THE SCHOOL AT MONTMARTRE (3)

From THE OFFICIAL TRAVELOGUE OF SIR THOMAS CAT, ESQUIRE.
Translated from the Meowish.
Copyright December 1979.


[Part 3]


Thérèsa had developed the habit, or strategy, of changing shoes at the café and wearing her third-newest ballet slippers the last quarter-block to class. She kept this pair just for the walking of the last quarter-block, and her second-newest pair for slinging over her shoulders and changing at the first break. (The first-newest were, of course, only for actual stage performances, under the lights and with an audience.) It was horrible for even the third-newest pair to touch the street, but great for the ankles and the endurance when Thérèsa bounded gracefully up the steps into the stone building where classes were held.

Since it seemed impossible for Thérèsa to arrive on time, and destructive to Thérèsa's concentration if she arrived early, Thérèsa could--while wearing her third-newest pair of ballet slippers--arrive slightly late without necessarily appearing to do so. She did so hate to hear her ballet teacher say, in mock pity so that Thérèsa would know she was in trouble, "C’ést dommage," (SAY DOH MAH ZYUH--"That's too bad.") "Sixty minutes late! Two minutes for each of us!" (There were thirty in class.) Ballet teachers, it seemed, were never quite satisfied with mere perfection on the floor.