Emilie had the dream of becoming a ballerina. All she needed was just one chance and she had the courage to take that chance to make her dream come true .
CHANCES
BY
THERESA GRANT
CHAPTER ONE
It was exactly ten o’clock a.m., which meant Emilie’s mother’s surgery on her right
breast had begun. Five hours later, in the afternoon, Emilie sat in the waiting room of
Fauquier Hospital. Her stomach growled. It was past the time to eat, since she hadn’t eaten.
How could she when her mother was having a vital part of her body removed? The thought
of the operation made her sad, and she turned the volume up on her I-pod.
Five hours later, a nurse led her to her mother in recovery, and she rushed to be by
her mother’s side. “Mom, can you hear me?” She looks so pale, she thought. Her caramel
complexion had turned gray. She took her Mom’s hand and held it to her chest. She’s not dead, she thought. “Mom?” She couldn’t afford to lose control of herself, not here. “Please, Mom, open your eyes.” When the urge to cry passed, her Mom opened her eyes, “Thank God, I’m happy to see your beautiful brown eyes.”
“Emilie have you been here all this time?”
“Yes, Mom, I couldn’t leave you here alone.”
“I wasn’t alone. God was with me.”
“I know, Mom.”
“Emilie, listen.” She gripped her arm firmly. “If I don’t make it out of here, you’ve got to keep yourself together.”
“Please, Mom, don’t talk like that. You’re going to be fine.”
“If I’m not, you have to live with your Aunt Nettie.”
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Emilie wiped her eyes and said, “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
Her Mother smiled and the deep dimples in her cheeks appeared. “I’m in God’s hands.”
“That’s it, Mom, think positively.” She took a tissue out of her purse and blotted her tears. Her stomach started growling loudly again.
“Get something to eat, Emilie, please”
“I’m fine, Mom, don’t worry about me.”
“But, I do. You’re my only child and I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Go and eat. I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll go to the cafeteria. I’ll be back in a second.” She kissed her forehead and thought that it felt rather hot, and fresh fear rippled through her. “I’ll get a sandwich and hurry back.”
Her Mother smiled and blew a kiss to her.
Emilie hadn’t been gone for more than fifteen minutes when she returned to find her Mother gone. She gaped at the empty bed and ran out to the nurse’s station. “Where is Mrs. Julie Wright?”
The nurse’s voice sounded raspy. “I’m sorry. Her heart gave out and she died fifteen minutes ago.”
“No,” Emilie screamed. “Put her back in the room. You’ve got to put her back in there.”
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“Come with me.” The nurse put her arms around her. “Is there anyone I can call for you?”
“No, no, no,” Emilie shrieked and fell to the floor on her knees. “God, why didn’t you take care of her? She trusted you. I trusted you.”
The nurse tried to help her up, but Emilie pushed her away. “I’m not leaving here without her.”
The nurse rang for Doctor Barnes.
“Put her in the next cubicle,” he said.
Emilie squirmed and tried to wiggle free, but Doctor Barnes held her tightly until the nurse gave her a shot to calm her. “Go to sleep,” he said. “You’ll feel better tomorrow.
The nurse took her purse and found her Aunt Nettie’s phone number.
* * *
Aunt Nettie wasn’t a gentle person. She was never a person who sympathized with anyone. She came to the hospital and she was rough on Emilie. “Come on, now girl. Get yourself together. My sister is gone. Deal with it like a woman with some sense.”
Emilie started to cry. Losing her Mother, and her Aunt coming at her like Robo Cop, had overloaded her emotional capacity and tears began to flood her face.
“Hey, hey, if you’re going to live with me, you’ve got to shape up.” She took her by her shoulders and shook her. “Come on out and get into my car. I don’t have time for your foolishness.“
Emilie let her seat back inside of her aunt’s Buick. At seventeen, she was five feet six inches, with long brown hair, almond shaped brown eyes and smooth olive skin.
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Dreams of becoming a model or maybe a movie star, when she finished high school were over. What chance would she have of that now; stuck on a smelly old farm? She jammed her hands in the pockets of her blue jeans. Waking at five, in the morning, helping with animals and shoveling their poop. That’s not how she wanted to live her life.
As Aunt Nettie drove off, Emilie gazed blankly out of the window as she rode through farm- land.
