When the Music Stops

by Paddy Eger

  Zandora didn’t return for several minutes. When she did, she chose a seat far away from Marta and pulled out a cigarette case. A member of the hotel staff approached her and told her the smoking area was further down the hall, away from the kitchen and banquet rooms. Marta pretended she’d not heard or seen the confrontation. Zandora put away her cigarettes, pulled out a pack of Juicy Fruit gum and a Reader’s Digest, checked her watch, and settled into her seat.

  Half an hour later, Paige returned to the waiting area carrying her evaluation notes. A smile spread across her lips.

  Marta stood as she approached. “So, it went well?”

  “I think so.” Paige nodded and handed the evaluations to Marta. “I can’t wait to call my mom. Can we stop before we catch the ferry?”

  “Absolutely!” They exited through the door furthest from Zandora and stopped to make Paige’s call.

  “…and, I think I did a good job on my solo. When they asked me questions about myself, I looked at each judge the way Marta suggested we do.… Yes, it was hard, but I did okay. I’ll share everything with you when I get home—Love you.”

  On the hour-long ferry ride, they discussed the judges’ notes. “Fifty-seven points out of a possible seventy is a good score from the San Diego ballet group. Their comments are consistent with what we wrote at the mock audition. You’ll need to work on refining your barre and center movements, and maybe we’ll add more difficulty to your solo to lift those sevens to eights or nines. You have plenty of time to decide. You told you mom you enjoyed the audition. What made it enjoyable?”

  Paige’s face wore a smile that extended far beyond her lips. “I enjoyed the challenge to push myself to relax when I danced the new choreography. I didn’t enjoy answering their questions. Maybe you can help me with that before next year?”

  “Whatever you want and need. Now, let’s relax, enjoy the view, and think about where you want to insert more challenging choreography into your solo.”

  h

  Rosalia attended the first practice session following the audition. She participated in discussing and working on skills suggested by Paige’s evaluation, but had not yet received her results. Now, as Paige exited the practice room, Rosalia lingered, slowly packing her dance tote. Marta sat next to her on the floor.

  “Is everything alright, Rosalia?” Marta said.

  Rosalia shrugged. Her clenched jaw and pulled in lips told Marta how she felt. “Marta,” Rosalia sighed. “What if I don’t get invited to join the San Diego Ballet?”

  “That’s why we all do multiple auditions. We never know what they are looking for. We use their evaluations to improve our dancing, we make changes, then we move on to other auditions and perform our best. It’s seldom a dancer earns a position after one audition.”

  “Can you help me with my flow between steps? I think it’s a problem.”

  “Of course. I’ll help you with anything you need, Rosalia.” Marta stood and pulled Rosalia to her feet. “For now, go home, forget about auditions, and get your school homework done. You’re a strong dancer. I wish I’d had your memory when I auditioned. It’s a marvelous skill most dancers need to work on over time, and here you are, owning that skill already.”

  “You really think my memory is a special skill?”

  “Yes,” Marta said. “Now go home and try to relax. Over the next weeks, we’ll work on whatever the ballet company recommends and whatever concerns you.”

  Rosalia hugged Marta and finished packing up just as Zandora arrived at the practice room doorway. “Rosalia. I’ve been waiting for you in the car. Hurry along.” Rosalia scurried out the door. “Marta, I’d appreciate if you’d keep track of the time. We can’t follow your whims in ignoring the posted schedule with our busy lives.”

  “Certainly, Mrs. Marcus,” Marta said. “Have a nice evening.”

  h

  Rosalia missed the next two practice sessions. Marta’s mom shared what she knew. “Rumor has it that Rosalia didn’t receive an offer from the San Diego Ballet Company. It’s my understanding that Zandora hired a private instructor to train Rosalia. You won’t see Rosalia except during her regular ballet classes, which she says she’s considering dropping if the new instructor she’s hired proves worthy.”

