Chapter 17

A few minutes had passed since Lee had proclaimed the official start of Eddy's week long ballet career. Ed and May had decided to return to the kitchen to gorge themselves on a few helpings of chunky puff serial, and then planned to head to Ed's house to begin work on a background set for the performance. Of course, the two movie/comic book junkies would not pass up the opportunity to catch a glimpse at the multitude of holiday specials that happened to be airing that night as they worked.

Double Dee and Marie were currently sitting side by side on the piano bench. Marie rested her head on Double Dees shoulder, and their hands were intertwined as they watched Lee begin instructing Eddy on the art of ballet. Lee and Eddy themselves stood next to each other, facing the mirror in usual standing position.

"Okay Eddy," said Lee, "The first thing you need to learn to master ballet are the four basic standard foot positions. Once you learn those, we can work on more advanced stuff and start practicing with the music."

Lee held her arms out to her sides.

"Here is first position," said Lee.

In what seemed like an instant, Lee snapped her toes outward such that her feet were parallel to her shoulders. Her thighs were pressed together as she held her hands above her head; a perfect formation. She held the position for a few seconds, after which she relaxed and turned toward Eddy.

"Your turn," said Lee, "Let's see it."

Eddy sighed, at which point he raised his hands above his head. He attempted to snap his feet out as Lee did, but due to his body not being used to standing in such an alien position, the boy lost his balance and tumbled to the floor.

"How the hell are you supposed to stand with your feet like that?" said Eddy, "I felt like my hips were going to explode."

"Calm down Little Man," said Lee, "Take it slow and steady. The only reason I can do it fast is cause I've been doing it for years and I'm used to it. Watch me again, I'll do it slow this time. Gradually point your toes further and further as you learn to keep your balance."

Lee demonstrated the position to Eddy once again, after which Eddy attempted to emulate her. While his form was initially no where near as robust as Lee's, after a few minutes of practice, he had become somewhat decent at achieving it repeatedly.

"There ya go!" said Lee as she pushed one of her loose curls behind her ear, "See it ain't so hard is it?"

Eddy looked up into his girlfriends sparkling blue eyes, a sight which caused him to crack a slight smile himself. Lee leaned down and kissed Eddy on the cheek, after which she returned to a serious demeanor.

"Alright, on to the next one," said Lee, "Second position."

Lee assumed her first position pose once again, after which she slid her feet out so that her legs were separated forming a "v" shape.

"Not bad right?" asked Lee, "Your turn sweetie."

Due to second position being quite similar to the first, Eddy was able to grasp the technique with little difficulty.

"Beautiful," said Lee, "Now let's up the ante a bit. Third position isn't really used anymore so let's got straight to fourth position"

Lee lifted her hands above her head, and proceeded to cross her right foot in front of her left, maintaining her feet parallel to her shoulders. This pose was quite unnatural, though Lee made it look easy due to years of practice.

Eddy observed Lee's pose with an expression of confusion.

"You expect me to do that?" asked Eddy, "What do you think I am, one of those contortionists at the freak show?"

"Looks like you got a new appreciation for ballet, eh Eddy," said Lee with a smile. She playfully taunted Eddy by maintaining the pose while lifting her hand to her mouth and pretending to yawn.

"What's the matter?" asked Lee, "Too much of a challenge for ya?"

"You kiddin?" said Eddy, "I got this, watch and learn."

Eddy proceeded to attempt achieving fourth position. As he moved his right foot outwards, while simultaneously attempting to keep his toes parallel to his shoulders, his foot managed to loose traction on the floor. The sudden loss of control caused Eddy to fall down into a straddle split, something his body was not prepared for. To avoid straining his groin, he leaned his body to the side and fell on the floor with a thud.

Lee giggled at Eddy's clumsy display, as did Double Dee and Marie in secret. Eddy groaned as he lifted himself back to his feet.

