Chapter Twenty

The Year Comes to a Close

The end of the school year brought many things. The recital was drawing near quickly. Every moment not spent in rehearsal was spent studying for my final exams in science and social one thing I couldn’t have accounted for, or even imagined, was that both my dance class and my tech theatre class had final exams, too. Both were practical, so it seemed it wouldn’t be that bad.

In fact, in tech theatre, it was a breeze. We did the set up and break down for the recital, each day in a different crew role. Fortuantely, there were no sets to build or costumes to make, or those finals would have been endless.

The dance final was a bit different. For a week, we were in Master Class mode, alternating between ballet and tap until Friday when we finally got to have a free day. While we were allowed to play games, one of which was this incredible game where some of us were statues, and everyone else danced between us, occassionally changing our pose, Ms. Aeling and Ms. Lemert watched us and continued to write on their clipboards.

After class, Ms. Lemert approached me. “I notice you didn’t audition for any summer programs, Lindy dear?” I shook my head. “You will, of course, study here during the summer.”

I know Nicola really wanted me to do that, but I hadn’t really thought about it in the past month. “Um...okay.”

Ms. Lemert smiled, “Excellent. We’ll have you in fine shape for next year!”

I chuckled to myself. A summer studying with Ms. Lemert. It actually sounded like fun.

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As I’d hoped, I managed to get out of performing with my father during the recital. It was a good thing, too. My night was crazy between dancing two dances and being a part of the stage crew. Everything went beautifully, though. Even Yolanda seemed to smile almost genuinely at the thought of the school year coming to a close.

After the show, we all gathered together on the stairs that led to the audience. It seemed like everyone was going somewhere. Angela made sure to collect everyone’s email addresses and cell phone numbers so she could keep in touch with us from Scotland.

Miguel kept grinning mischievously as the conversation moved from the summer on to random topics.

Angela couldn’t stand it any more. “Why do you keep smiling like that? Are you so glad you’re getting away from Broughton?”

He laughed and shook his head. “Nope.”

“Why not?” I asked. “I thought you were excited to go to Milhouse.”

“I was,” he admitted, “until I saw what I could do here.” We all stared at him, unsure we’d heard him correctly. “I decided that I really enjoyed being able to design sets and costumes, to watch them come to life.” His smile widened. “I’m coming back to Broughton!”

Angela nearly knocked him up a step as she tackled him, and I think we all shared her sentiment.

Miguel was coming back to Broughton. I was excited to spend my summer studying ballet. Somehow, we were both in the right place, and we knew it.

“Lindy? Lindy, are you back here?” My father’s voice filled the hallway above the stairs.

“I guess that’s my cue,” I gathered my stuff and walked back up.

“Anime marathon, this weekend,” Michael called after me. As a celebration of surviving the school year, and a last chance to all be together before the summer, Michael was having everyone over to subject us to his anime. He was convinced we’d have fun. We all thought he was nuts.

“Sure,” I called back as I vanished into the hallway.

My father was on the stage when I found him, “Oh, there you are.”

“Yeah, I just had to say goodbye to the gang.”

He smiled at that, and then looked out over the now-empty house. “So, what do you think, Lindy Lee? Willing to come back?”

“I think I have to. Ms. Lemert enrolled me in the summer ballet program.” My father nodded at that. “And this is where my friends are.”

He took my dance bag and wrapped an arm around my shoulder in a big hug.

I couldn’t tell him, but I knew I wouldn’t give up being at Broughton for anything!

Next year was going to be fun!