Chapter 12
Madame Giry watched him go then turned to the girl, taking in her appearance. She was tall, had a dancer's frame. Very thin, with ruby red hair that framed her pale face. Madame Giry could not see her eyes because large smoked glasses covered that. In fact, they were almost like a mask; they covered her eyes so much. She also was holding a cane. She was...blind.
"Forgive me for asking but I was wondering..."
"That am I blind? Yes. For 10 years."
"How?"
The girl dipped her head; "I would prefer not to talk about it right now, please?"
"I apologize. Now what's your name, and how old are you?"
Her head rose, and she smiled, "My name is Poppy O'Collen. I am 19."
Madame Giry nodded, "Good. Now what can you do?"
Poppy thought, "Well, before I went blind I danced. I still dance at times when I know the area well. But, many people thought a blind dancer was, well, asking for trouble. So I turned to singing."
They had been walking along as Poppy was telling her this. Madame Giry glanced over at Poppy, "Erik told me that you could not dance or sing."
Poppy laughed, "We only just met. He don't know that much about me yet."
"Hmm, well, I'll find some place to put you."
They arrived to the stage were a group of Rats was practicing. "Girls," Madame Giry tapped the floor with her cane, "I would like to interduse, Poppy O'Cullen. She'll be dancing extra."
Poppy gasped, "But Madame! You have not seen me dance!"
"Yes! Can't you see that she's blind?" This came from most of the ballet rats. "She has no place here!"
"Quiet!" Madame Giry shouted.
They fell silent. "We'll give her a chance. Meg. Go get her a costume and slippers. Poppy go with her."
"Yes Madame." She felt her hand being pulled, so she followed.
In the costume room, Meg chattered on. Finally Poppy could stand it no more. "Meg! What's your dysfunction?"
Meg shut up and turned to her. "What?"
Poppy sighed, "Never mind. Do you know Christine Daae?"
"Yes, why? How do you know her?"
Opps. "I...have head of her name before. My past father knew hers. He talked about her father. He was a violinist? When her father died, mine fingered that Christine would be sent here. And when mine died in America, I traveled here." Damn that was a terrible lie.
Meg was confused, "Oh, I see."
Poppy breathed a sigh of relief. Stupid girl. She finished tying the slippers on. "Ok. I'm ready"
"Great! Come on!" Poppy felt her arm being pulled again.
Out on the stage Madame Giry had Poppy warm up. Muscles screamed but Poppy ignored them. Finally Madame Giry said it was enough.
"Were and what do you want me to start with?"
"Do you remember the basics?"
"Yes."
Start with those, and I'll see what we can do with you."
Poppy sighed. She's going to murder Erik, or make him wish he were dead. She began on Ponte, and then twisted. When she was nine, her teacher had said she was going to be great. That she even exiled the seasoned dancers. Until she was in the wreak that took her eye sight.
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Erik had been watching Christine, until Poppy began to dance. She was good. All most good as Meg Giry. She kept center stage. Her twists and jumps were perfect. Only some mistakes. He wondered how she was able to do so. After 15 minutes Madame Giry had her to stop. "You did very well. You will be added into the back chorus."
The Rats let out groans until Giry thumped the floor with her cane. "Now I need to see if you can sing."
Erik winched. He heard her sing! Her manners was better then her singing. He almost felt sorry for the people down there. Almost. Since he heard her 'sing' before, Erik decided to go and prepare himself to give Christine her lessons. He slipped into the column and dropped down to a tunnel and headed to Christine's dressing room.
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"Which song?" Poppy asked.
"Does not matter. Sing one in your vocal range. Do you know it?" Madame Giry inquired.
"Yes. I am a mezzo."
"Good. Now begin."
Poppy bit her lip as she thought for a song that would not shock these poor inprasanale people.
