On with the story...
Two weeks later...
"Alright, now, turn and hop, turn and kick!" Jennyanydots directed us through the paper-towel tube she used as a megaphone. I had arrived just in time for knitting classes to be replaced with dancing classes. At first, I thought it might help me, but now...
"Celestia, keep up with the tempo! You're getting behind!" I was directed. Yeah, this really helps, I thought to myself. I danced like a pollicle on a frozen pond.
"Don't take that extra step. See? It's easier that way," Jemima, who was to my right, tried to help me, but to no avail. Concentrate! I said to myself.
We changed to a different song that had a different beat. I felt like I was doing better, until...
"Hey!" Victoria exclaimed as I stepped on her tail, causing our entire row to mess up. I blushed, and helped Victoria up.
"I'm sorry! I should have been more carefull..."
"Carefull, my hind paws! You're more like a Pollicle than a Jellicle!" Victoria dusted herself off. I wished that I had Misto's magic powers and could dissapear.
After practice, my self-esteem was as sore as my paws. I shook sweat from my fur, and heard a voice behind me.
"Celestia, dear?" I turned. It was Jenny. "I want to talk with you." Here it comes. They're kicking me out, I sighed to myself, and walked over.
"I really messed things up, didn't I?" I asked.
"Well...let's just say you need more practice. Remember, everyone else has been dancing since they were old enough to walk. You're a late starter," she smiled at me. "Don't get discouraged, dear."
"I'll try," I sighed, and went off to groom myself.
I didn't feel like talking to anyone, so I looked for somewhere private. I saw an upturned freezer with the door pryed off across the junkyard. I scampered over, and looked over the edge...
ZAP!!! A flash of blue lightning zinged past my head.
"Hey!" I shrieked. I was already in a bad mood, and this was like rubbing salt in a wound.
"Celestia? I'm sorry!" I heard a familiar voice.
"Mistoffelees? Is that you?" I asked as my vision cleared. "What was that for?"
"I was practicing..." he said, and I groaned.
"Please, don't say that word!
"What's wrong with it?" he asked, blowing a little blue dust from my fur.
"I forgot. You guys practice later on tonight, don't you? For the Ball, I mean?"
"Yeah."
"You're lucky you don't have to practice with me," I said, and told him what had happened. "It was a disaster! And Vic's mad as a cat on a hot tin roof..."
"Hmmm..." Misto scratched his ear. "That is a problem. And having Vic mad at you doesn't help..."
"The hard part is landing," I said. "That's where I always get off the beat." Misto thought for a minute, then looked up with a grin.
"I've got an idea," he said. "Meet me behind the blue sofa after our dance practice," he said, and padded off.
It had been three hours. I could hear the music winding down across the junkyard as I waited. The alcove behind the sofa was fairly large, and I wondered what Misto had in mind.
I heard soft pawsteps. Turning around, I saw the black and white cat in the moonlight.
"I talked to Jenny," he said. "She said that extra practicing would help you a lot."
"Okay," I said. "So, what do I do?"
"Well, you said your problem was landing..." he said.
"Yes. What are you doing?" I asked as a blue sphere began to grow around me.
"Just trust me," he smiled. Lifting his paws, I felt the ground dissapear from beneath me.
"Misto! Put me down! What are you doing? What's happening? Put me down!" I demanded.
"I won't drop you," he said. "Stay calm. See? It's just like standing," he explained calmly. I began to breathe easier.
"Okay. Now what?"
"Try the hardest move you did this afternoon," he instructed.
I tried lifting my front paws. "I can't! I'll fall!"
"No, you won't. Now turn...and hop...and turn...and kick..." I followed the movements.
"Hey, this isn't so bad..."I said, amazed. "It's easier, too!"
"Keep going. You're getting better," he said. I grinned, and did a twirl and a kick.
"You know, this is actually fun!"
To be continued...
