Hertfordshire, England Tring Park School for the Performing Arts Oct - Nov 2000

Ballet just started few minutes ago and Rachel Morrison is already giving her class. Kanti knew that if one of her classmates made Ms. Morrison, there might be little hell.

"Ms. Hanks....how many times I had told you that to not talk during class?" Rachel ask.

"A lot." Amy Hanks answer.

"Yes, a lot. You're one of best ballerina in my classes, but yet, you kept yapping. If you continue......you will leave the dance program."

"Please don't do that, Ms. Morrison."

"Then just be quiet. Everyone, lets start"

Kanti and other students quickly head to their spots and class soon began. When ballet class is over, as students heads to the locker rooms, Ms. Morrison call Kanti.

"Kanti.....can I speak with you?" Rachel says to her.

"What is it, Morrison?" Kanti ask.

"Have you been practicing a lot during the summer?"

"Yes I did. My mum pretty much didn't let get out because.....well....you know the reason."

"Yes, I know. Well....I would like you audition for the parts of Clara and Sugar Plum Fairy."

"Me? I thought those parts are usual for the last years of Tring."

"I know, but I explain to the principal and he lets you audition."

"Okay."

"Good then. The auditions will stay in 2 weeks."

"In 2 weeks?!"

"You should know by know that the Nutcracker is during Christmas. So....you better start practicing."

"Fine."

Kanti excuse herself and heads to the locker room. As she walks towards her locker, she met up with Gina.

"Hey.....are you heading to ballet class?" Kanti ask.

"Yep. I heard there going to be auditions for the Nutcracker." Gina reply.

"Maybe Morrison post up the paper of who going to audition the parts or something like that."

"Probadly. Anyway....see you later, Kanti."

"Later, Gina."

Kanti took off her ballet clothes and change into her uniform. She then heads to her math class. When lunch finally came, like Kanti told Gina, Ms. Morrison post up the people who are audtioning the parts for Nutcracker. Some of them are shock that 'The Ghost' is audtioning two parts of the play. Anyway, Kanti grabs her lunch from the cafeteria and heads to one of the empty dance rooms. That is when she bump into Allycia, one of the friends of Jaimie. She is also in the same ballet class as Kanti.

"You must saw the list of auditions, right?" Kanti ask.

"Yea.....but why you have to auditions for 2 PARTS of the Nutcracker?" Allycia ask.

"Look. I don't know why.....I guess Ms. Morrison thought I have been improve a lot in the last year or so."

"Well......you know that that I am audition for the part of Clara......right?"

"No....but I will congrats you if you do get the part."

"Whatever."

Allycia heads to the cafeteria while Kanti enter the empty dance room. After lunch, Kanti heads to her classes. Once the afternoon classes are over, Kanti heads to her bedorom. As soon as she start doing her homework, someone is knocking the bedroom door. She stood up and answer the door.

"Hey Kanti. We saw the Nutcracker audition list." Erika says to her.

"You're really auditioning two parts in the Nutcracker?" Linsey ask.

"Yes, I am." Kanti answer.

"Wow.....but wouldn't be unfair for other ballerinas who might be training their butts off...." Pamela stated.

"Why any of you guys care? None of you have dance majors or something. Can you please leave me alone."

Erika, Pamela, and Linsey says their goodbyes before heading to their own rooms. Kanti heads back to her desk and began doing her homework. Once she finish, she grabs her duffle bag and exit the bedroom. As she walk to the dance room, she bump into her roomate, Gina.

"Hey Gina. I bet you saw the list right?" Kanti ask.

"Yea....and I will be audition for the part of Sugar Plum Fairy." Gina reply.

"Cool. I hope you get the part."

"Same goes with you. Anyway....are you heading to the dance room?"

"Yea.....why you ask?"

"Can I join up with you? That way......we can both practice the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy."

"You can join. I''ll be in room 315."

"Got it. See you in a few minutes, Kanti."

Kanti heads to the empty room while Gina heads to the bedroom and gets her duffle bag. For the next two weeks, Kanti manage to get some extra practice for her two parts for the Nutcracker. Allycia sometimes would bother her. Even her friends would try to distract her. As soon as Kanti told Ms. Morrison about Allycia, Ms. Morrison took Allycia off the audition list. When the auditions, Kanti, Gina and other ballerinas heads to stage. Ms. Morrison and two other teachers are standing on stage.

"Hello everyone and welcome to the audition process for the Nutcracker." Ms. Morrison says to everyone. " Mr. Jack Bates and Ms. Samantha Arost will be helping me to look over the auditions. Anyway.......let get started."

