Chapter 23
When Mark heard the voice his head snapped to the side…it was Samantha, Alyssa's little sister…Mark just shrugged his shoulders at her question.
Sami said, "Isn't she amazing?"
Sami took a standing place standing next to Mark and watched Alyssa…She continued, "You know after all she's been through…she still has a smile on her face when she comes to work every day…she was destined to be the best dancer in the world…to bad fate decided to change her life."
Mark looked over and Sami and said, "What do you mean?" Samantha said, "You mean she never told you about the accident?"…Mark shook his head no…Sami said, "C'mon big guy…let me get you some coffee." Mark went with Sami down to the company's cafeteria and they grabbed some coffee and sat down. Mark said, "So, what accident are you talking about."
Sami sipped her hot coffee and placed the cup back on the table sitting across from the huge guy…Sami said, "Well…Aly was 19 and a year into her job as the biggest ballerina at ABC…she was the lead in nearly every ballet and performance…Late one night while driving to our parents home in Albany…a drunk drive plowed into the drivers side of her small car…shattering her pelvis and any chance to ever dance again…but you don't honestly think that kept my sister's stubborn side from showing?"
Mark said, "I'm willing to bet not."
Sami said, "You bet your ass…Alyssa went through 14 hours of reconstructive orthopedic surgery with the best god damn doctor in the world…She also went through a year and a half of physical therapy…when she finished all of it…she came out as the once again perfect ballerina…every one was shocked when she walked back into the school and took her place back as the lead in her most famous roll she loved…she did the Nutcracker…but it was to be her last performance."
Sami sniffled and said, "When the dancers got back to the studio to start a new dance…The bastards here from the Board of Trustees and her instructors pulled her aside and said she shouldn't continue dancing…when ever she was lifted into the air her hips looked crocked…see when a woman is lifted by her hips they have to stay flat and even…"
Sami stopped to chew on her thumb nail and then continued, "Alyssa had both hips replaced during the reconstructive surgery…so she really couldn't control what her hips did…they were just there to help her walk…as a result, her right hip goes higher in the air by 3 lousy inches. And because she had signed a contract…their asses were covered and Alyssa was heart broken."
Mark said, "How did she become a teacher?"
Sami said, "Sheer dumb luck…because they all loved her so much and knew she was the hardest working ballerina in the company…they felt that they couldn't just throw her away like a Barbie with 2 missing legs…so they made her an offer…she cried for a week before she decided to take the job…it was her destiny…if she couldn't be a dancer then she could be a dance instructor. Even now…I don't know how she can bring herself to not just tell them to shove the job…but then again I do…because she loves to dance."
Mark said, "Well…in a way I can feel her pain…once I retire from wrestling…I'm supposed to have hip replacement surgery…I didn't take care of my body when I was younger and I'm paying for it now."
Samantha sat there looking at Mark and said, "You love my sister don't you?"