Page 14 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
‘What on earth is up between Monica and Ruby?’ Bonnie says in a quiet voice to Cath and me.
‘There is a terrible atmosphere.’ Asha joins us as we change out of our jazz shoes.
‘Ruby was so late, and so flustered.’ Cath shakes her head.
‘Monica did not pick her up,’ Asha tells us in hushed tones so Ruby – sitting a few benches away – could not hear.
‘Why ever not?’
‘I have no idea.’ Asha, she glance over at Ruby. ‘I heard her trying to ask Monica why she had not replied to her messages, but Monica would not answer her. In fact, she would not even look at her. She seemed so angry…’
It is true and I think Monica, she put her anger into her solo number. She dance with a big passion. Clarissa said it was scintillating – I like this word. We all applaud her at the end, but she did not even smile. She left as soon as the last dance finish without changing her shoes. She did not even stay for the stretch out.
Ruby stands to leave and Asha crosses to her.
‘Ruby, what has happened with you and Monica?’
Ruby shrugs and looks a bit tearful, so I offer her a tissue.
‘Maybe there has been misunderstanding?’ I suggest.
Ruby, her lips tight, refuses the tissue.
‘If you ask me, Monica was downright rude.’ Fay joins us. ‘She did not even acknowledge Clarissa’s accolade. I mean a gracious response was all that was needed, or perhaps she is veering towards immodesty, having received this kind of tribute on numerous occasions…’
‘Oh, shut the fuck up, Fay.’ Ruby pushes past us and rushes out of the studio.
‘Well.’ Fay’s eyebrows are knitted tight, and she puts her hands on her hips. ‘That just about sums up Ruby’s proficiency with the English language…’
We quietly turn away and pack up our things.
‘…It is a well-known fact that swearing is the laziest form of verbal expression…’
Fay peters out when she realise no one pay to her any attention.
I know Fay, she read many books – her work, it is in a library – and she is very precise. I listen to her English to make mine improved. I think, however, it would be better if she did not seem to be so cross when others do not speak as she would wish.
Sometimes I wonder if it was wise idea to ask Fay to join in our dance group, but I feel sorry for her. I bump into her in the library and recognise her from Neil’s church – I join soon after I became his live-in nanny – but I know she stopped going when she and her husband divorced. Neil told me Andrew had married another lady in the congregation and there was a big scandal over what did happen. I decide I would not mention the church when I spoke to her at the library desk.
‘Hello, can you help me please? I am looking for a book with ballet steps?’
‘Fiction or non-fiction?’
‘I want to study advanced ballet movements, to make mine better.’
‘Non-fiction then. Follow me. As it happens, I loveballet. So, you are a dancer?’
‘Ja, I went to ballet in Latvia when I was little girl and once danced with a theatre company.’
‘How delightful. I used to dance in my university days. Are you in a dance troupe here?’
Before I know it, I tell her about our classes and invite her to Clarissa’s group. I expect her to say no as I thought she was just showing polite interest, so it was big surprise when she say yes.
Fay has good musicality. Her steps, they are very exact but she is sometimes, how-you-say, a little stiff in her movements. I think it is reason Clarissa put Fay at the back, behind Monica or Asha. I thought I would get to know Fay much better once she joined the class but she does not really speak with me. I am sorry the dance does not seem to make her a happier person, unless she is a happier person inside and does not show it?
I watch Fay as she marches across the dance studio towards Janine, who is sitting with the money tin. Fay has a big purpose in her step.
Clarissa, who I do not think has noticed the falling out with Ruby and Monica, claps her hands to get our attention.
