Alicia needed a change. Something fun, light, and physical. Maybe even graceful. So, she decided to look up beginner dance classes nearby and found a local community center offering ballet. Perfect.
She showed up dressed in a cute sports top, tights, and a zip-up hoodie, ready to twirl her way to grace. At the entrance, she noticed a woman standing with her child.
"Hey," Alicia said. "I'm looking for the beginner class?"
The woman smiled. "It's on the third floor, room 304. Just so you know, parents can't stay in the class with their kids."
Alicia raised an eyebrow. "I should hope not," she replied, brushing it off.
She made her way up the stairs, found the room, and walked in with confidence. A young guy was setting up speakers inside. He glanced up at her.
"Hi," Alicia said with a smile. "This is the ballet class, right?"
"Yes, ma'am. Class starts in five minutes. You can leave your baby here."
"My... baby?" Alicia asked, confused.
The guy tilted his head slightly. "Your child?"
Alicia's eyes widened. "Oh! I thought you said kit. I brought my kit. You meant kid?"
"Yes, this class is for children."
Just then, a bunch of kids in pink leotards and tights came running into the room, shouting in unison, "Good afternoon, Teacher!"
Alicia's eyes almost popped out. Tiny ballerinas everywhere.
One girl whispered to another, pointing at Alicia, "Is she our new ballet teacher?"
The other giggled. "She looks stupid."
Alicia turned toward them with a deadpan expression. "I'm not your teacher. I'm Alicia. I signed up for this class."
The teacher walked back in. "Ma'am, this is the beginner ballet class."
"So?" Alicia crossed her arms, not getting the situation.
"It's for kids. Ages six to ten."
Alicia's face fell. "What?"
"Yes," he repeated.
Alicia groaned. "Your damn website didn't say that."
She muttered to herself, "Oh god… my mom's gonna kill me. And I sent the driver off too. What now?"
One of the girls raised her hand. "Sir, why can't didi take class with us?"
Another added, "Yeah! She looks fun!"
Before Alicia knew it, the entire group shouted, "Yes, please let didi stay!"
Alicia couldn't help but laugh.
The teacher looked overwhelmed. "Okay, okay, fine. But just follow along quietly."
"Sure," Alicia said with a nod. "No problem."
The teacher clapped his hands. "Alright, let's begin. Five, six, seven, eight! Bring it back — one, two, three, four!"
The kids followed the steps in perfect unison. Alicia tried to keep up, but within seconds, she twisted her foot during a turn and landed straight on her ass.
One of the little girls rushed over to help her up. "Are you okay, didi?"
Alicia laughed, took her hand, and stood up. "Yeah. Just bruised my ego."
With a shrug, she gave up on the moves and started doing her own thing. Wild. Sexy. Confident.
The kids froze. Even the teacher paused, staring at Alicia as she spun and swayed like she was in a music video, not a kids' class.
"Uh… ma'am," he said, stunned. "Maybe tone it down a little?"
Alicia stopped, grinned, and shrugged. "Sorry. Muscle memory."
The class giggled. The teacher sighed. And the music started again.
Scene: Bar Break – Girls' Therapy Session
Notification on Alicia's phone buzzes loudly in the middle of their conversation.
Alicia: SOS! TRUCK. NOW!
Mia: I either kill someone or get a drink.
Shanaya: Leaving.
Emily: On my way.
Thirty minutes later, all four of them were slumped in their usual booth at the bar. No makeup touch-ups. No fake smiles. Just raw frustration and empty stomachs.
Alicia didn't waste any time. "I accidentally signed up for a ballet class."
Mia blinked. "Okay?"
"For kids," Alicia said, deadpan.
The girls stared at her.
"I danced with toddlers. One girl helped me up after I fell on my ass."
Shanaya burst out laughing. "I'm sorry, that's amazing."
Emily shook her head, sipping her drink. "You're a mess."
"Tell me about it," Alicia sighed. "I just wanted to feel graceful for once."
Mia snorted. "Well, you didn't get that in a room full of five-year-olds."
"Don't remind me," Alicia groaned. "I'm trying to figure out how to fix this."
Shanaya shrugged. "You've got it easy. I spent the whole day with a client who tried to pay me in protein bars."
Emily raised an eyebrow. "Wait, he tried to pay you in protein bars?"
"Yep," Shanaya said, rolling her eyes. "I was tempted to take it, but I'm pretty sure they were expired."
The conversation shifted as Emily sighed. "My ex dropped Olivia late to school again. Guess who had to hear it from the principal?"
Mia raised her glass. "Men suck. Honestly, if I could throw a punch right now, I'd take a swing at one of them."
Shanaya leaned back in her chair. "Let's just burn it all down. Not literally, of course, but everything else—go ahead."
Alicia leaned her elbows on the table. "What I wouldn't give for a quiet day. No drama, no little kids in ballet class, no calls from principals… just some peace."
Before they could dive deeper into their frustrations, the bartender came over with a tray of shots.
"Ladies, drunk in the middle of the workday?" He raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure if I should be happy or sad."
Emily didn't even look up. "You should feel happy."
Shanaya flicked her lighter with a smirk. "Flicker, baby."
All four girls cracked up, the tension in the air finally breaking.
The bartender smiled, shrugged, and walked away.
Alicia raised her glass, lifting it toward the others. "To chaos."
Mia followed, clinking her glass. "To surviving it."
Emily added, "And still looking good while we're at it."
Shanaya raised her glass last. "All is well with the world."
They all drank in unison, the noise of the bar around them fading as they enjoyed a rare moment of peace.