  The uprooting of Rosalia didn’t surprise Marta, but it created a sadness inside her. Why did Zandora think Marta was of no value when she shared her professional experience and knowledge to help Rosalia? If she pulled Rosalia from the dance studio, that would be a loss to both sides. The mock judges agreed with Marta, so maybe this was Zandora’s, and ultimately Rosalia’s, problem.

  h

  As March downpours changed to April showers and spring blossoms, Marta answered the dance studio phone and recognized Lindsay’s voice. “I’d like to come in to talk with you and your mom after hours today. Can you stay?”

  “Of course we’ll stay. What’s it about?”

  “Our favorite topic these days: Rosalia and Zandora Marcus.”

  Lindsay arrived and locked the doors. “Follow me. Let’s meet in my office.”

  “Sounds serious,” Marta’s mom said.

  “It is. I’ve received a string of calls from Zandora. San Diego didn’t offer Rosalia a position, plus she received similar results at all of the auditions she’s heard back from to date. Now she’s sent the Holland Dance Studio a letter saying she was suing the studio for negligence: failure of performance of an implied contract.”

  “What?” Marta heard herself shouting. “We had no contract.”

  “I know. My attorney, Mr. Harris, is looking into it. He imagines it will be tossed out, but I wanted you to know what was happening. Mr. Harris says we’re not to speak with either Rosalia or her mother. That way we’ll not say anything Zandora can use against us if it goes to a trial.”

  Marta’s mom shook her head. “To trial? Could she sue you? What would she gain from that? The ballet companies won’t change their minds about hiring her.”

  “I know,“ Lindsay said. “She wants someone to blame and doesn’t realize or want to believe she may be the problem.”

  h

  One afternoon a week later, Marta answered the dance studio phone and heard, “This is Anna Cosper of the Intermountain Ballet Company. May I speak with the studio owner?”

  Marta nearly dropped the phone as she sank down into a chair. Her hands shook as she cleared her throat to speak. “She’s out of the studio today. This is Marta Selbryth. May I help you, Madame Cosper?”

  A long pause hummed along the phone lines.

  “Yes. How are you Marta? Has your ankle healed?”

  “Not quite, Madame, but I’m teaching ballet for Lindsay Holland to enhance my recovery. How may I help you?”

  “I’m calling about Rosalia Marcus. She auditioned with us in Portland. We felt her dancing was strong, but we want to know more about her mother. The woman demanded entrance to the judging room and had to be removed by security. We’d like to offer Rosalia a contract, but I need more information about her mother.”

  “Of course,” Marta said. “Let me give you Lindsay Holland’s home number. She’ll be glad to speak confidentially with you.” Marta gave her the number.

  “Thank you, Marta.”

  “Is there anything else I might do to help you, Madame Cosper?”

  “No. That is all.”

  Marta sat staring at the receiver in her hand, then placed it back onto the phone cradle. Madame Cosper, her former company director, called and she spoke with her. She shared information that should have been reserved for Lindsay. Maybe Madame trusted her.

  Should she have asked Madame about her dismissal and if there was any possibility of her returning to the company? No. Today’s conversation was about Rosalia. Talking about her personal issues demanded a face-to-face conversation.

  Madame Cosper did share an interesting pie
ce of information. If Zandora pursued her lawsuit, the fact that she’d interrupted the Portland audition could be useful to Lindsay. Marta grabbed a piece of paper, wrote out what Madame had said, dated it, and placed it in Lindsay’s office desk for safe keeping.

  Marta sat in Lindsay’s office replaying the conversation. Oh my good gracious! Madame’s call might prove a disaster. If Zandora ever got wind of Marta’s conversation with Madame, and if the Intermountain ultimately rejected her, Zandora would certainly blame Marta. She needed to call Lindsay right away.

  Each time she dialed Lindsay’s number, the busy signal buzzed and buzzed. Then, as Marta finished sorting the mail, the phone rang. ”Marta, This is Lindsay. I hear you spoke with Anna Cosper.”

  “I did.”

  “I just got off the phone with her. Can you join me at my home tomorrow morning before classes? I’m asking my attorney to join us to be certain we only share appropriate information.”

