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Imani

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 "Imani, SPA is here. Please come and say hi," called my mom. It has been around 12 years now since we have been living with almost nothing. I am very fortunate though that people like SPA (Stopping Poverty Association) come and help out our family.
I trudged to the door, not because I don't want to see the wonderful helpers, but because of Claire. Her dad is the CEO of the program and makes her come. She is always so mean to me and cannot go one day without mentioning how unfortunate I am. Along with that, she always acts so bratty and it annoys me a lot. The thing that makes me the most mad is the fact that she is perfect at everything. She looks remarkable, has marvelous friends, and is amazing at dance. I am not just talking any dance though, I mean Irish dance. I can never stop dreaming about how I would like to dance. I saw Claire watching a video of a dancer named Emily Reilly, and she was impeccable; I knew at that very moment that I want to be just like her. Although, the only problem is my parents couldn't afford it. As my mom and dad said, "SPA is already doing enough for us, they cannot do everything." After they said that, I decided to just drop the topic drop the subject and go back to my job, weaving baskets. It's not that I don't like it, the problem is that it's boring and I could be doing other things that are more fun if I wasn't stuck in this place.
I opened the door, "Hi everyone, it’s nice to see you all again." 
Claire's dad, Justin responded, "Thank you, it is nice to see you too." I welcomed them and the rest of the group into our humble abode. Our place is pretty small, it has a little kitchen and one bathroom. Also it has only two bedrooms, one for my parents and the other for my 3 other siblings and I. It is tiny but it is home.
"Hey Claire, why don't you go hang out with Imani," stated her mother, Calista. By the time she said that, my brothers Dillon and Jacob along with my sister Liana came down.

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"Hey Claire, why don't you go hang out with Imani," stated her mother, Calista. By the time she said that, my brothers Dillon and Jacob along with my sister Liana came down. They were all piped up with joy because they were young and didn't know the difference between being wealthy and poor. Claire responded with a long, "Fine."
"So what do you want to do?" I asked. We went outside because there was more room out there to move freely, or I should say to be freer. 
She replied, "I don't know just talk. Have you ever been in a normal conversation?" That stung stung because she knows I don't really talk to anyone other than my family, but I kept quiet.
I really had no idea what to talk about so I asked her how dance is going. Her expression on her face looked like she was shocked that I asked. "It is going great, I sent in an application to Riverdance Junior," Claire said. "The main instructor helping is Emily Reilly and she is awesome, which makes sense, she is a world champion. 
"Wow! I would love to just meet her, to be able to maybe dance for her would be incredible.”” We just kept talking on and on back and forth. Claire actually started to talk to me differently, like a friend. I guess this was why she was so popular. actually once you get to know her Once you get to know her, she is super nice and funny. Then I was stunned when she asked me a question,"Not to be rude, but has there ever been a sport you would want to do if your family could afford it?" If it would have been about an hour ago that she asked this, I would have been offended, but now I just knew she was wondering.

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"Hey Claire, why don't you go hang out with Imani," stated her mother, Calista. By the time she said that, my brothers Dillon and Jacob along with my sister Liana came down. They were all piped up with joy because they were young and didn't know the difference between being wealthy and poor. Claire responded with a long, "Fine."
"So what do you want to do?" I asked. We went outside because there was more room out there to move freely, or I should say to be freer. 
She replied, "I don't know just talk. Have you ever been in a normal conversation?" That stung stung because she knows I don't really talk to anyone other than my family, but I kept quiet.
I really had no idea what to talk about so I asked her how dance is going. Her expression on her face looked like she was shocked that I asked. "It is going great, I sent in an application to Riverdance Junior," Claire said. "The main instructor helping is Emily Reilly and she is awesome, which makes sense, she is a world champion. 
"Wow! I would love to just meet her, to be able to maybe dance for her would be incredible.”” We just kept talking on and on back and forth. Claire actually started to talk to me differently, like a friend. I guess this was why she was so popular. actually once you get to know her Once you get to know her, she is super nice and funny. Then I was stunned when she asked me a question,"Not to be rude, but has there ever been a sport you would want to do if your family could afford it?" If it would have been about an hour ago that she asked this, I would have been offended, but now I just knew she was wondering.

