Ballet Lessons (Isabelle)

It's Issy appreciation week because she deserves it.

“I need help with this.” Alex hands me a sheet of choreography. I read through the steps for it, the footwork itself is not that bad overall but where it gets hard is it is on pointe, this is advanced for someone her age even with her level of skill. “What part is this for” I ask sitting down on the studio floor to give my feet even a little rest, I had been dancing for hours earlier before her arrival. “It’s for Spirited Away. I got the lead part. Landon is playing Haku.” I had forgotten that she had auditioned for that! “First of all, good job for getting Chihiro that’s awesome. And second of all the footwork isn’t all that bad until you put it on pointe. So what do you say we try it without the pointe until you’re comfortable with it then try it with the pointe. We can start slowly, baby steps always helps things go easier.” Alex agrees to the plan and goes to put on her ballet slippers giving me time to read through the choreography steps once more before she comes back.

“Ready? We won’t do it with the music just yet, we’re just trying to get the steps down.” Alex nods that she’s ready and we begin to dance the part step by step pausing occasionally when there’s a mistake to be addressed. She’s quite a quick learner. I almost positively could not execute a part such as this at her age, I’m not so sure I could now. Hours pass quickly until both of us start to get tired and just a little sore, so we decide to stop for the day. “Are you hungry? I’ll get you dinner if you want something.” I say packing up my things. Alex goes to say something but hesitates, thinking it over before finally saying “Sure, I’d like that.” I give her a slight smile “Anytime. Come on there’s a place just down the street.” She follows me out of the dance studio, flicking off the lights and allowing me to lock the door.

“Alright it should be just up here. There it is see the light up ahead?” I point out a small building at the end of the street but my attention is drawn away when I hear a voice yelling “Isabelle!” I look up, it’s Sarah Velothi, Valan’s mother. She gestures for us to come upstairs and I lead Alex toward the door to the apartment. “Do you know that person?” She asks and I laugh “Do I know her? Of course I know her, She’s Valan’s mother after all.” She looks at me slightly confused “Then why doesn’t she have red hair like he does?” She asks. “Because he’s got screwed up genes thats why. It happens.” Another voice says coming down the staircase “And this is his best friend.” He waves “I’m Tiggs Vandemeter, I know I have a funny name don’t question it. It’s nice to meet you. Hi Issy. Sarah was wondering if you wanted dinner, shes cooking now anyways.” Tiggs and Alex shake hands and she introduces herself. “We were just coming up. You know me I’ll almost never refuse a free meal.” He leads us upstairs to the third floor of the building and into the Velothi’s apartment. “Thanks for inviting us for dinner.” I say to Sarah as I put my things down “Anytime. Hello Alex, we haven’t met but Valan and Issy have told me about you. Would you like some noodles, chicken and vegetables?”  Alex nods and receives a small bowl of noodles with chicken and a smaller side bowl of vegetables. “Val sends his regards by the way. He’s been helping Neloth with something as far as I know. And Eno says hello too. Murder business has been slow lately due to some ‘visiting’ Imperials.” Sarah rolls her eyes “At least he’s giving poor Talvas a break...I hope. Oh Eno, he’s a card. He’s the grandmaster of an assassins guild but he’s a sweetheart, hes like Takayama. A big softie with a hard exterior.” Sarah laughs to herself. The remark is true. Minutes later I get my own bowl of dinner and Tiggs sits eating a tiny cup of ice cream. “Life’s unpredictable eat dessert first.” He says with his mouth full drawing a chuckle from both his mother, Valarie, and Alex. “He’s a bit of a jokester.” I whisper to Alex “Hey I heard that!” He responds gesturing to one of his CI’s. I wonder how Sarah and Valarie managed twenty plus years with both Valan and Tiggs in the same vicinity, that must have been quite interesting.

Once the meal is done and it begins to get late Alex sadly informs us she has to get home. The three of us wish her goodnight and she gets her things by the door. “Thank you for the meal, it was nice to meet you all. And thanks Issy for the dance lesson!” She thanks us and closes the door behind her, heading off into the night. “Dance lesson?” Valarie asks. “Long story. Involves spirited away, pointe shoes, an interruption by Lucien earlier that day and I’m very tired.” I explain as I curl up on the couch, as Sarah had graciously offered to let me stay the night. “Now if you don’t mind me I’m gonna sleep for a billion years.” After all, I have to teach another ballet lesson...tomorrow.