"Don't worry sweetheart," said Lee, still chuckling slightly as she spoke, "It will come with practice. We'll work on some more leg movements later, let's get started on the arm positions."

As Lee and Eddy moved on to arm positions, Double Dee and Marie continued to watch the events unfold from the piano bench. Double Dee decided to comment.

"I had no idea Lee had such a knack for teaching," said Double Dee, "Her knowledge of ballet technique is superb, and it seems she has learned in the months of being romantically involved with Eddy that a challenge to his ego is his best motivation."

Marie giggled.

"Lee is awesome," said Marie, "Lee has always been a teacher and mentor. She's always had so much patience, and she never gave up on me and May when she taught us to read, get dressed, do braids, pretty much anything."

Marie glanced toward Lee, who was currently standing behind Eddy positioning his arms while talking to him via mirror reflection. She decided to continue.

"It still amazes me," said Marie, "Given what Lee has been through, I'd never thought I'd see a day when she'd trust a man emotionally. As much as she still picks on Eddy, it's more or less her way of flirting and telling him she cares. Eddy knows it too, it's like a mutual unspoken connection. To tell the truth, I can wholeheartedly say that I believe Lee is head-over-heels in love with Eddy, as much as she won't 'openly' admit it."

Marie paused.

"At this time, I believe Eddy is the only person outside of our family that she truly trusts. Lee's trust is something that is difficult to earn, simply because she has been hurt so much throughout her life. I always feel bad for Lee because she is somewhat alone in the world when it comes to 'girlfriends'. While May has the girls on the softball team, and I have Nazz, Lee really has no other girls to hang out with, nor does she have a desire to make any close friends."

"I certainly see your point Marie," said Double Dee, "Lee seems rather content keeping to herself, although she seems to get along with Ed and I just fine."

Double Dee paused, during which he turned to look Marie in the eye.

"Has Lee ever formed any form of platonic friendship with another female?" asked Double Dee.

Marie paused for a few seconds, after which she decided to reply. However, just as she had begun to form her first words, she was interrupted by the sound of two hand claps in rapid succession.

"Yo lovebirds!" yelled Lee playfully, "Come on break up the mushy stuff, you got time for that later. We need to start practicing with some music!"

"Hold your horses Lee!" yelled Marie as she turned around to face the piano keys, "At least let me get warmed up!"

For the next few minutes, Marie played some basic musical patterns, which Lee used to teach Eddy how to shift positions to music. Lee would demonstrate the movement, have Eddy copy it, and then they would both perform a routine together. The routines, while still rudimentary, were a great beginners exercise and Eddy was catching on faster than he realized.

After a few routines, Lee decided to change course on her lessons.

"Okay, that's very good Eddy," said Lee as she placed her hands on her hips, "Now it's time to work on the most important skill a danseur can learn to master...the ability to support and lift the ballerina!"

"Piece of cake!" yelled Eddy with a sly grin, "Give me your best shot!"

"Alright bub" said Lee, "Catch me under my hips, and hold me in the air with your arms outstretched!"

Lee backed herself a few feet away from Eddy, at which point she suddenly rose to the tips of her toes. As if she was lighter than air, she proceeded to toe walk daintily, yet rapidly towards Eddy. After a few steps, she suddenly sprung into air, surprising him.

Eddy instinctively reached his hands upward to catch Lee, and was in fact successful. For a brief instant, Lee remained in the air, her left leg held straight out horizontally while her right knee was bent. Her torso was oriented vertically, her arms were raised above her head, and her hands curved down toward the crown of her head, executing a common ballet lift pose. A smile adorned Lee's face as she closed her eyes.

While Lee had executed her part of the lift perfectly, Eddy's legs were beginning to buckle. Lee was 5'9" tall compared to Eddy's 5'2", and had around ten pounds on him as well. These differences caused the untrained Eddy to struggle, his arms shaking as a nervous expression appeared on his face. Eventually, his legs managed to give way, bringing him to his knees. Lee immediately took notice that Eddy was unable to support the weight, and promptly dismounted from his arms, returning to her feet with a smile on her face.