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 "Actually, I always dreamed of becoming an Irish dancer. I saw you watching a video of Emily Reilly, I then I knew she was my model and that is what I want to do," I replied.
 "Actually, I always dreamed of becoming an Irish dancer. I saw you watching a video of Emily Reilly, I then I knew she was my model and that is what I want to do," I replied.
We kept silent for a minute. She finally broke the silence and said, "I should go inside because it is starting to get darker, and my dad might want to leave soon. I had a great time talking with you. I can't wait until I see you tomorrow."
After getting ready for bed, I laid there thinking. How could the person I hate all of a sudden become my one and only...friend? I guess I just never took the time to actually know her. I really hope she gets into that program because she deserves it. Also, the fact that she actually wants to see me tomorrow and that it wasn ́t just a one day thing makes me feel even brighter. After thinking for a while laying in my sleeping bag on the ground I finally go into a deep sleep.I woke up the next morning hastily went down the stairs. I look at the clock, only 30 minutes until they come. I am actually very jovial for today. When they finally got here, I realized I was not the only one like this.
Claire jumped into our house saying, "Hello Imani! I came up with a brilliant idea!" I kept pleading with her to tell me what it is, but she made me wait until we got outside. Finally, after she could not contain herself anymore, she let it all out. "You really want to learn how to Irish dance, and I know how...why don't I just teach you? Clever, I know."
I started running in circles because I just could not contain my emotions. I am just flooding with happiness.
“So when can we start?” I asked once she got outside. “Why don't we start now?”

She agreed and I am so cheerful because I really wanted to begin. Claire told me to go put my hair up and then come back outside. I quickly ran inside so I could get out as fast as I can.
“Let's just start with some simple foot placement," Claire started. She explained how I start by putting my feet heels touching when first learning. As I progress, I start with my feet crossed in front of each other. After that, I go to a point when I arched my right foot while my back foot stays turned out. Later, after a few counts, I pulled up on my toes getting ready to begin. We practiced this for a little while until I mastered the correct technique and timing. In irish dance it runs in eight bars so every move gets one beat and some get two.
Once she thought I was good to go at this, she started teaching me a simple move called Hop 123 ́s. I practiced and practiced Hop 123, Hop 123, Hop 123, Hop 123. Moving back and forth until it got dark.

I woke up with anticipation, because the letter was supposed to come today. I am waiting to hear from a program called Riverdance Junior, with special guest Emily Reilly. I submitted a video and article saying why I would like to be in this show. I did my favorite dance, the Slip Jig, because it lets me float, be myself, and show off my pretty technique. Only the best of the best get accepted into this show and I really want to get in. My dance teacher, Ms. Lin, said she fully believes that I will make it, but I am still nervous. 

She agreed and I am so cheerful because I really wanted to begin. Claire told me to go put my hair up and then come back outside. I quickly ran inside so I could get out as fast as I can.
“Let's just start with some simple foot placement," Claire started. She explained how I start by putting my feet heels touching when first learning. As I progress, I start with my feet crossed in front of each other. After that, I go to a point when I arched my right foot while my back foot stays turned out. Later, after a few counts, I pulled up on my toes getting ready to begin. We practiced this for a little while until I mastered the correct technique and timing. In irish dance it runs in eight bars so every move gets one beat and some get two.
Once she thought I was good to go at this, she started teaching me a simple move called Hop 123 ́s. I practiced and practiced Hop 123, Hop 123, Hop 123, Hop 123. Moving back and forth until it got dark.

Claire

I woke up with anticipation, because the letter was supposed to come today. I am waiting to hear from a program called Riverdance Junior, with special guest Emily Reilly. I submitted a video and article saying why I would like to be in this show. I did my favorite dance, the Slip Jig, because it lets me float, be myself, and show off my pretty technique. Only the best of the best get accepted into this show and I really want to get in. My dance teacher, Ms. Lin, said she fully believes that I will make it, but I am still nervous. 

“Claire come down here I have something for you,” my mother called me.
“Mom, Mom, Mom, did the letter come? Did I get in? Please tell me yes!”
“Sweetie, I thought that we would open it together. Just remember, no matter what, even if you don't get in, I am super proud of you. You worked so hard to get here and there will always be more opportunities and you will keep shining.”
It was time to open the letter because my dad had just arrived in the room. The letter was in a shiny white envelope and seemed as if it was calling my name. All my years of hard work and waiting for my moment will either show I need to keep training even harder or that I finally got everything I wanted. I can’t believe I am holding this envelope, one step away from my fate. I ripped open my letter, hands shaking. I read the letter over a few times just to make sure I was reading it correctly. I am in, I was chosen!!! This was the best day of my life! I need to go to Imani ́s house to tell her the good news.
“Imani, I did it, I got into the program!” I said.
“That is great news I am so happy for you,” Imani replied. 
“I have been practicing my steps since your last visit and I think I am getting the hang of it! My favorite dance would have to be Reel, because it lets me break free from all the drama in my life and just float, fly like a bird.
I responded to her, “Okay, good for you! Why don't you show me what you have been practicing.” “5678.” She started and, wow, I was astonished. She was like no dancer I have ever seen before. She just started and she already looks like she could win many competitions.
With the way that she has been practicing lately, I would not be surprised if within a year she becomes a champion of a major.
“OMG! Girl that was impressive! I can't wait to teach you more when I get back.”