In the next hour and a half, Aunt Nettie drove through an opened black, wrought iron gate with a sign painted in large red letters, Green Valley Farms. Thy stopped in the winding drive of a large red brick house painted gray with black shutters. In the far distance was a barn painted red. Pigs, cows and chickens milled about. A tall white picket fence surrounded the land. There were red roses blooming around a trellis, near the side of the house, and bright yellow pansies lining the walkway. Emilie shaded her eyes from the bright sun to stare at the luscious green landscape. Rolling hills, thick velvety green grass and miles of white board fencing.
“If you’re going to live here, I expect you to earn your keep,” Aunt Nettie said. “No goofing off or crying.” She glanced sideways at her. “We start work promptly at five every morning, including Sunday.” They entered the house and she directed her to one of the bedrooms.
Everything looked great, Emilie thought, but she wasn’t going to love this farm. She wasn’t going to be stuck here all of her life, cut off from the real world. These furious thoughts whirled around in her head, and her insides writhed with despair.
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The next morning, Aunt Nettie got Emilie out of bed. ” This is the chicken house. Get those chickens into the hen house and stop your daydreaming, “she snapped. “Lord, I don’t know why I’ve gotten stuck with this girl.” She shook her head. “You’ll get a chance to see how the eggs are collected, and how the milking is done in the barn.”
“Am I expected to do all that?” She probably has a smelly old dog that she wants me to bathe, Emilie thought.
“You’re complaining already and hasn’t done squat? You bet you’re expected to do all that.”
“We have to think about funeral arrangements for Mom.” Emilie said and lowered her head.
“You don’t have money for a funeral.” She gazed at her as if she’d lost her mind. “Your father died and left you and my sister penniless. It’s best to cremate her.”
The thought of burning her Mother made her sick and she vomited on the floor.
“You little fool. You’re going to clean this floor.” She threw the mop and bucket at her. “Julie’s dead. Her Spirit’s with the Lord. She won’t feel anything.”
“I can’t do that to Mom.”
“We’ll use Moser Funeral Home, have a quick service with a rental casket for viewing and a cardboard urn to hold her ashes.”
“We’re not doing this,” Emilie cried. “It’s wrong, and you know it’s wrong.”
“What are you going to do with the body? Answer me.” she said angrily.
“I don’t know,” she answered, wiping her mouth. “I don’t want to burn her.”
“You just sit here crying. I’ll handle everything.”
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Emilie sat by her Mother’s casket, talking to her. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful, Mom, if I could take dancing lessons and, when I’ve finished, go to New York and dance on some big stage or the movies even?” She laid her hand on her Mother’s chest with her eyes closed and imagined herself dancing.
Aunt Nettie listening, whispered to her, “Emilie, get your head out of the clouds. You know you don’t have money for that kind of foolishness. If you did have money, where would you take dancing lessons?”
“I searched the Internet and found Ms. Lilly Brown. She teaches ballet lessons.”
“Not for free.” She put her hands on her hips and gazed at her.
“There must be some place in Warrington, Virginia where I can take lessons.”
“No place. So you may as well stop fretting and let’s get on with this service and you can get back to your chores before dark.” She stood over the casket, peering at Julie.
After the service, Emilie’s Mother was cremated and she took the ashes back to the farm. On the way home, she continued to talk about ballet lessons. “I bet Ms. Lilly can tell me where I can take lessons. “
Aunt Nettie didn’t answer. She just kept driving until she reached the farm.
Emilie got out of the car, took her Mom’s ashes to her room, and went outside to begin rounding the chickens toward the hen house. “When I take Ms. Lilly’s wash to her tomorrow, I’m going to ask her.” she gave her a stern look and went toward the barn.
“No. Don’t ask Lilly about such foolery.” She followed, rolling her dark eyes at her.
After putting the chickens, cows and pigs up for the night, Emilie went into the parlor to fold Ms. Lilly’s clothing.
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I’m never going to get to dance because no one is going to teach me.”
“Doesn’t Ms. Lilly Brown teach dancing?”
“Yes Ma’am, but I have no money.” She lowered her head and clasped her hands.
“Why don’t you ask her?”
“I’ve thought about it and I think that I will ask her tomorrow.”
