Attitude by Robin Stevenson Page A

was a famous dancer.”
    â€œYes. She had a very successful career. Melissa’s father died about five years ago, so it’s just the two of them. And”—she clears her throat—“it is very important to Melissa’s mother that her daughter also have a successful career in ballet.”
    â€œBut that’s what Melissa wants anyway,” I point out.
    â€œIs it?”
    â€œOf course. Everyone knows that.”
    Diana gives me a look, and there’s something sad about her smile. “I don’t know that Melissa has ever had a chance to want anything else.” She sighs. “What about you, Cassandra? What do you want?”
    â€œRight now I’d be happy just to be able to dance,” I say, gesturing at my crutches. “And, you know, walk.”
    â€œWhat about PTP? If you were offered a spot, would you want to stay?”
    â€œIt’s not likely now, is it? I won’t even be able to dance until the end of the summer.”
    Diana steeples her hands together and looks at me over her fingertips. “We invite girls into PTP based on our assessment of their potential, not their current ability. From what I’ve seen over the past two weeks, you have that potential.”
    â€œYou mean there’s still a chance?” I feel like the sun has just come out after weeks of rain; an energy, a lightness, is rushing through me. I feel like dancing right here and now.
    â€œDefinitely. The way you have handled all of this…this unpleasantness with the other girls…shows your character. You’ve danced well. You haven’t allowed yourself to be thrown off or distracted.” She meets my eyes and smiles, her head tilted to one side. “You’ve kept your focus, and you’ve showed the kind of positive attitude that a dancer needs. That can’t have been easy, Cassandra.”
    I swallow. “No. It hasn’t been.”
    â€œI suggest that you talk to your parents.” Diana stands up. “You should think about what you want. I suspect you’re going to need to make a big decision soon.”
    * * *
    I have lunch with Cam and Mackenzie. They’re dying to know what happened this morning, and I tell them, but I don’t feel like talking about it much. I can’t stop thinking about Diana’s question to me.
    â€œWould you stay if you got into PTP?” I ask.
    â€œDuh, what do you think?” Cam looks at me like I’m crazy. “Of course I would.”
    Mackenzie looks thoughtful. “I want to get in,” she says, “but I don’t think I’d stay. I’d miss my family too much. I’ve got three brothers, and we’re pretty close. Maybe in another year. When I’m fifteen, you know?”
    It hadn’t occurred to me that this isn’t a yes-or-no decision—that not doing it now doesn’t mean not doing it ever. If I’m not ready this fall, there’s always next year. “Yeah,” I say, with a sense of relief. “That makes sense.”
    â€œI bet you get in,” Cam says to me. “You deserve to. If it’s what you want.”
    I don’t tell her that Diana pretty much told me I’d get in. I don’t want to brag, and besides, it’s not like Diana made any promises. Still, I know I need to make a decision soon.
    Living in Canada, on the other side of the world from my family, going to high school here, spending every free minute dancing…
    Is this what I want?

Seventeen
    That afternoon, Diana makes an announcement. Melissa and Mackenzie have been chosen to play the part of Clara in The Nutcracker . Iako is to learn the part as well, in case one of them can’t do it for some reason. It’s not really a surprise, and I’m thrilled for Mackenzie and Iako.
    For Melissa—not so much.
    I look around, searching out their faces. Mackenzie has a grin almost as wide as her face and is bouncing up and down on her