the dancer

Beverly was a young girl that just turned 11 years old.  She was in the sixth grade at school and was doing very well.  She liked school and hardly ever missed a day.  Her biggest problem was she didn't have any friends because she was very bashful.  None of the kids ever played with her because she was so quiet.  When the other kids were all out in front of her house playing, she would just be sitting on her front steps watching.  They looked like they were having so much fun and she really wanted to join in, but she was just too shy to ask if she could play too.

 Beverly loved to listen to the portable radio that her mom and dad got her for her birthday.  She would tap her feet in time with the music.  She had a good beat and kept good time with the music.  One day, Beverly was sitting on her porch, tapping her feet to a song playing on the radio when a little girl named Laurie saw her.  When Beverly saw Laurie looking at her, she stopped tapping her feet and turned the radio off.  Her face turned bright red and she put her head down.  She was so embarrassed.

Laurie walked over and stood at the bottom of the steps.  She smiled at Beverly and said, “Please, don't turn the music off.  I really enjoy it."  Beverly kept her head down and didn't say anything.  Laurie walked up the steps and sat down right next to Beverly.  She said, “My name is Laurie and I live in the house right next door.  We moved in a few months ago.”  Beverly finally lifted her head up, smiled shyly and quietly said, “Hi. It’s nice to meet you.”

Laurie wasn’t shy at all and talked to Beverly about all sorts of things.  She told Beverly that she had been wanting to come over to meet her since they moved in, and that she really liked her new neighborhood and school and that she had seen her on the school bus because they go to the same school and that she was in fifth grade and that she takes dancing lessons and that she likes music too.  Even though Beverly still didn't say anything, she did keep smiling.  Then Laurie heard her mom calling her for supper, so she told Beverly she had to go but she would see her on the school bus in the morning.

Beverly got up and went into her house.  She told her mom all about Laurie.  She told her that Laurie lived right next door and they even went to the same school and took the same bus. Beverly’s mom was so happy that Beverly found a new friend. She could see that Beverly was happy too.

The next morning Beverly got on the school bus and sat in the seat the she usually sat in.  A few seconds later Laurie got on the bus too.  Laurie saw Beverly and came over to her seat.  She asked if she could seat with her, and, even though Beverly didn’t say anything, her smile said, “Of course!” Laurie sat down and started talking.  Laurie wasn’t shy at all.  She asked Beverly who her teacher was because she figured that was something she would have to talk to answer. Beverly hesitated for a little moment, then said, “Mr. Smith”.  Laurie said, “Oh, I hear that he is very nice”.  Beverly said, “Yes he is.  I like him very much.” Laurie said, “I hope I get him next year when I’m in sixth grade.”  When they got off the bus at school, they started heading to their own classroom, but then Laurie stopped, turned around and yelled to Beverly, “I'll see you at lunch!”  Beverly just smiled.

Lunch time finally came and Beverly went to the cafeteria.  As she walked in the door she heard someone call her name.  It was Laurie.  She went over and sat next to Laurie.  There were two other girls and a boy also sitting at the table.  They were all very nice and Beverly felt very relaxed with them, but still did not talk much. She thought how nice it was to sit with other kids at the lunch table.  She usually always sat at the end of a table by herself.  She couldn’t stop smiling.  The bell rang and they all headed  back to their classes.  On the bus ride going home, Laurie sat with Beverly again.  The kids Laurie met at lunch sat in nearby seats.  When the bus stopped on Beverly's street, she was surprised to see that they all lived on the same block.  Everyone headed to their own house, including Laurie who turned and yelled to Beverly, “See you after I do my homework!”   Beverly smiled and called back, “Ok. See ya!”