The next day, Aunt Nettie had washed and ironed all of Ms. Lilly’s clothing. She called to Emilie, “You can take Lilly her clothing now, and mind you not to get them dirty on the way.” She set the basket of clothing in front of her. “After you deliver these clothes, you hurry back to your chores.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” she said, picking up the basket and placing it under her arm. She walked down the clay dirt road and passed over the cornfields into town, She came to a white wooden, shotgun house with a white picket fence and knocked at the door.
“Well, come in, girl, don’t just stand there gaping at me.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” She opened the screen door and entered.
“Set the clothing on that table there, and take that five dollars to your aunt. What you waiting for?”
“Ms. Lilly, may I ask you something?” She hesitated and gazed at her.
“What is it?” She rolled her eyes toward the ceiling.
“I’m dying to become a ballerina, and I want to take lessons.”
“You take lessons?” She laughed and slapped her knee. “Why that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day,” she said. “I never heard of any farm hand becoming a ballerina.”
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“That’s because no one has ever taught any of us. Would you give me lessons?”
“My Lord, girl, my friends in this town would think that I’ve gone crazy if I gave you lessons.” She held her cheeks with both hands. “They’d never let me forget teaching you.”
“It could be our secret. Please, think about it, Ms. Lilly.” She took her hand in hers.
She jerked her hand free. “How’re you going to pay me if I were to say yes?”
“I’d work for you, anything you’d want me to do.” She lowered her head and waited.
“I’ll think about it and let you know. Now you get on home.”
“Thanks, Ms. Lilly.” She did a hop and a skip as she left her house.
“Don’t mention this to anyone, “ Ms. Lilly called to her before she closed her door.
“No, Ma’am, no one.” Emilie was very excited by the thought that Ms. Lilly was considering her idea. She ran all the way home to tell Aunt Nettie.
“What took you so long, Emilie?” She snatched the basket from her.
“I was talking with Ms. Lilly, and she says that she’s going to think about giving me lessons.” She smiled and bobbed her head. “I know she is going to teach me.”
“Lord, you’ve lost your mind, girl. You know she can’t do such a thing.”
“She’s going to think about it.” She closed her eyes and smiled.
“If you go away, who’s going to help me on this farm? No use in you thinking about dancing.” She gazed at her, waiting for her to answer.
“Who did you have before I came?” She gazed at her, and not lowering her head.
“Don’t you get smart with me, girl.” She pointed her finger at her.
“I’m just asking. If I make it, I can get someone to help out.”
“Dreams. Just dreams,” Aunt Nettie said. “It takes years to become a dancer.”
THERESA GRANT
CHAPTER TWO
It was Monday morning. A week had passed. Emilie had gone to Ms. Lilly’s house to get her dirty laundry. “Morning. Ms. Lilly. Have you thought of what we were discussing last week?”
“I do need help in the yard and in the house. I’ll come to your house on Saturday and give you lessons in the barn.”
“Oh, thanks Ms. Lilly. I’ll work very hard for you.” She shook her hand.
“You will indeed,” she said. “My time is valuable, and I’m taking a chance on being ridiculed.” She said and shook her hand. “It’s a deal.”
Emilie worked hard for Ms. Lilly: cutting her lawn, washing her dishes, scrubbing her floors, making her beds and beating the dust from her rugs.
“Have you ever seen a ballerina dance?”
“At Christmas, when I was in town, I went to the department store, and one of the store’s television was showing the Nut Cracker.”
“Ah! The Nut Cracker. That’s a very beautiful story. Did you make up your mind at that very moment?”
“I fell madly in love with dancing. So much so, I imagined myself in the ballerina’s shoes.” She closed her eyes, opened them and they became welled with tears. “The thing is, Ms. Lilly gave Emma lessons every Saturday, year in and year out, and she was amazed at how good of a student that she had become. “You’re doing well.”
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One Saturday, when Ms. Lilly came to give her lessons, she made an announcement, “I’m taking my dance class to New York to try out for the New York City Ballet Festival. Some of the dance companies offer scholarships, and you get a chance to be recognized.”
“I’ve got to go, Ms. Lilly. This is my big chance.”
“I wish that I could take you. There may be a possibility if you can get the money. You could travel on the same bus with my class.”
“I can get the money by working for your neighbors,” Emilie said.
“That’s a good idea. I’ll tell you the one’s who’ll need help, and you can ask them.”