Rachel, Jack, and Samantha sat to the front row as the Kanti, Gina and others heads backstage. The auditon for the part of Clara, Kanti and 3 other girls went on stage. As soon as the music starts, Kanti and other girls began dancing. Once the music stop, they heads backstage. The auditons last over two or three hours. Ms. Morrison told everyone the results will be post up within a couple of days. Kanti and everyone heads to their bedrooms. Couple of days has past, as soon as Ms. Morrison post up the list, the people, who had auditioned, quickly walk to the list. Kanti did not bother to check it out because she doesn't want to be squash. So, she spent her lazy Saturday morning in her bedroom. That is when Gina quickly enter the bedroom.

"You got, Kanti." Gina says to her.

"Got what?" Kanti ask.

"You got the part of Clara. I got the part of Sugar Plum Fairy."

"Seriously?"

"Why I would lie to you?"

"Cool....but now we have to practice our butts off then."

"True."

The practices for the Nutcracker is will be in the afternoon and the weekends. Both Kanti and Gina knew right away that the practices will be harsh. Even within their ballet classes, Ms. Morrison made Kanti and Penny practice their parts. After practice, Kanti enter to her bedroom and went straight to her bed.

"Ms. Morrison has became hardcore since I got the part of Clara. Great." Kanti mutter to herself.

Kanti lay on her bed for a few minutes before sitting up on her bed. She decide to call her mum and see how she is doing. So, she grabs her cell and dial her house number. After couple of rings, Sunti pick up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi mum. Its Kanti."

"Hi Kanti. How are you?"

"I am doing alright. Guess what? I am going to be in the Ntcracker."

"The nutcracker? What is that?"

"Mum.....I already told you."

"Oh....almost forgot. Which part you got?"

"I got the lead. Because of it, I have to practice a lot."

"You better practice a lot, Kanti."

"I will...."

Kanti talk to her mother for a few minutes before they hung up the phone. Since Halloweem is coming up, Kanti and Gina decide to not dress up. Since the Nutcrackers auditions, Kanti and Gina spent a lot of time together. Gina's friends doesn't mind that their friend is hanging out with 'The Ghost', but Kanti's friends is having a slight problem. Both girls are currently at the empty dance room. As Gina is practicing her dance, Kanti's friends enter the room.

"Hey guys. I thought you three are practicing your stuff for your majors." Kaniti says to them.

"Can we ask you something?" Erika ask.

"What is it?" Gina ask.

"We would like to talk to Kanti privately." Linsey says to Gina.

"I will be back in the few." Kanti says to Gina.

Kanti and her friends exit the dance room and close the door behind them.

"What is it now, guys?" Kanti ask.

"How come you spent a lot of time with Gigi?" Pamela ask.

"Because we're in the Nutcracker together. I thought you three already knew about it." Kanti answer.

"Well....don't spent too much with her." Linsey says to her.

"Why?" Kanti ask.

"Because there might be rumors that you two might be a couple or something like that." Erika explain.

"That is why we're worry about you." Pamela add.

"Look guys. I am a grown girl. I can take care myself. See you later." Kanti stated before returning to the dance room.

"What they said to you?" Gina ask as she did her pointes.

"Its nothing." Kanti answer.

Since Halloween is coming up, Kanti is not to dress up. Its mainly because she and her mother never really celebrate Halloween even though Kanti born and raised in England. Anyway, as usual, Kanti is practicing her part in the dance room. That is when a 18 year old boy name Charlie Jones enter the room.

"Hey Kanti." Charlie says to her.

"What is it Charlie?" Kanti ask.

Charlie is consider to be a 'pretty boy' in the school. He has pale skin, gray eyes, and brownish blonde hair. He's wearing ballet attire

"Well.....since I am playing Nutcracker/Hans-Peter.......I thought we might do some scences together."

"Right now?"

"Yea right now. Ms. Morrison has been my case anyway."

"Okay then....."

Both Kanti and Charlie soon practice together for over an hour or so. Once they finish, both of them sat on the floor, drinking water.

"Kanti.....do you really need practice every day?"

"I have too, Charlie. I am the lead after all."

"Yea, but you should also rest. A dancer need to rest like football players."

"Whatever you say."

"Anyway, are you going to the dance?"

"The Costume Ball?"

"Yea....are you going?"

"I am not going."

"Why? Almost half of the student population of this school is going to this dance."

