Forever Together
Moxxzandria Ida-Quinn
two
It was the last day of school, first day of summer and what was I doing? Same as always; going down to the local dance studio to teach a class of ballet and a class of hip hop after that.
‘Where’s your brother?’my father stood in the doorway, slurring his words.
‘He stayed after to shoot some hoops with friends.’
‘Now, why did he do that?’
‘I told him he could.’ I continued my walk to our bedroom, yes, I share a room with my fourteen year old brother.
‘Are you his mother?’
I shook my head. ‘Someone needs to take care of him.’
As soon as those words left my mouth, I regretted it. He came over, beer in one hand, gripping my arm with the other. ‘You been getting real lipy lately, and I don’t like that.’
His breath smelt of beer and his fist tasted of another lie about falling.
He left the room satisfied and I stayed put on the ground, holding my face.
***
With everything that goes on in my life, dancing is the only way to escape, even if for only a few hours. But now that summer was here, I was going to double my duty and take on teaching classes every night and holding private lessons during the day. I could use all the money I could get.
I was saving for college, a car, and to move out when I’m eighteen to get a place for Ty and I.
Sure, that was a lot of money to save up and with no bank account, I was running out of hiding places for my money I already had saved up.
The bus ride to the dance studio took about a half hour, because the studio was on the other side of the town: ‘Richville’.
My first class was a six to nine year old ballet class, experienced. They had a competition coming up in two weeks and I was pushing them to the limit, so far that one girl quit. Sure, I was tough and these girls needed to know that I wasn’t here to be their friend, but here to help them get somewhere in life. All of them had potential and were very talented dancers and on top of that, mothers who pay fortunes to get them to the top.
I didn’t have the chance to compete and I didn’t have the money for classes but Miss. Letta always caught me watching and dancing outside the studio.
I remember, it was the first day of school two years ago and she offered to let me take a class if I promised to work ten times harder than the other girls and if I helped out around the studio.
Now, I teach and use that money for lessons myself.
Miss. Letta let me start my own class, teaching all on my own, and setting pricing for myself.
For an hour dance lesson, not on a team (beginner), I ask for $40 a child. If on a team, two hours are minimum for three days a week and two types of dance: ballet and hip hop, all for $170 a week per a child. And private classes started at one hour for $50 up to three hours which was $120.
I wasn’t cheap, but from this side of town, that money was like paper to them. Nothing.
Before school ended, I was bring home $80 for two girl on nonteam and $340 for two girls on team. I also helped Miss. Letta with her classes, roping in an extra $20 for helping. All that together came to $440 a week. That number seems high to any teenager, but to pay for busing anywhere, food, dance supplies, studio rental for my lessons, house payments, and anything extra Ty and I might need, like clothing, that money went fast.
Summer was my time. I brought home almost a $1000 a week but gym rental was more because I renting more and same with the busing.
But this summer, I was planning on finding another job, and raising the pricing.
That night when I got to the studio, I put up a sign up sheet for private dance lessons.
WITTYestWriter