Stupid trumpet. What kind of crap is that? I mean seriously all you have to do is suck and blow right? I wet my lips just like the music teacher said and sucked in a butt load of air and let it loose.  A horrible sound came out. Probably how Louis sounded in Trumpet of the Swan. Poor little swan. I tried. I really did but finally the teacher snatched the trumpet from me and gave me a pair of maracas. Maracas?!!

Dad got another promotion. He was all pumped about it but he took one look at my face and knew something had gone wrong at school.

“What’s wrong A?”

“Nada,” I grumbled as I kicked at a puddle. I looked up when I felt a tug on one of my ‘locs.

“Come on, you know you can tell me about it.”

“It’s stupid.”

“If it has you upset then it’s not stupid.”

Dad always knew the right thing to say. Before I knew it I was spilling my guts all over the place. See, I was used to doing great in school and music has always been my thing. And even if I tried to down play it I knew I was good at it. And that’s what I told dad.

“Some people are better at some instruments than others. And really A, you’re better at dancing then anyone else I’ve ever seen. I’m hoping that you follow your dreams Alice and don’t let anyone tell you what you have to do. Do you understand?”

I chewed on my lip. “I-I think so dad.”

“Good. Now dance with me.”

“Dad! It’s raining out here.”

“So?”

And so…we danced.

Dad even went into my room and danced on the barre. He’s hysterical! He’s always overbalancing himself but he takes it all in stride. He just laughs at himself. I don’t know why I can’t be more like that. I need to stop taking everything so seriously I think. Mom and dad aren’t going to send me back to foster care. I’m a part of this family and I’m a sixteen. It’s time for me to live…instead of cower in fear thinking that they’re going to send me away.

So, the first thing I did was sneak out and head downtown. Heck, I’m gonna live it up! Although if mom and dad catch me they’re going to kill me.