Together
The sweet sound of classical music swirled elegantly through the narrow, dimly lit hallway – almost as though it were a dancer, too. If Anika leaned all the way left and really craned her neck, she could just see spots of colorful light waltzing with the shadows from the stage. It was her own private show. Her perfectly shaped, stiff-with-hairspray bun bobbed along with the melody.
But she didn’t get to enjoy it for long. A familiar voice, not quite quiet enough for backstage, startled the magic away. Anika turned around to face the pair of big brown eyes brimming with excitement. “Is it almost our turn?” the mouth attached whispered – barely.
Anika peered over the river of bouncing, bun-topped heads stretched out before them. “I think so,” she mouthed. Before her best friend, Taylor, could reply, a hand swooped out from the darkness and grabbed Anika’s arm. She could feel its nervous urgency through its almost-painful grip – and its nails were so bright red they almost glowed. Surprised, Anika realized that the hand wrapped around her bicep belonged to an adult.
Just then, she was yanked out of line – and nearly off her feet! In hushed but rushed tones, a nicely dressed woman told her that it was almost time for her to go onstage – but Anika knew that already. “I’ll help you with your costume,” the woman whispered. Anika had almost forgotten she wasn’t wearing it – but sure enough, under her perfectly sculpted bun and pristinely painted face, a simple, plain white tank top and shorts were all that clung to her figure. Briefly, she recalled an announcement in which her entire troop of lavender fairies was told that costumes were to be reserved for onstage only; they were silk and far too delicate for unpredictable little bodies to wear around backstage. Anika supposed that made sense.
Either way, she didn’t have time to think much more about it. The woman backstage pushed and pulled her into a flowing silk shirt and shimmering pair of silk pants with that familiar not-quite-gentleness of an adult in a hurry. Anika looked beautiful – enrobed in a delicate cocoon of morning-dew-green, soft blue and pretty purple swirls dancing and spinning throughout. But something felt… off.
Anika squirmed. Then, she stretched. And, suddenly, she knew. She opened her mouth to tell her backstage helper – just as she was shoved back into line and up against the curtain. Now, only a thin layer of velvet hung between her and the performance she’d been working toward for months – that, and the fact that both of her spindly legs were enwrapped in the same silken tube.
Oh well, Anika thought as the lights went down and the line of little dancers surged forward. She shuffled to center stage, feeling more like a lavender penguin than a fairy. Through the darkness, she could barely make out the bright blue box atop which she was supposed to begin her performance. Anika delicately lifted a foot – and promptly tipped backwards. She tried the other foot. She tried to hop. But try as she might, there was no way she was getting on top of that box. At least not without ripping her silk pants apart – not an option, considering she had another show tomorrow. As she strained and convulsed like a salted silk worm, a voice cut through her concentration.
It was Taylor again. Surely, she knew it was almost their turn now?! “What’s wrong?” Taylor, well, almost whispered. “My legs are both in the same pant-hole.” “What?” Anika spun in a single, tight circle, empty pantleg trailing behind her like a shimmering tail. Taylor almost succeeded in stifling a giggle. Then, she scooped Anika up and plunked her down atop the box.
Anika smiled. Her legs may have been wrapped together in a silken trap she dared not break, but she and her friend were together too, and as a pair, there was nothing they couldn’t accomplish. Lights on. Curtains up. Eleven lavender fairies – and one purple penguin – took the stage.