She used to be a prima donna in all the major ballets. In the hallway there is a wonderful picture of her in graceful arabesque, a study in poise and grace. She still acts like a diva, a bit, even when she is teaching my class. She's a very handsome woman but in that wording you know it means- handsome, no longer beautiful.
Pamela didn't complain about being cast in such a lot. She liked teaching us because we were her outlet to strut about and mess with her luminescent hair. She enjoyed gossiping with the mini divas in our class, the snitty girls that I, a veteran of many such a class, know are already too late in the Game. Too old at 18. I don't like myself for indulging in thoughts like these, but dance is like that.
I'm too old too, but I'm doing okay.
Pamela. A long time back, maybe a few months she brought her special order Heart of the Ocean necklace from J. Peterman. Titanic mania having gripped all in its unhappy path, the class crowded eagerly around. I just wanted to see the jewelry, the others wanted the story of Jack and Rose (gag) with it. Pamela holds a velvet box on her palms. On satin, there it is. I look at Pamela, whose face is a surprising mix of proud and unhappy. I think- She got ripped off.
Indeed its pretty enough, its shimmers and catchs the dim light in the studio (the studio head likes it this way for some secret reason.) The chain is encrusted with white jewels, ending down in the clear blue heart circled with jewels. The whole effect is stunningly gaudy. My heart will go on...for a price.
"Ooooooooh" we say simultaneously. She fingered the chain that held the jewel and smiled at our dazzled reaction.
"Why did you get it?" She looked up, gleam of the Heart lost from her eyes a second. She says, "My husband gets invited to a lot of parties and I wanted something to stand out." As an afterthought, she said in a more subdued tone, "They used to invite me to those parties.."
I step back and watch the sight. Divas may age gracefully, but they don't enjoy the grace. Suddenly her face was aglow again.
"Yes, the diamonds are just cubic zirconias, but the sapphire is real."
I turned away, and nodded. Yes, that was always true.