Everyone must have done their homework quickly because in no time at all, they were all outside playing.  Beverly went down to where everyone was standing.  She got to meet some of the other kids that were also on the bus.  Now she knew everyone’s names.  She couldn’t believe that she was starting to make a lot of friends.  Laurie asked Beverly if she had her radio with her and she said she did.  Beverly took it out of her pocket and when she turned it on, all the kids started to dance.  Even Beverly started to tap her shoes to the beat.  Laurie said she thought Beverly should think about taking dance lessons with her because she had good rhythm.  Beverly said that she never even heard about dance lessons.  Laurie said, “The Boys and Girls Club gives dance lessons on Fridays after school.  Talk to your mom to see if she says yes, then you could go to dance lessons with me.  The woman who gives the lessons doesn't charge for them.  She just likes to teach.  Talk to your mom and see if you can go.”

That night after dinner, Beverly talked to her mom and dad about the dance lessons.  Her dad said that if she wanted to go it would be ok with him. Her mom said, “That sounds like fun!  I am so happy that you have found new friends that you can do things with.”  Friday came and Beverly was ready to go for her first dancing lesson.  She was very excited and kind of scared too.  Laurie and her other friends told her she is going to have fun and that the woman who will teach them, Ms. Claudia, is very nice. They all walked into the Boys and Girls Club and headed to a side room.  Laurie told Beverly that this was the room where they get the lessons. Beverly looked all around and saw mirrors on the wall with dance bars in front of them.  All of those mirrors made Beverly more nervous than she already was.  She thought about leaving, but then this beautiful woman walked into the room, warmly greeted everyone, then came up to her smiling and said, “Hi!  You must be my new student, Beverly.  I am Ms. Claudia and I am so glad that you could join us!”  That made Beverly feel much more relaxed, so she decided to stay. 

Ms. Claudia then told the students to line up at the dance bars so they could practice some dance moves.  After a short while, Beverly looked at Laurie and said, “This is really fun!  I’m so glad that I came!”  Laurie just smiled, happy Beverly was enjoying the class.  Weeks went by and Beverly was doing great with her lessons.  She was actually doing so good that Ms. Claudia was giving her extra dance moves to learn that she hadn’t taught to the other kids.  She told Beverly that she was a born dancer.  Every dance move that Ms. Claudia taught her took her no time at all to learn it.

One day, a couple of years later, Ms. Claudia asked Beverly if she could stay after the class was over so she could talk to her.  After everyone went home, except Laurie who was waiting for her in the hall, Ms. Claudia asked Beverly to sit down.   She sat next to her and said, “I have something very important to tell you.”  Beverly closed her eyes and thought to herself, “Gee, did I do something wrong?”   Ms. Claudia continued, saying, “Beverly, you are a great dancer.  When you dance it looks like you are floating in the air.  It is so easy for you.  You are the best student I have ever had, and I have had many. I think that you should go on with your dancing.  You could be a star!”  Then she told Beverly about Mr. Smith who is the manager at a local dance school.  Ms. Claudia continued, “He takes only the best dancers into his school.  I have told Mr. Smith about you and he said that he would like to see you dance, so can I make an appointment for you?”  Beverly couldn't believe what she was hearing.  She told Ms. Claudia she would like to meet Mr. Smith, as long as it was okay with her parents.  Beverly then said, “But you must promise to go with me.”  Ms. Claudia said that of course she would go with her.  Beverly smiled a big smile.

Beverly’s parents were very happy when they heard that she was invited to audition for one of the best dance schools in town, so of course they gave their permission.  The day came when Beverly and Ms. Claudia went to Mr. Smith’s dance school.  Beverly was so scared she was shaking.  Ms. Claudia told her not to worry, that everything was going to be great, and she was right because Mr. Smith turned out to be a very nice man who was easy to talk to.  “Ms. Claudia tells me you are one of the best dancers she has ever met.  That is quite a compliment!” he said, as he walked over to the stereo to turn on some music.  “So okay!  Let’s see you dance.”  Beverly got up from her chair and started shaking again.  Mr. Smith said, “Don’t be scared Beverly, just pretend I’m not even here.”  