"Look, I never celebrated Halloween since I can remember. Sames goes with Thanksgiving, Easter's, and other mainstream holidays."

"Including Christmas?"

"Yea....I thought I told you that I am a Hindu."

"Oh...."

"Anyway, lets call for a day. See you later, Charlie."

"Later Kanti."

Kanti spent more time with Gina and Charlie for the practices of the Nutcracker and lest time with her friends. She simply believe that her friends would not understand the dancer. So, when the Costume Ball has finally came, the younger students went to their homes so they can trick ot treat while the older students get ready for the dance. Kanti is currently laying on her bed, reading her book. Gina is getting fo the dance. She's going as Snow White.

"Are you sure about this, Kanti?" Gina ask.

"I already told you. I do not celebrate Halloween." Kanti reply.

"Alright. I will see you in a few hours."

"Bye Gina."

Gina exit the bedroom and heads to the cafeteria. Kanti continue to read for about 20 minutes or so before putting the book on her desk. She gets off her bed and heads to her closet. She took off her school uniform and change into long sleeve bright purple shirt, ankle length maroon skirt, and white socks. She fix her hair into a ponytail and put on her shoes before exiting the bedroom. She spent a couple of hours in the library reading. When classes resume, Kanti heads to her vocal class. Mr. Hoffman quickly enter the classroom.

"Hello everyone. Sorry that I am few minutes late. I was in the teachers' meeting." Larry says to his class. "Anyway, I have annoucement. There is going to be a Music Recital."

"When is going to be a Recital?" one student ask.

"During March." Larry asnwer.

"Mr. Hoffman. Its a first week of November. Its about 4 or 5 months until the Recital." Jaimie stated.

"I am very aware of it. Anyway, in this month of November, I want each of you sing a song in Opera." Larry says to his class.

Some of his students start to groan a bit. Once the vocal class is over, Kanti walk up to her teacher.

"Mr. Hoffman, can I ask you something?" Kanti ask.

"What is it?" Larry ask.

"Do I really need sing in Opera?"

"You have too, Kanti. I can't give you special treatment. Anyway, I will sign you a piece from Carmen."

"That song?"

"Yea. The Habanera. I know that you have been taking French Classes, Kanti."

"Fine. I will sing that song."

Kanti says her goodbyes to Mr. Hoffman before exiting the classroom. When lunch came around, Kanti, Charlie, and Gina pick up their lunches and heads to Kanti's and Gina's bedroom.

"I really want to hear you sing Opera." Charlie says to her.

"Shut up, Charlie." Kanti says to him.

"Kanti......you're already in too much stress already because of the Nutcracker. Maybe you shouldn't audition for the Recital." Gina says to her.

"But its part of my grade. I need to audition for Mr. Hoffman." Kanti says to her.

"Anyway, which song you're going to sing?" Charlie ask.

"The Habanera from 'Carmen'." Kanti answer.

"That one?" Gina ask.

"Yea...." Kanti reply once more.

"Well, good luck on that." Charlie says to her.

For the next two weeks, while Kanti practice her scences for Nutcracker, she has to practice her song for Mr. Hoffman. Its a pain of the ass, but she want to become a singer and a dancer. She has no choice. She simply want to make her mother proud of her. So, she has to work twice as hard as other students in the dance and music departments. Anyway, when its her turn, Kanti heads to Mr. Hoffman's classroom. Mr. Hoffman is currently sitting on his seat.

"Are you ready?" Larry ask.

"Yes, Mr. Hoffman." Kanti reply.

"Okay then. Start then."

Kanti simply nod and began to sing. She's little shaky while she sang, but she manage to finish singing the song. Mr. Hoffman wrote couple of notes before letting Kanti go. Since Thanksgiving is coming up, Kanti decide to go to dinner, even though she and her mother doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving. Maybe Kanti should ask the caters to make some veggies food during Thanksgiving dinner.

"So.....you're coming to dinner even though you don't celebrate the holiday......" Charlie says to Kanti.

"Yep. If you don't want me to go, just tell me." Kanti says back to him.

"I do......anyway.....you better get fat or something."

"Shut up."

When Thanksgiving dinner finally came, Gina, Charlie, and Kanti ate dinner together. Kanti decide to not be friends with Pamela, Erika, and Linsey anymore. On the last day of November, Mr. Hoffman has post up the list. Kanti is one of 10 students to sing in opera.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Like Gina and Kanti, Charlie is majoring in Music and Dance. Please read and review when you're not busy.