"We're going to have to work on that a little, but great for a first try." said Lee, "We've got a lot of lifts in this choreography, and I'm counting on you my little macho man."

Lee leaned down towards the disheartened Eddy and kissed him on the cheek.

"You'll get it cutie pie," said Lee, "You just have to practice."

Lee pinched Eddy's cheek slightly, causing him to crack a smile, and stood erect holding her hand out to help him up. As Eddy took Lee's hand, the sound of distant laughing filled the air.

"What the hell is that?" asked Lee as she looked around the room, searching for the source of the unfamiliar laugh.

After a few seconds, Lee's eyes located the source of the laughter. Kevin had found his way to the Kanker's basement window to spy on Eddy's dance lessons, and was in the process of taking pictures with his cell phone.

"Kevin!" yelled Eddy out of surprise, as he attempted to cover himself up to avoid being seen wearing tights.

"Well, well, well" said Kevin as he kneeled down to speak into the window, "I had to see it to believe it!

"Yo!" yelled Lee as she walked toward the window, "Get outta here, what goes on down here ain't none of your business!"

"Sorry," said Kevin as he attempted to control his laughter, "I heard about Eddy's little dance recital, and just decided to come give my pal some support. But then I saw him fail epically at trying to lift a girl and I just couldn't resist!"

Kevin began laughing again as Eddy clenched his fists and ground his teeth. Marie and Double Dee watched with concern as Kevin continued aging a field day at Eddy's expense. Lee stood next to the window, completely unamused at Kevin's display.

Kevin began flapping his hands up and down as he pranced in circleds next to the ground level window as he chanted in a babyish voice.

"Eddyette and LeeLee prancing on a stage. He's in a tutu..."

Kevin could not finish his chanting, as he was suddenly brought to the ground with force. Lee had reached her hands out the window, grasped his legs, and swept them out from under him. In an instant, she had drug the boy into the room through the window and slammed him up against the wall, her forearm pressed into his chest. Kevin's once happy-go-lucky demeanor had disappeared and was replaced by one of fear as he stared into the angry eyes of Lee Kanker.

Eddy, Double Dee and Marie watched with concern (and some fear from Eddy) as they heard Lee unleash her fury in a deep, gravely tough talking voice that they had not heard since she had reverted to her original appearance.

"Listen you little big chinned twerp," yelled Lee aggressively, "One, no matter how much you want to prance around, make faces, and run that big ass mouth of yours, you will never be half the man my Eddy is. That goes for personality, attitude, and I can guarantee dick size. Two, if you ever call me LeeLee again, or if I ever catch you videotaping into my house one more time, you are going to wish I never moved into this neighborhood."

"Whoa whoa, okay," said Kevin rather nervously as he held his hands in the air, "Sorry, sorry I'll never do it again.

"Good," said Lee as she released Kevin, "I'm a pretty reasonable woman, so I'll let by gones be by gones if you stand here and delete any pictures you took of us while I watch. If you want to see or record anything pertaining to this ballet you can do it on the night of the talent show."

"Sure," said Kevin as he nervously began deleting every picture he took of Eddy struggling to lift Lee.

"A job well done," said Lee as she finished inspecting Kevin's phone to ensure that anything that could be used against them for amusement purposes was deleted, "Now get outta here, we gotta practice!"

Kevin quickly climbed up through the window and darted across the Kankers backyard, on the way back to his house. Lee turned around to see Eddy, Double Dee, and Marie staring at her in shock. Lee began walking toward the group.

"Alright let's take five," said Lee as she leaned her body against the wooden railing spanning the wall. "Then we'll work on some strength building exercises to help you with those lifts."

The three teenagers spent the next five minutes in casual conversation, attempting to clear the proverbial elephant in the room.