Little Jenny still has to have her mommy's help to tie the ribbons on her favorite pink ballet shoes, but she knows one day, she'll be able to tie them herself. Until then, Mommy helps her tie them snug so she can dance and not worry about them slipping.
Mommy usually dances with her in their home studio. Mommy always looks so pretty in her black leotard and black satin pointe shoes. Jenny usually wears her pink leotard so it matches her favorite pink shoes. Together they spin and sway to the music box Jenny's Daddy sent to her Mommy from overseas.
Jenny remembers the day it arrived, the box wrapped in brown paper, so plain looking. But inside, oh! Jenny's breath caught as Mommy pulled from that plain old box another box wrapped in pink paper and tied with a big red bow. Daddy was away at war, but while he was gone, he never forgot his girls back home. He always sent them each something on special occasions.
This time it was Mommy's birthday. When she unwrapped the pretty package, they both ooo'ed and ahhh'ed over the music box. It was white ivory inlaid with mother-of-pearl and some other stones Jenny couldn't pronounce. On the lid was a picture of a rose on a royal blue background. It was probably the prettiest thing Jenny ever saw.
When Mommy opened the lid, the beautiful music filled the air. For a moment they just sat and listened to it together. Soon Mommy set it on the table, though, and stood to take Jenny in her arms. She swung them both around in time to the music, Jenny's head laying back as she giggled.
From that day on, they would don their ballet shoes and danced together to the box's music. Mommy would show Jenny the steps she remembered from her girlhood days of ballet classes. Jenny would do her best to mimic exactly what Mommy had done.
Sometimes the pretty music made Jenny sad, though. You see, just two days after Mommy got the pretty box with the rose on top, two men came to the front door. When Mommy opened it and saw them, she began crying, but Jenny didn't know why. Later that night, her Mimi explained to Jenny that her Daddy had died in the war. He was a hero, Mimi said.
That music never sounded as sweet anymore. But Jenny and her Mommy danced together anyway.
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