Crunch, crunch,crunch.Heclosedhiseyes
and saw himselffightingwithpiratesover
gold dust. Swordsclashedandclankedinhis
imagination.
Madame’svoicebroughtJacquesbackto
the studio. “Ifyouhavesomuchenergy,little
brother, do thesejumps.Seeif youcanjump
as high as thegirls.”
MadameproppedJacquesintofifthposi-
tion, with hislegscrossedandfeetsideways,
pointing in oppositedirections.Hisrightfoot
was in front,itsheelagainsthisleftbigtoe,
and his kneesturnedoutward.
“Now leapintotheairandchangeyour
feet so when youlandyourleftfootis infront.”
Jacques sprangintotheair,hisarms
flailing. Somehowhelandedinthecorrect
position.
“Good! That’scalleda
changement,”saidMadame.
“Now do thirty-twoofthem
without a stop.”
Jacques jumpedand
landed, jumpedandlanded,
popping upanddownlike
a pogo stick. Hewasfly-
ing! His gringrewwiderand
wider. He imaginedthata
red cape billowedbehindhim
and a sword dangledfromhis
belt. It was morefunthanhe
expected.
Madamelikedhowhigh
Jacques jumped.Jacques’s
mother agreedtobringhim
back to the studioevery
Saturday.Shewaseagertokeepherson
offthecitystreetswherehemightgetinto
trouble.Jacqueswouldratherbescaringhis
friendsina dark,abandonedicehouse,butthe
Bosswasnota persontosaynoto.
Classafterclass,MadametrainedJacques
tobendhiskneesintoa plié,sohecould
springandlandhisjumpsassoftlyasa cat.
Helearnedtopointhistoesandtomovehis
arms,head,andshouldersgracefully,likea
dancer.Hedidn’tmindbeingtheonlyboy
intheclass.
Aftersixmonths,theBosswaspleased
when MadamerecommendedthatJacques
andhissisterattendtheSchoolofAmerican
Ballet,a prestigiousacademyforprofessional
dancersthathadrecentlybeguna program
forchildren.There,JacquesimpressedJacquesdancingahoedownataboutagetenLOOK–I’M DOING FIFTH POSITION! ONLY HAVE ONE FOOT!BUT-BUT-BUT– YOU