I'm keeping
my calendar open
Even if it takes me years
'Til you figure out
what your plan is
You figure out all of your fears
I don't
wanna know anything about her
Or what you feel like you have to
defend
But I've seen your situation
And the world she keeps you
in
I'm keeping
my distance
I'm keeping my distance
And I'll wait until my time
is here
I'm keeping my distance
I'm keeping my distance
And
I'll wait until you make it clear
If you don't
want to rush it baby
Well then by all means don't
But I'm gonna
wait for the day when
When you see that it's me you want
I can
see, I can tell that you need me
You know that I need you too
So
why on earth can't you ever let her go
Will you ever try anything
new
I'm keeping
my distance
I'm keeping my distance
And I'll wait until my time
is here
I'm keeping my distance
I'm keeping my distance
And
I'll wait until you make it clear
Where will
you find the strength
I can't hold you against your will
You
keep me at arm's length
I'm reaching out to hold you still, yeah,
yeah, yeah
I can see
that you need me
You know that I need you too
So why on earth
can't you ever let her go
Will you ever try anything new
I'm keeping
my distance
I'm keeping my distance
And I'll wait until my time
is here
I'm keeping my distance
I'm keeping my distance
At the end of the song Poppy heard clapping. She turned to the sound.
"Bravo! (Very well done Mademoiselle...?) Madame Giry answered for Poppy
(Poppy O'Cullen. She will be joining the back chorus.)
(The back choruses? Non. non. She'll go in the front.)
(Monsieur Reyer. She can't. Mademoiselle is blind. And she knows not the present opera, but knows enough that she can go in back chorus.)
Monsieur Reyer walked up to Poppy, "(You are blind? How do you know some ballet?)
Poppy felt like panicking. He spoke French. All that she knew he said was something about ballet. "Um. Non...En Frances?"
Monsieur Reyer looked shocked, "Non En Frances?"
Poppy nodded, then winched as he began yelling at Madame Giry. She found her herself surrounded by the younger Ballet Rats. "Don't worry Poppy. Mother will prevail." Meg. "She always does." Meg took Poppy's hand and led her around interdusing her to all the other Rats. "This is Jammes."
"Bonjour Poppy. (Welcome to the Opera house.) Poppy could tell that this little girl was like Meg, chattily.
"And this is ..."
Poppy began to lose track and let Meg's voice go in one ear and out the other. Only a few spoke English. "And this is Christine Daae. Christine? Christine? Are you day dreaming again?"
Christine? Finally. Poppy pricked up. Now the fun begins.
"Oh I'm sorry Meg. What did you say?" Christine did have a lovely voice. But it was so sugar sweet that it made Poppy's teeth ach.
"This is Poppy. She's new."
"Bonjour Poppy. We are glad to have you here. You sing and dance rather well."
Poppy, again knew it was wrong to hate her already, but she did. It took all of her will power to smile nicely." Thank you. Of course, I have not had lessons from an angel. I know I would die to have one teach me his secret." Even though Poppy could not see, she knew that Christine had paled.
"Wh-what?" She stuttered, "Why do you say angle?"
God, this girl is dense. "Well, only an angel can sing so heavenly. I would worship the ground he walked on." Inside Poppy gagged. Did I just say that? Never again.
"I-" Christine was stopped when Madame Giry walked over.
"Poppy?"
"Yes, Madame Giry?"
She sighed," Well, you are in. Practice is every day on the stage. You can keep the practice costume and slippers."
Oh goody.
"I best get you back. Girls, practice is over for today. Now go to you dorms. Off with you." The girls scrambled off. Madame Giry Turned back to Poppy. " Go get changed. I'll meet you back here."
Poppy turn to make her way back when her belly growled stopped her. She giggled. "Ah, Madame Giry?"
"Yes Cherie?"
"I hate to ask but is there any way I could get something to eat?"
"Oui. I'll take you to the kitchens after you change."
"Thank you." With that she hurried back to the room were her dress was. After she changed, she and Madame Giry walked to the kitchens. Poppy ate. She never ate much. Eating was boring. As she ate she talked with the Ballet Mistress. Poppy ended up telling her how she lost her sight, even showing her secret. It was almost dark when they turned into the West hall. Erik was waiting. He nodded to Madame Giry and both he and Poppy dissaprnaed into the shadows.
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