Beverly slowly started to dance and she noticed that the more she danced, the braver she got.  She started to feel so relaxed that she actually did forget that Mr. Smith was watching her.  Her fears always went away when she danced.  She danced her best dance and when it was over Mr. Smith clapped and said, “Bravo! Bravo!”  That made Beverly and Ms. Claudia very happy.  He told Ms. Claudia that she was right about Beverly being a great dancer.  Then he turned to Beverly and said, “I would be very happy if you would accept my invitation to be a student in my dance school.”  Beverly smiled her biggest smile and said, “Absolutely I accept!”  Ms. Claudia hugged Beverly and told her how proud she was of her.

A few years later, when Beverly was just a senior in high school, Mr. Smith told her that he was putting together a new musical show and wanted her to be the lead dancer!  Beverly couldn't believe what she was hearing!  What a surprise and honor!  Beverly couldn’t wait to tell her parents and Ms. Claudia and Laurie too.  Everyone was so happy for Beverly, the star of a musical!

Beverly was so excited about being in the musical, even though it was a lot of work.  Beverly and the other dancers practiced every day for several hours.  This went on for several weeks and between school and practice, Beverly was kept very busy, but she didn’t mind because she loved dancing so much that it wasn’t really work for her.  Beverly made new friends with all the other dancers and that made the hard practice more fun because of them. They all had become a sort of family. 

Finally, the day arrived for opening night of the musical.  Beverly looked out from behind the curtains and saw that the theater was already filled.  So many people!  That made her so nervous, but when she saw her mom and dad in the audience, that helped calm her down a bit.  She also saw, sitting next to her mom and dad, was her friend Laurie.  Laurie didn’t tell her she was coming to opening night because she wanted to surprise her.  Beverly was so happy to see Laurie because if it wasn’t for her, she wouldn’t even be here getting ready to be the lead dancer in a musical!

Mr. Smith told all the dancers it was time to find their places.  Everyone scrambled around to find their position, then the music started and the curtain went up.  Beverly was indeed the star of the show.  The spotlight was on Beverly, which made her very nervous, but then she started dancing and forgot about the spotlight and all the people out in the audience.  At the end of the musical, the audience gave her a standing ovation. 

After the show, Mr. Smith told her that he knew he had picked the right lead dancer and she proved him right.  He told her she was one of the best dancers he had seen and she helped to make the musical a success.  The show was the talk of the town and received rave reviews from all the critics.  The show was so good that it sold out every night so they decided to keep it running for an extra two weeks.  Everyone that saw the show liked it and Beverly made quite a good name for herself.  Soon, show producers from all over called Beverly wanting her to be in their shows.  She was one of the best dancers that people had ever seen.  She starred in many shows and every show that she was in was a hit.  She continued dancing for many years and she became quite rich because she was in such demand. 

Beverly tells everyone that she owes her success to her very best friend, Laurie because she was the one who brought her out of her shell. It was Laurie who inspired her to dance.  It was Laurie who talked her into going to dancing school.  She owes everything to her friend Laurie.  Beverly and Laurie have remained best friends through the years, even though their lives led them in different directions.  They both married and had families, but they make sure that they get together for holidays and celebrations. 

One Christmas Laurie and her family were sharing the holidays with Beverly and her family.  Music was playing on the stereo and everyone was singing along.  Beverly looked over at her usually shy 8-year-old daughter to see her tapping her feet.  Then she watched Laurie walk over to her daughter and tell her that she has really good rhythm and she should take dancing lessons.  Beverly’s daughter looked up at Laurie, not saying anything, but smiling a big smile.

Beverly grew older and she has hung up her dancing shoes. Her enjoyment now is watching her daughter dancing on stage.  She had a very good time when she was a dancer and even though she no longer dances on stage, she feels that she is still blessed because she has a loving family and the best friend anyone could ever ask for, Laurie, who helped her believe in herself. 

So if you don’t dance, I recommend that you start because while you are dancing, you do not have time for anything but being happy.  Life is a dance.  Be happy.