As the maid dresses me in my best mauve, lacy silk gown, I can hardly stand still! Mama comes in, polishing her opera glasses. Papa is on another Navy mission.
"You will be sitting right above the stage, Genevieve so you have to remember to be very quiet."
The carriage seemed to fly us to the Opera. A black-cloaked man met us at the door.
"Hello my name is Erik, do you like chocolate?" He hands me a box. It takes me a minute to notice fairies like the ones I catch with Papa glowing where his eyes should be.
"Are you a fairy?" I ask breathlessly.
He bows "I am King of the Fairies." he proclaims.
Mama laughs "If Raoul knew what you just said…"
"So he can play with her and I can't?" Erik pouted. "I arranged this for you Geniveve, Benno, Prince Siegfried's servant is traditionally the Travesty role, but since you love princes so much…. I hope you enjoy your birthday present from me!"
"You really are a fairy!" I say.
All too soon it was time for the ballet. Mama's friend led us into his box, the plush red seats made the ache from my corset disappear!
My soul seemed to float on the music, I could feel myself spinning with every pirate, and leaping with every grande jatte! Seeing Prince Siegfried gave me a lightness, a burst of energy, and most of all happiness! "I never knew I could be a boy until I saw you! I want to be like you!" I squealed the moment I saw Little James.
"You are old enough to be trained as a dancer en travesty, your mama says you have a gift" She smiled at my first Mama.
"I will talk it over with my husband" smiled Mama.
I didn't like that Siegfried and Odette died at the end though! When I got home, I told Paapa how sad it was!
"When you love somebody you do everything you can to be with them. Heaven is a lovely place to be. Let me get my telescope and I'll show you," said Papa.
We walked outside, to the park, where Papa said we could see the stars. He held the heavy telescope while I looked inside.
"Which one do you think is your Papa?"
I looked swaying the telescope back and forth.
"That one! It is twinkling as if to say I love you."
My Papa smiled "That's the one I picked too, he looks so happy to see us." Papa's smile was gentle but bright.
(Mama's POV)
"I would like Genevieve to come to rehearsals with me today," I declared.
"But why?" asked my husband.
"The Ballet Master would like to meet her, He says dancing is in her blood."
"But- she's shy like me" Raoul objected.
"You should have seen her at the Opera last night talking to Little Jammes, about getting to be a boy… I know you love her, she needs this."
Raoul thought and he sighed.
"Only if I'm her patron," He declared.
"I wouldn't have it any other way" I assured him.