’s it. See you girls tomorrow.”
Everyone got up and started heading toward the locker room. Clarice and Kelly brushed by Marissa. As they passed, Marissa saw Clarice glance at her and then whisper to Kelly. They both burst into laughter. Marissa felt her face heat up.
“Marissa,” said Madame Stone. “Can I see you for a moment?”
Chapter 3
MARISSA AND THE ROSE FAIRY
Madame Stone’s office was small and messy. There were papers everywhere. Pictures of famous ballerinas covered the walls.
“Sit down, Marissa,” Madame said. Marissa perched on a chair in front of Madame’s big wooden desk.
Madame folded her hands and leaned forward. “Why aren’t you wearin
g your practice leotard?” she asked gently.
Marissa felt her face get hot. She looked down at the ground.
“I expect all the students to be properly dressed for dancing,” Madame Stone went on. “You know the rules.”
Marissa didn’t know what to say. How could she tell Madame that she felt weird about how her body looked in the leotard? It was way too embarrassing.
Madame Stone waited for a minute. When Marissa didn’t say anything, Madame said, “I could tell that something was upsetting you today. Your dancing wasn’t like it usually is.”
“I’m sorry, Madame,” Marissa said softly.
Her teacher nodded. “It’s okay, Marissa.” She paused for a moment.
Then she said, “I don’t mind if you want to wear a T-shirt and sweatpants to practice for a while. But if you want to dance in the recital, you’ll have to wear a costume, just like everyone else.”
Marissa nodded, but her heart was sinking right into her ballet slippers. Of course she wanted to dance in the recital. But she’d seen the costumes. They were all leotards.
Rachel was waiting in the locker room. “I’m so excited about the recital!” she squealed. Marissa took her dance bag out of her locker. Then she and Rachel headed outside.
“Yeah, me too, I guess,” Marissa said quietly. She stared at the sidewalk as she trudged along.
“You don’t sound very excited,” Rachel said.
“I think maybe I’ll skip the recital this year. It’s no big deal,” Marissa said. She tried to sound as if she really didn’t care.
“What?” Rachel asked. She stared at her friend. “What are you talking about? You’re the best dancer in the studio. How can you skip the recital?”
“You saw how badly I danced today,” Marissa said. “Clarice and Kelly were whispering, and I felt so weird up there. I even messed up that easy little dance I was demonstrating.”
“Who cares about Clarice and Kelly?” Rachel said. “You’re a way better dancer than either of them. That’s why Madame Stone always asks you to demonstrate. They’re probably just jealous.”
“Maybe,” Marissa said. “Let’s just drop it, okay?”
Rachel was quiet for a few minutes. Suddenly, she said, “I’ve got it! You should try out for the Rose Fairy part!”
“Ha!” Marissa said. “Very funny. There’s no way Madame would ever give me the lead part in the recital. Not after the way I danced today.”
“That was just a demonstration in class!” Rachel exclaimed. “What matters is how you do in the auditions.”
Marissa shook her head. ”I’ve seen the Rose Fairy costume,” she said. “It’s a red leotard, with red tights and a pink tutu. I can’t wear that. I feel like an elephant in my practice leotard. The costume would be even worse.”
“Whatever,” Rachel said, waving her hand. “You can dance that part better than anyone else in the studio, including Clarice and Kelly. And me, for that matter.”
“It’ll never work, Rachel,” Marissa said. “Just forget it.”
Chapter 4
AUDITION WORRIES
Over the next few days, Marissa couldn’t stop thinking about the recital auditions. Even in math class, she drew pictures of ballerinas in her notebook when she should have been paying attention to algebra.
Maybe I should try out for the Rose Fairy part, Marissa thought. Maybe I’d even get it. But then what would she do about the costume? How would she dance in front of everyone?
At lunch each day, all Rachel could talk about was the audition and the recital. Rachel had decided to try out for the part of the Daisy Maiden, one of the Rose Fairy’s lost friends.
Every day, she asked Marissa if she had decided to try out for the Rose Fairy part. Every day, Marissa shook her head.
The morning of auditions, Marissa woke up feeling good. She felt strong and bold, just like the clear day outside. That was a good sign.
She decided that she would try out for the Rose Fairy part. Rachel was right. Marissa could dance the part. She might as well try out.
On the way to school, Marissa told Rachel her decision. Rachel shrieked.
She did a leap right in the middle of the sidewalk. “Now we can be in the recital together!” Rachel said, hugging Marissa.
“If I get the part,” Marissa said. “I still have to try out.”
“You’ll get the part,” Rachel told her. “I just know it.”