“What do you mean when you get back, aren´t I going to see you tomorrow?” Imani was questioning. 
I replied, “Sadly no, that program that I got into makes me leave in two days, and tomorrow I have to pack. I am so sorry that I did not tell you earlier, it is just that we were becoming such great friends and I did not want that to change.”
“Claire, you know I will always be proud of you, we will still be friends even if you have to leave.” All I could think about was how I would not see her for six months. I explained, it is a full show...that we need a month to learn the choreography and then we are going all around the world performing for another five months.
 “Thanks for understanding Imani.”
We just kept on dancing, laughing, and talking. It was like there was no time limit on how much we had left together. I started teaching her a Treble Jig, and we watched videos of dancers like Emily Reilly. She was psyched when I told her that Emily Reilly was going to be a guest instructor to help us learn things and make it the best it could be. We started talking and then we just couldn't stop laughing until we started to cry.
Finally, it was time for me to say goodbye to her. This was by far the saddest thing I had to do all day. Imani started crying and that made me start crying, which just made it even more sappy. 
“I will miss you, you know that. Everything just happened so fast. One minute I despise you, the next we are best friends, and then it seems one minute later I am not going to see you again for six months.”

“What do you mean when you get back, aren´t I going to see you tomorrow?” Imani was questioning. 
I replied, “Sadly no, that program that I got into makes me leave in two days, and tomorrow I have to pack. I am so sorry that I did not tell you earlier, it is just that we were becoming such great friends and I did not want that to change.”
“Claire, you know I will always be proud of you, we will still be friends even if you have to leave.” All I could think about was how I would not see her for six months. I explained, it is a full show...that we need a month to learn the choreography and then we are going all around the world performing for another five months.
 “Thanks for understanding Imani.”
We just kept on dancing, laughing, and talking. It was like there was no time limit on how much we had left together. I started teaching her a Treble Jig, and we watched videos of dancers like Emily Reilly. She was psyched when I told her that Emily Reilly was going to be a guest instructor to help us learn things and make it the best it could be. We started talking and then we just couldn't stop laughing until we started to cry.
Finally, it was time for me to say goodbye to her. This was by far the saddest thing I had to do all day. Imani started crying and that made me start crying, which just made it even more sappy. 
“I will miss you, you know that. Everything just happened so fast. One minute I despise you, the next we are best friends, and then it seems one minute later I am not going to see you again for six months.”

“I promise that we will be best friends through thick and thin, forever and ever. We will never be able to get separated. Forever.”
“Forever.”
****
My mom came in my room, it was time for me to leave.
“Are you ready Peanut? I am so very proud of you. You deserve it more than anyone. Now go out there and shine.”
“Thanks Mom. I love you so much.”
“Oh, and one more thing I almost forgot. We got one more letter, they want you to be the lead.”
̈ ̈OMG, this is unreal. Are you positive? You must be. I am so excited.¨ After that my dad came in and they just kept talking on and on about how I had everything and how we are ready to go. They also said how they will miss me, but will be at my show.
Finally we arrived there, and I will tell you that it was beautiful. I loaded all of my stuff into my dorm for the month. After that, I had to say goodbye to my parents and head over to meet the rest of the cast in the show. I made lots of new friends quickly. The next day, I started bright and early with practice, we would be going from 7:00a.m. until 8:00p.m.. I will be exhausted by the end of the day but I will have so much fun I will not even let it bother me. 
Now the time came, I got to meet Emily Reilly. I saw her and I got so excited I almost fainted. Well, maybe that is a little overdramatic. I got to meet her and shake hands. Then we started dancing, she watched me; She taught me the steps along with giving me comments. My partner is Declan Vion, which is no surprise because he is a World Champion. In a way he reminds me of Imani. They both have a passion for dance, they both overcame challenges, Imani did not have any money for lessons, and Declan started dancing late.

He told me that I am amazing and that I will become a world champion in at least a few years. Finally, after a long days work, it was time for bed. Everything was awesome. It is everything I ever wanted. 
****
It was our final week going through dress rehearsals, and wow were those dresses pretty. Although there was still one thing that I could not get out of my mind, Imani. How she would love to be here right now up on this stage performing for thousands in the pretty dresses under the spotlight?
After rehearsals, I skipped pool time and went straight to my room. I just could not find a way to brush out of my mind how much regret I have that I didn’t let someone else who doesn’t have much get this role. If only Emily Reilly could see how she could dance. Imani deserves this just as much as me.