them , her and the other dancers in the troupe . Le Petit Rat , spawned from filth ! Well , she was filthy no longer . She was a star .
Ida thought of her mother , crouched over a wash tub , raw red hands scrabbling , hair scraped into place , the tie of her apron trailing behind her backside . She had hoped now that Jasper was funding her lessons her mother would lose some of that pinched look . She had hoped her cheeks would round a little and the creases in her skin relax .
Ida fingered the coins in her pocket , a little something from Jasper . She decided she would buy her mother a bottle of perfume , picturing the look of surprise on her face when she realised it had Ida ’ s name on it . That ’ s what she needed , some nice scent . The shop bell clanged behind her , the friendly peal so different to the commanding clang of the bell in the dance school . This bell chimed in time to the clink of coins in her pocket , the click of her new shoes on the floor , the swish of her clean skirt as she stepped toward the counter .
*** Ida ’ s shoes were in tatters . She could see her bloody toes poking through , one of the nails torn almost off . ‘ Again !’ Adele barked . Ida span round , balancing en pointe . Adele ’ s voice blared through her pain , blazoning its command , forcing her to push through the agony of limbs aching (‘ Again !’), toes cracking (‘ Again !’), bruises blossoming (‘ Again !’), ribcage opening (‘ Again !’). She was suspended in that spin , immeasurably , until she felt outside of reality . ‘ And … stop !’ Ida couldn ’ t stop . Her own momentum propelled her on . ‘ Stop ! Now !’ Ida could not heed these words . She didn ’ t exist in the same world as Adele any longer . She was beyond her own body . ‘ I said STOP !’ Ida hit the floor . Adele had dealt a blow to her thigh with her stick . Gasping , hunched on the floorboards , Ida watched , dazed as a pair of shoes squeaked towards her . A hand materialised in the air and helped her to her feet . ‘ And who is this little starlet ?’ ‘ Oh , no one worthy of any notice , Mr Evans .’ Adele shrugged . ‘ She ’ s not ready yet . Her body ’ s still too soft .’ ‘ Hm , I can see .’
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