On Pointe Read Online Free PDF Page A

nothing wrong with it.
    Right?
    Plus, fewer calories
    could mean I’d grow slower.
    Couldn’t it?
    I can get rid of the ice cream, at least.
    My fingernail scrapes the roof of my mouth
    and pushes into the back of my throat.
    Uckgh .
    Rap, rap.
    I drop the lid. Bam.
    â€œClare?”
    â€œYes.” I swallow
    and quick, dry my finger on my T-shirt.
    â€œAre you all right?”
    â€œYes, Grandpa.” I flush the clean water
    and open the door.
    â€œI’m fine.”
    I couldn’t do it.
    Even if Grandpa hadn’t come to the door.
    I sucked in twenty-four grams of fat.
    Then I couldn’t even puke it out.
    What kind of dancer could I ever be?
    Mija curls
    at the foot of my bed.
    Her breathing is rattly tonight,
    but her weight and warmth
    on my calves
    seep through the sheet.
    My feet ache
    a little less.
    I take a deep, relaxing breath
    and let it out slowly.
    Cats
    equal comfort.
    Running from the barre room
    to the floor room
    to the barre room
    to the floor room
    and back.
    I can’t find my class.
    Only the fuzzy red-headed woman is there.
    I keep passing her in the hallway.
    And she is trying to tell me something,
    but I won’t listen to her.
    I run and look for my class
    all through my dream.
    â€œI’m off to my theology book club, Clare.”
    â€œOkay, Grandpa.”
    â€œEat a good brunch before you leave to dance.”
    â€œI will.”
    â€œSee you later.”
    â€œOkay.”
    His shoes clud across the wood floor
    to the front door.
    He locks the deadbolt for me.
    I roll over in bed
    and bury my head
    under my pillow.
    I slept in,
    and I’m exhausted.
    The scale says 131.
    I can work that pound off in class,
    if I barely eat before I go in.
    Sleeping through breakfast helped.
    That just leaves lunch.
    Orange juice
    and dry toast
    is all I deserve.
    I’m off to a good start today.
    Even if
    I’m sluggish.
    A cup of Grandpa’s instant coffee
    should zoom me up.
    I grimace it down.
    The City Ballet audition announcement
    is tacked to the bulletin board.
    It’s on Saturday!
    Four days away!
    Mom was right about posting it close to the day.
    They do like to pop it on us.
    Everyone’s excitement
    bings around the dressing room.
    The girls actually talk to each other.
    Rosella’s not here yet.
    I pull on my slippers
    and get caught up in the chatter.
    â€œAre you going to—” asks Devin.
    â€œFor sure,” I cut her off.
    â€œAren’t you?”
    â€œOf course.
    That’s why I’m taking classes here.”
    â€œI heard Willow’s not,” says Michaela.
    â€œNo way,” three of us say at once.
    â€œYeah. Her mother’s flown the prima
    to New York
    to audition for the ABT school.”
    â€œGet out! American Ballet Theatre?”
    squeals Devin.
    â€œFor real. My cousin lives next door to her
    and had to hear all about it.”
    â€œWell, that’s less competition for us,” I add.
    â€œI’d be totally happy
    to just make it into City Ballet,” says Ellen.
    â€œMe too,” agrees Devin.
    â€œBut I have to get down
    to a hundred pounds.” Ellen
    tugs on some rubber pants.
    â€œI’m shooting for ninety-five.” Devin
    sucks in her stomach.
    Dia comes in,
    and everyone hushes.
    We watch as she reads
    the audition announcement.
    There’s no way she can make it
    with her body.
    She turns away and changes,
    cowering in the corner
    till she gets all her floppy bulges
    covered up completely.
    None of us can talk about the audition now.
    And definitely
    not to Dia.
    Everyone pushes out the door
    to the barre room.
    Rosella bumps through them.
    â€œHi, Clare.”
    â€œLook.” I point to the audition notice.
    â€œYes!” She punches her palm.
    â€œFinally we’ll be dancers
    in City Ballet.”
    Her excitement makes me grin.
    Maybe she’s right.
    We are both really good.
    Maybe other tall girls around the city
    will try out too.
    I