  Sleep eluded Marta that night as she considered what she’d say to Madame about Rosalia. At 4 a.m. she untangled herself from the twisted covers, took a shower, and straightened her house to keep busy until time to meet with Lindsay. She dressed with care, as if Madame could see her through the phone lines.

  She borrowed her mom’s car and arrived at the door at the same time as a middle-aged man carrying a briefcase and a portable tape recorder.

  Lindsay let them in and made introductions. “Mr. Harris, this is my assistant, Marta Selbryth. She danced with the Intermountain Ballet Company last year. Marta, Mr. Harris is our attorney for studio issues, including our concerns about Mrs. Marcus. Let’s sit in the living room. I expect Madame Cosper’s call at any moment.”

  The three sat in an impatient silence. When the phone rang they all straightened.

  “Hello, this is Lindsay Holland.” She leaned forward as she spoke. “Yes, my attorney is here. I’ve also invited Marta since she helped train Rosalia. I’m putting you on a speaker phone and taping our call for future use as needed.”

  Introductions were made all around. Damien and an attorney joined Madame in Billings. Madame also recorded the call.

  After greetings were exchanged, Madame began the conversation. “Thank you for meeting with us. After speaking with counsel, we’re not offering Rosalia a contract with the Intermountain Ballet Company. She’s a strong dancer; our issues were with her mother at the Portland audition. It precludes our extending her a corps de ballet position. We’ve instructed our attorney to send you, Miss Holland, and your attorney, our letter and other pertinent, confidential information for your records.”

  Marta’s shoulders drooped thinking about how Rosalia would feel when she received another rejection letter from a ballet company. She understood the company’s decision. But the wrath of Zandora had new fuel for its fire. She’d find some way to use it against the dance studio and Marta.

  Madame Cosper continued. “We appreciate the training Rosalia received from your studio. Like Marta, she had excellent skills, but we can’t take the risk that Mrs. Marcus poses for our company.”

  “I understand,” Lindsay said. “Thank you, Madame.”

  After the phone call ended, Marta left the attorney and Lindsay to work out their response to her earlier suit for negligence and to prepare for any further action from Zandora. Marta drove to the city park to walk along the pebbled shoreline letting the sound of the waves erase the sadness she felt for Rosalia. She’d never thought much about what a stage mom did to earn the unwanted title. Now she understood too well.

  Thank heavens her mom never interfered. She’d supported Marta through her successes and low moments, her injury and her returning home. Tonight she’d prepare a special thank you meal and tell her mom how grateful she’d been and still was to have her unquestioned support.

  She took a moment to savor the small compliment Madame made to Lindsay and indirectly to herself. That meant Madame didn’t disrespect Marta’s skills as a dancer, so she must dislike Marta as a person. That perplexed her even more.

  When Marta returned to the dance studio, she took her mother upstairs and into the little apartment to discuss the phone call at Lindsay’s. “Brace yourself. The Intermountain didn’t offer Rosalia a contract, so Zandora will probably attempt to stir up trouble.”

  Her mom sighed and shook her head. “That is so sad.”

  “It is. Rosalia deserves better. Lindsay and her attorney are working out a reply to Zandora’s earlier suit. Our conversation today is never to be mentioned to anyone, but I thought you needed to know. I ache for Rosalia. I doubt we’ll see her or Zandora again.”

  h

  Marta startled every time the phone rang over the next days. Zandora had already started spreading stories about how the Holland Studio was in cahoots with all the ballet companies to deny Rosalia a position. Most parents and dancers never mentioned hearing the information, but enough shared their conversations with Zandora that Lindsay, Marta, and her mom were aware of what was said. Zandora’s cousin withdrew their children from early ballet classes, but most families shook their heads and began providing treats, notes of support, and friendly smiles of condolence.

  Paige didn’t speak of Rosalia to any of the dancers in the class she’d shared with her. She did talk about her audition saying, “Marta helped me prepare. It took a lot of hard work and extra classes, and I haven’t decided if I want to become a professional.”

