Page 31 of Breaking the Rules
The crowd of students and parents was gathered outside the door, impatiently waiting.
“I’m sorry I’m late, my car decided it wasn’t going to work.”
“I hope we’re getting something off of the price today for you being almost twenty minutes late?” One of the mothers spoke up and all the other brainless birds behind her agreed.
Savanhi didn’t offer lessons to just anyone. Just like at Tempt, she built elite clients in the world of competitive dance. She offered a few specialty classes like the Mommy and Me or Toddler Tumbles, but they weren’t the money makers. And quite frankly, neither were the elite classes but they kept bills paid and food in the fridge. Stripping added to it.
She knew not appeasing them would turn this into a bigger issue, so she plastered a fake professional grin and nodded. “Twenty percent off for my twenty minutes of inconvenience.”
Never mind that on some days she wouldn’t even get started because the very woman who was demanding shit didn’t bring her daughter until twenty-five minutes after class started. Savanhi ignored the crowd agreeing and making their silly comments to unlock the door, turn the lights on, and proceed to set up for her day of back-to-back lessons. She had the performers for two different troupes in her first two one-hour slots and then the Toddler Tumbles to finish her day off. She appreciated that those smiling faces and joyous humans could close her day out, otherwise she would be burying her troubles in a bottle.
“Hi, Savanhi,” one of the newer clients spoke up, grabbing her attention. She’d seen her around the city but couldn’t put her finger on where.
Savanhi spun on the balls of her feet, the foot undies making her spin seamless. “Yes…Remi, right?”
“Yeah, the lady who can’t dance,” Remi gushed, raising her hand slightly. “That’s me. So you know I typically stay with Areli but her uncle is coming back in town today and he wants to surprise her and pick her up. Is that okay?”
Savanhi nodded. “Yeah, of course, he’s on the profile, right?”
The profile she hadn’t looked at.
Remi nodded. “Yeah, he is. I’m sure I’ll be back for the next Mommy and Me class, bumping into other parents.”
“Between you and I, none of them can dance. They just like looking the part. I’ve considered having a happy hour before, to make it more entertaining,” Savanhi joked.
“That might actually help and be a smart business move,” Remi pointed and Savanhi shrugged.
"Maybe when I get my own space, until then, y’all will just have to be uncoordinated and sober.”
Remi laughed and looked at Areli who was hanging her Hello Kitty plush purse up with the other girls’ tiny, glittery, colorful book bags. Areli was dressed as if she’d been dancing all four years of her life. Savanhi adored how cute she was in her tights, leotard, and skirt. Every time she came to class, she wore a different color, her thick hair was slicked up in a bun and her diamond-studs shined brightly. That, and the little girl had energy Savanhi wished she had.
“She loves your classes.”
“I love having her. I’ll see you next time.”
“See you,” Remi replied on her way out of the door.
Savanhi spun back around and clapped her hands three times and the handful of tiny dancers returned the same. “What time is it?”
“Warmies!” the class shouted back, running to the middle of the floor and standing in a circle.
Savanhi went through their normal schedule, made sure they had a snack and water before their parents started arriving to get them. As she cleaned up the studio, gathering the trash, she noticed Areli was the last dancer.
“Areli,” she hummed. “Do you want to help me with the snacks?”
“Can I have an extra one?” Areli bargained more than she asked and Savanhi could appreciate it.
“Of course, never work for free,” Savanhi shared. “Put your bag by mine.”
“Uh, I’ll keep it,” Areli replied, moving the bag she had hanging off her arm like an old woman closer to her body.
“For snacks or…”
“I’m strwapped,” Areli whispered. “Just like my mommy.”
Savanhi’s brows rose as she squatted in front of her. “Oh. Do you mind if I see it?”
“Nope. Mommy never leaves home without it,” Areli said, unzipping her purse and opening it for Savanhi to spot the bright pink water gun, fully loaded.
