Page 37 of Sunset Serenade
The instructor grabbed at the long hanging silk in front of her with one hand. “You are going to learn to twist your body into a work of art, and then unravel to the ground as gracefully as a caterpillar morphing into a butterfly. It will look effortless, but every muscle in your body will be screaming in pain.”
“Just what I wanted to hear,” Rose whispered, and Lillian snorted a laugh.
Lucy shot her another look, but quickly returned her focus to the front of the class. It was time to begin.
“Reach up and climb,” the instructor said in a sing-song voice as she vaulted up the silk like a bug on a wall. “Get to know your silk!”
“You first,” Rose said.
“No, you!” Lillian pushed the fabric toward her and it swung wildly between them.
“Fine,” Rose said, “but only because I’m Rose Woodson, PhD, climber of the silks.”
She took a deep breath, rubbed her hands together, and jumped as high as she could. For a moment, she had a hold of the silk, but within seconds, she came crashing to the ground.
Lillian covered her mouth with her hand, trying not to laugh.
“It’s okay,” the instructor said, appearing at their side. “Try again.”
Rose nodded. “Sure. Yeah, okay. One more time.”
“This time, wrap the material around your foot and use that to climb up, inch by inch.”
Rose fumbled with the silk, managing to get it around her foot after a ten-second struggle.
The instructor tugged it tight. “Now go!” she said. “Trust the silk to raise you higher.”
Miraculously, Rose went up, inching like a worm. “Hey, I’m doing it!”
Lucy waved from her silk, five feet off the ground. “Nice work!”
The instructor returned to the front of the class, leaping into position. “Now we are going to turn our worlds upside down and get a new perspective!”
“Oh no, we aren’t,” Rose grumbled, and both she and Lillian had to look away so as to not break into a fit of giggles.
Four minutes later, Rose returned to the ground with shaking arms and cheeks reddened from exertion. “Don’t be fooled by my grace,” she said. “That’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
Lillian looked up. “I’m not doing it.”
“You have to. Lucy will end you.”
“Maybe Mom needs us? I’ll go check my phone.”
“Allow me.” Rose held up a hand. “I need some water.”
Rose scampered off, returning a moment later with her phone in her hand. “I have to go.”
“No, you arenotleaving me here.”
“It’s for work! Look!” She held up her phone. “Someone had a terrible date with SerenadeMe and posted a video about it. It’s gotten fourmillionviews! This is going to kill our stock prices.”
“Listen to yourself!” Lucy appeared behind them. “Ourstock prices. Like you own the company.”
“I feel responsible,” Rose said. “I care, you know.”
Lucy snorted. “I can’t tell if you’re serious.”
“I can’t either.” Rose tapped her chin. “Wait, yeah. I care. I really do, and I have an idea.”