* * *
After school, Marissa went straight to the ballet studio. She wanted to warm up a little before the audition started.
In the empty locker room, she stuffed her bag into her locker. Then she pulled on her T-shirt and sweatpants. She was lacing up her slippers when the door opened.
Marissa looked up. Clarice and Kelly were walking in.
Marissa quickly looked down again. Instead of going to their own lockers, Clarice and Kelly stopped right next to Marissa.
Kelly put her hands on her hips. “So, Marissa, are you going to audition in your sweatpants?” she asked nastily. Clarice giggled.
“So what if I am?” Marissa mumbled.
“You should wear a leotard like everyone else,” Kelly said.
“Madame said I could wear this to practice in,” Marissa replied. She forced herself to look Kelly in the eye. “Anyway, it’s none of your business.”
“Maybe you think you’re too good to wear the same thing as the rest of us,” Clarice chimed in.
“Or maybe Marissa just outgrew her leotard. Now she can’t find one in a big enough size!” Kelly said. She and Clarice burst out laughing and walked away.
Marissa couldn’t keep the tears from piling up in her eyes.
That’s it, she thought. There’s no way I can audition now.
If those two were laughing at her, how many other people would be too? Why should she put herself through the humiliation of an audition?
There’s no way Madame Stone would give the part to me, she thought sadly.
Chapter 5
DANCE YOUR HEART OUT
Marissa walked into the practice room. She planned to find Madame. She’d tell her she wouldn’t be trying out for the recital this year. But Madame was nowhere to be seen.
Andy was sitting at the piano, playing for a few girls who were warming up. As Marissa stood in the corner, she noticed what Andy was playing. It was “The Flower Theme.”
The Rose Fairy danced to the song at the end of the ballet. Marissa had heard “The Flower Theme” before. It sounded different when Andy played it. It seemed more alive, somehow.
Marissa felt the music flooding through her body. It reached the tips of her toes. Her feet tingled. She felt light but strong, like a wire stretched tight. Andy pounded out the tune.
Suddenly, Marissa couldn’t help herself. She lifted her arms in the air and twirled around. Then she leapt across the floor in a series of jumps.
Marissa could tell that the other dancers had stopped their warm-ups and were watching her, but she didn’t care. All she cared about was that she was dancing the way she used to.
It felt good. Andy played the last few notes. Marissa swept into an arabesque. She held the pose for a few seconds and then relaxed.
The clapping startled her. She looked around. The rest of the class had gathered by the door leading to the locker room. Marissa could see Rachel grinning and clapping.
Kelly and Clarice were standing to one side of the group, their arms folded. They were the only girls who weren’t clapping or smiling.
Marissa suddenly remembered what had happened in the locker room. She could feel herself deflate, as if she were a balloon that had been popped. She was back in reality now. The world of music she’d lived in for a few minutes while she danced was gone.
The other girls started trickling into the practice room to begin warming up for the auditions.
Marissa looked around for Madame Stone. She spotted her standing near the piano, talking quietly with Andy.
Marissa walked over. “Mad
ame Stone,” she said, “I just wanted to tell you that I won’t be trying out for the recital this year.”
The words were hard to say. Marissa felt like she had to drag them out of herself.
Madame raised her eyebrows. She nodded slowly. “Are you sure, Marissa?” she asked.
Marissa told herself not to cry. “Yeah,” she whispered, staring down at her ballet slippers.
She turned and ran to the locker room. As she pulled her dance bag from her locker, she could hear Madame giving the instructions for the auditions.
Marissa shut her locker door and left the building. It was weird walking home without Rachel. Slowly, she started trudging down the sidewalk toward home.
Chapter 6
SURPRISE!
The next afternoon, Marissa didn’t bother going to the ballet studio for class.
They’ll just be practicing for the recital, she thought. There’s no point in going to class. I’ll just go home.
She left school before Rachel could catch up with her. She didn’t even want to talk to her best friend. She knew it might hurt Rachel’s feelings, but she just wanted to get home.
At home, Marissa went straight to her room and closed the door. She lay on her bed and mashed her face into her pillow. She tried not to think of everyone else at ballet practice, dancing and having a good time without her.
The phone next to her bed rang. Marissa picked it up. It was Rachel.
“Marissa!” Rachel almost screamed. “You have to get to the studio right now!”
Marissa sat up. “Why?” she asked. “What’s going on?”
“I can’t say anything more,” Rachel said. “Just get down here right away.” She hung up.
Marissa leapt off her bed and grabbed her dance bag. She pounded down the stairs and ran out the front door.
She jogged all the way to the studio. Why is Rachel so excited? she wondered. Why do I have to get there right away?