Part 10.1 – Stars
Once, when River was a tiny girl; her parents took her and Simon to Ariel. It was the first time she had ever been off-world and she couldn't have been more excited. She had spent the entire journey, with her little hands and face plastered to the window, staring out into the Black and wondering what the stars were saying to each other. She had asked Simon (who was looking just a tad nervous about the whole thing) if he could see a pattern in their winks, but he had told her to be quiet and go away.
On Ariel, they shopped at the Triplex, went to the zoo and saw the flamingos – pink and comical standing on one leg, and mummy even deigned to have a picnic outside (of course, only on the condition that there would be a table, table cloth, comfortable chairs, caterers and serving staff).
But the one thing that made sure River would never forget was the night her parents took her to watch the ballet. Simon had been bored stiff, but River was rapturous with admiration. The prima ballerina was an angel. River saw Giselle dancing and forever wanted to become her. She wanted to be that girl, that beautiful glittering star, dancing free and light across the stage, bringing a glow into people's eyes and making their hearts pound.
"Mummy...daddy I wanna learn!" she had enthused after the show.
Daddy picked up his little princess and smiled, "You want to be a ballerina River?"
She nodded enthusiastically.
Daddy turned to Mummy, "Well Reagan?"
"Mummy! Mummy let me dance!" River pleaded loudly.
A cold, quelling look was all River got in the way of an answer, as her hopes were trodden underfoot by a pair of dark blue heels.
So, imagine her astonishment when she woke up the next morning and discovered a beautiful pair of ballet slippers waiting for her at the foot of the bed.
Notes:
1. Firefly Episode: "Shindig" – where River takes a moment to appreciate the FLAMINGOS on Badger's lapel.