  Marta sensed that Paige wanted to talk, so she lingered after class, waiting as Paige packed up. “How’s everything going? Anything you want to discuss?”

  Paige shrugged. “I keep thinking about the audition and how hard it was and then how Rosalia just gave up coming to class. I miss her. Can we still do the extra classes? I want to keep working with you on several things.”

  “Of course. Have you decided if you want to pursue a career as a dancer?”

  “Not yet. I know Rosalia is a stronger dancer than I am, so I wonder if it’s worth my time to keep dreaming about it.”

  Marta smiled. “Dreams are important. We should reach for them as long as they remain important in our lives.” As Paige left, Marta realized she needed to take her own advice and follow her dream until it faded or reshaped to a new vision.

  Within a few days the dance studio settled back into their regular days. The phone calls returned to questions about classes and the upcoming recital. Marta still could not figure out what Zandora thought she would gain by pulling Rosalia and hurting the studio—besides making herself look petty.

  When the studio phone rang Tuesday afternoon after classes, Marta absentmindedly picked it up. “Holland Dance Studio. This is Marta. May I help you?”

  Sobbing tumbled along the phone lines.

  “Hello?” Marta waited. “May I help you?”

  “It’s me. Is you mother there?”

  “Lindsay? What’s wrong?”

  “I have terrible news.”

  14

  Marta heard Lindsay Holland’s voice continue to break into sobs. “Lindsay, tell me what’s wrong. Are you and the baby okay?”

  “We’re fine. But,…” More sobbing. “Adam’s been reassigned to San Diego. He must report by July first.”

  Marta sank onto the closest chair. “What about the studio and your loan and everything?”

  “I’m not sure. Could you put your mom on the phone?”

  “She’s at the bank. Do you want her to come to your house?”

  “Maybe. Yes. Tell her—thanks, Marta.”

  Marta paced as she waited for her mom to return. When she walked in the door, Marta rushed to meet her and tell her the news. “I’ll handle things here. You head over to her house right away. Call me if there is anything I can do to help.”

  “I’ll call in my friend to cover the desk,” her mom said. “This could be a long afternoon.”

  Students entered as her mom l
eft. Marta enlisted a parent to handle phone calls and messages until her mom’s friend arrived, then she started classes. “Hello, everyone. Find a place at the barre and let’s warm up.”

  Marta watched the clock hands slowly circle as though covered in molasses. When her mom stepped in to Marta’s last dance session and shook her head, Marta knew the news was not good.

  After the last family exited the studio, Marta locked the door, then she and her mom entered Lindsay’s office to talk. “Lindsay is so upset,” her mom said. “She feels like all her hard work is lost. Adam is excited about the move, but he understands how distressing the news is for the dance studio. He’s promised to help her talk with the bank. They’ll figure out how to deal with the new loan she took out. I doubt they can undo it now that the papers are signed.”

  Marta shook her head. “What will happen to the studio?”

  “They don’t know, Marta. For now we’ll keep things going as usual.”

  The phone rang, jarring Marta’s thinking. As her mom answered the phone, Marta returned upstairs to be alone until her last evening class with Paige, which was to be more of a celebration than a class. As she prepared, a gnawing sensation interrupted her focus. Lindsay filled an important part of her life, but now she’d be living over a thousand miles away. Her ten years of teaching, being an important community asset, and being Marta’s staunch supporter would end. And if the studio closed now…. There had to be some way to allow the studio to continue without Lindsay.

  After her class with Paige, Marta rejoined her mom in Lindsay’s office where they shared a sandwich. Her mom shook her head and closed her eyes. “I guess we always knew there’d be a chance Adam’s orders would change, but I hate to see ten plus years of Lindsay’s hard work disappear. It feels so wrong.”

  Marta doodled on a pad as they spoke. “I agree. This could be our last recital unless Lindsay finds a buyer, or…what if we found someone to buy the studio? I know it’s a harebrained idea, but maybe we could make that happen.”