Page 13 of On Dancer
“Hey! He’s not wearing pants!” Another boy pointed at the screen.
“The ballet dancer is wearing white tights as part of his costume,” I corrected gently.
“Why would he do that?” The first boy wasn’t done with his questions.
Eyes narrow and mouth pursed, Alexander looked five seconds away from issuing a tersebecause,so I talked quickly.
“So he can leap extra high and spin fast.” I moved to a picture of Alexander in a Seattle show, leaping high above the stage. “I bet Alexander can jump higher than a lot of basketball players.”
“No way.” Both boys gasped at my audacity.
“Way.” Alexander flexed again.
“Show me.” Not surprisingly, the more talkative boy leaned forward.
“Not today.” I held up a hand before Alexander could risk reinjury by taking a dare from a ten-year-old. “Even Superman has to warm up before he flies, but you’ll see when you come to the show.”
Later, as we walked back to the car, Alexander paused to allow me to unlock it.
“Thanks for saving me from my own impatience earlier.” He gave a rueful chuckle. “I was this close to demonstrating.”
“I know.” I joined his laughter as we got situated in the car. “I’m sure you get tired of the ‘boys can’t dance’ line of questioning.”
“Definitely.” Groaning, he stretched his long legs in front of him.
“Was it hard being one of the few boys in the younger classes?” I asked. At our ballet school, like most, girls far outnumbered the boys, and it wasn’t unusual to have only one or two per class.
“Not as much as you might think.” Alexander shrugged as I drove out of the parking lot. “With a much more outgoing twin sister, most of my friend group was already girls. It wasn’t untilmiddle school that my being a boy who danced became an issue. Random rude kids at school had things to say, not unlike those two today.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Despite the obvious strain around his eyes and mouth, Alexander waved off my concern. “Kids can be bullies, but I was lucky enough to have Tavio and Irina and others in my corner. Not everyone is that fortunate.”
“True. And that’s part of why I want to do the school visits. Open kids’ minds to possibilities.”
“You’re good at that.”
“I am?” I glanced over at him, certain I’d misheard, but he nodded.
“As exhausting as this was, the classroom visits are a good idea.” Alexander offered the praise easily, and his genuineness made me take the turn into the ballet parking lot with a little extra zip. Alexander Dasher thought I had good ideas. “Overall, the kids seem excited, which is a good thing. Maybe a few will go on to be fans.”
“And donors,” I added with a grin.
“Wouldn’t that be nice?” He offered a dramatic sigh before unbuckling. “I wish I could make funding magically appear for all the arts, but since I can’t, tell me more about this donor’s circle idea of yours.”
“You really want to hear?” We were already back at the school. He had no reason to entertain my rambles, but he gave another of those shocking nods.
“I told you that you have good ideas.”
“If you play the game again with me tonight after your rehearsal, I could fill you in then.” I used my most convincing tone. Might as well go for broke. I’d been dying to play him again, and not simply because of my giant crush. For all hegrumbled, he was a smart player with a head for strategy and seeing possibilities.
“I suppose.” He shrugged. I was quickly coming to realize that Alexander liked to stay aloof even when agreeing to plans. That was fine by me as I’d take his yes however he wanted to issue it.
“We’ll make a gamer of you yet.” I beamed at him as we made our way into the building.
“You can try,” he teased. Teasing. Alexander Dasher was legit bantering with me. “Maybe if I keep playing, I might stand a chance of winning.”
“You never know.” I resisted the urge to click my heels like a chorus line dancer. And indeed, one did never know. Maybe Alexander would get hooked on the board game and me both.