For three weeks, Emilie mowed lawns, raked leaves, bathed pets and pulled weeds until she had enough money for her bus fare and hotel accommodations. When it was time for her to leave, Aunt Nettie cried. “Be careful, Emilie, you’re the only relative I’ve got left. You are only eighteen years old. Don’t mess around with any of those city slickers.” For the first time since she had lived with her, she put her arms around her and kissed her.
“I’m going to be fine, Aunt Nettie. I’ll live in the same hotel as Ms. Lilly, and she’s going to check on me now and then.”
“I don’t mean Ms. Lilly no disrespect, but you be careful just the same.”
* * *
Emilie got her ticket for the Price 4 Charter Bus to New York, and she was very excited as she packed her ballet slippers and costume. She was going to be a fairy in a dream world of a foreign land, and she had practiced her dance routine over and over, She had decided to practice one more time before leaving, and as she danced, she envisioned
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herself on stage in New York. She danced with every fiber of her being. When she had finished, Ms. Lilly, who had been watching in the shadows of the barn, appeared in view and clapped. “You’re something to behold, child.”
“Oh, Ms. Lilly, do you think that I could win one of those scholarships that they are offering?” She stared at her, smiling, and waiting for her answer.
“Can’t see why not. You’re as good as any of them, but don’t get any ideas of staying. You may not like it there, and it makes no sense to leave your good home.”
“I’m not thinking of staying any time, unless I win one of those scholarships.”
“Haven’t we decided that you’ve got no time for such things unless you have money?”
“I’ll have money when I make it.”
“Lord, child, you’ve got such high ideas. Get to bed, now you’ve got to get up early tomorrow. I love you.”
The next morning, Emilie arose early. “I’ve got to hurry. Ms. Lilly said to be at the bus station at nine o’clock. She took the brown paper curlers out of her black hair, and as she combed her hair, her large brown eyes twinkled.
“I’ll prepare a bag lunch to take,” Aunt Nettie said, “No use in trying to eat at one of those stops on the way. Aunt Nettie gathered the fried chicken, a few homemade biscuits, a baked sweet potato, and a slice of chocolate cake, and stuffed them into a brown paper bag. “I’m going to miss you, child,” she said and hugged her, “Take care of yourself.”
“I’m going to miss you, Aunt Nettie. She started walking for the city. She had quite a ways to walk before she could get a city bus to take her to the Price 4 Bus Station. She had walked a mile when a man drove up in a pick-up truck. “How far you going, gal?”
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“I’m going to catch the Price 4 bus in town.”
“Hop in back. I’m going past there.”
Emilie got in the truck, and after being driven twenty miles, the man let her off at the bus station, She went into the waiting room and took a seat. When the bus destinations were called, she got in line with others to board the bus. She sat by the window in the back of the bus. An elderly lady came and sat beside her.
“Where’re you off to, honey?”
“New York, Ma’am.”
“What ‘re you going to do there?”
“Compete in a dance recital.”
“Are you one of them who’s looking for the big time?”
“I just want to be a ballerina.”
“Well, I hope you get what you want.”
“Thanks, Ma’am.” Emilie sat back and enjoyed the ride, hoping that she wasn’t asked any more questions.
When the bus arrived in New York, Emilie got off last. She was hoping that Ms. Lilly would wait for her, but she saw her and her students get into a large van. She hailed a taxi. “Take me to the Chelsea on West Twenty-third Street, please,” she said to the cabbie.
After a twenty- minute ride, the cabbie pulled up to the Chelsea and let her out. She went into the lobby of the hotel and waited for Ms. Lilly. After ten minutes, Ms. Lilly came into the lobby, and she motioned to Emilie to wait for her. After she had gotten her students
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settled, she returned to talk with her. “You’re in the room next to mine. Take this key and go to room 316. If you need help call my room.” She hurried from the room.
Emilie sat in her room and watched television. She felt very lonely, and as an hour had passed, she began to feel the pains of hunger. “Where can I go to eat,” she muttered to herself. “I saw a café downstairs as I entered the hotel.” As she was about to leave her room, Ms. Lilly knocked on her door. “I saved a roast beef sandwich and a coca cola for you.” She quickly handed the bag to her.
“Thanks, Ms. Lilly.” She took the food and began eating.
“We’re going to meet at the Lincoln Center at one o’clock. Be ready to leave at twelve. You’ll have to take a taxi.” She was still adamant about not revealing their secret.
Emilie sat on the sofa, in her room, and ate the food that Ms. Lilly had brought to her, and wishing that she could have gone with her and her students. After eating, she went to bed. The next morning, she awoke at seven a.m., and at eight o’clock, Ms. Lilly knocked on her door.
“I prepared some ham and eggs for you,” she said. “It’s an advantage having room service.” She left as soon as Emilie accepted the plate. She never stayed any longer than a second to talk with her.
At noon, Emilie left the hotel. She got a taxi and went to the Lincoln Center. There were many dancers there and people in the audience. She looked at the crowd and began to get nervous. “I must get a hold of myself,” she muttered. “I can’t mess up. I’ll never get another chance like this one.” She went to the dressing room with all of the other dancers and began to get into her costume.
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When the program had started, she watched as each dancer performed. An hour went by, and then two. She was beginning to get very tense and she grew tired of waiting. Finally, she had three dancers ahead of her; She knelt on the floor and prayed, “Oh, Lord, look down upon me today and give me strength to overcome the barriers of my existing circumstances. Make my feet move like the Angels of paradise, and give me the confidence to perform what I have learned.” As she finished her prayer, her name was called. It was her turn. She was like a swan in water as she floated onto the stage. She performed her dance routine, and when she had finished, the audience stood and cheered. She was good.
Ms. Lilly forgot herself and rushed onto the stage. She held Emilie in her arms and kissed her cheek. “I’m very proud of you.”
“Ms. Lilly, you’re going to give our secret away.”
“Oh, I don’t care about the people back home,” she said and kissed her again. “If they can’t accept a winner, then I’m sorry for them.”
When the program was over, Emilie received flowers and a tall, dark man, wearing a gray suit, approached her. “Congratulations, young lady. You’ve done yourself proud,” he said. “Come and see me tomorrow.” He handed her his card. “I can make you greater than you are now.”
Emilie tried to smile through the tears that ran down her cheeks. She read the card that the man had just handed her. ‘THE DANCE THEATER OF HARLEM.’ “Why that’s the company one of the dancers had mentioned to me.” She smiled and wiped her tears.
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“You know nothing of this school, or this man,” Ms. Lilly said. “You’d better go home with me. Your aunt will be worried.” She held her by her shoulders and tried to persuade her.
“I talked with one of those dancers, who performed today. She told me about the wonderful things that she learned with that company. I want what they have.”
“If you join those dancers where are you going to live?”
“The same place as the girl who told me about the company.”
“What about your aunt? I’m sure she wants you to come home.”
“Try and make her understand, Ms. Lilly. I’ve got to do this, if I’m to become somebody. I want to be a star.”
“It’s no doubt about that,” Ms. Lilly stated. “You were born to become a star.”
Emilie rode back to the Chelsea with Ms. Lilly and her students. It was no longer a secret that she had taught Emilie. Ms. Lilly and the students prepared to return to Warrington. “What are you going to do in the meantime?”
“I’m going to get to know this big city, and tomorrow, I’m going to go to Harlem.”
“How are you going to live?” A frown creased her forehead, and she held her hand.
“I’m going to get a job. I can do anything, after working for Aunt Nettie.”
“I hope you know what you are doing.”
“I’m more sure than ever.”
As Ms. Lilly gathered her students and hailed a taxi, she hugged Emilie. “Are you going to be all right?”
“I’m going to be fine, Ms. Lilly.” She smiled and held her head high.
Ms. Lilly got into the taxi and Emilie waved as the taxi sped off down Twenty-third Street. Then Emilie strode proudly down the street, mingling with the other New Yorkers. “Hello, New York! I love you!” She said, smiling.
A great story for teenagers who may have a hidden talent. Unfortunately, in spite of her mother's tragic death, Emilie seemed to be very fortunate in many ways. Ballerinas, in particular, have to work very hard from a very early age. It generally takes years before even the best are recognized.
While stories like this are uplifting and give people hope, most young people don't realize the difficulty in the arts and entertainment. Most will give up very early on expectations and settled whatever life they can make outside of their talents.
It's 1969 and some high school students in a small town decide to oppose a war that makes no sense and promises to set their lives on a different path against their wishes.
The sequel to Goalden Girl. Gemma's school football team is well-established. Her young step-sister Portia is also becoming a promising player, until an accident changes her life forever
