1.21 Everything has to be Perfect

With Naomi now enrolled in ballet, Sage has late afternoons free too. She decides that tonight she'll practice outside. 

The quiet tranquility and warm summer breeze does wonders for her concentration. Mournful spanish songs seep from the strings, heard only by Sage. For several minutes, a hush falls over the entire park. 

....twang! 

Sage's fingers spasm over the strings at a misplayed note. She furrows her brow; she needs to get that under control. 

Let's do that one more time from the beginning.... 

The sky is rosy and pink when Naomi finishes ballet. The precision of the movements the teacher wants from her makes her nervous; she's always the first out the door when class is over. 

She briefly glances at the school playground. Mommy won't be home... 

Naomi shakes her head. If Sage comes home from work early... 

She sprints to her bicycle. 

Dinner is in its usual place in the fridge. Naomi is already well versed in heating leftovers herself.

And then she sits down and gets started on her homework right away. She can't stress mommy out with her schoolwork, after all. 

Everything has to be perfect. 

Even after work is finished- the bands and sound checks never end- Sage returns to the park to continue playing. She plays much better here than at home. Why hasn't she come out here to practice before? 

Why, indeed? 

When she does come home, she glances at Naomi's expectant eyes. 

"Hi mommy, how was your day?" 

"Very pleasant. Now, you had ballet today, yes?" 

Naomi nods glumly. She hates this part of Tuesday evenings. Sometimes mommy has work and forgets about this, but when she's home... 

"Show me what you learned. Your recital is soon, you need to practice." 

After she's finished changing into her dress and tights, Naomi robotically dances through her routine. 

"Your arms have to be higher...and your shoulders lower..." Sage sighs with frustration, "Graceless. Not like a ballerina at all. Do it again." 

Naomi gets back into position... 

She makes it until her pile this time before her mother looks displeased. 

"Your arms, Naomi! Do you think ballerinas wave them around like that?" 

Naomi shakes her head no. 

"Exactly," Sage glances at her watch and tsks, "Now I've missed dinner. You have to get this right, Naomi. You see how much time we've wasted?" 

"Yes, mommy..." 

Sage sighs. "Go get changed and ready for dinner." 

Naomi walks dejectedly but obediently to her room. 

Sage shakes her head. Naomi needs to be pushed so hard to make any progress. It's better that she learns how to work hard now instead of abruptly and chaotically, like Sage did once her father passed away. 

She wouldn't wish that painful transition on anyone, much less a child. 

"Naomi, dinner's ready!" 

***

Another Tuesday. But this one is different. Today is her recital, the one she's been practicing for so much with mommy! 

"Hey Naomi! You look great! Good luck!" Naomi's classmate Tina calls out. 

"Thanks Tina!" Naomi beams. 

She hopes it all goes well! Mommy's going to be so happy if she gets it all right! 

"Arms, arms, arms," Naomi mutters to herself. 

***

As soon as her time on stage is over, Naomi runs out of the theatre. 

Mommy didn't come. 

She probably knew she wouldn't do well. Her arms were too low, her shoulders too high... everything went wrong! 

After wiping away her tears, Naomi opens the front doors again. She needs to get changed. 

By the time she comes out, one of the other dancers, Alyssa, is also outside. 

"Great job, kiddo! All those turns made me dizzy," the man laughs. Naomi hasn't met any of her classmates parents, but she guesses that this is Alyssa's dad. 

Naomi just stares at them numbly. 

She walks to her bicycle before either of them notice her. 

Before she can unlock her bike, however, someone else spots her. 

"Oh hey, how did the dance go?" Calvin asks, "That was today, right?" 

Naomi nearly jumps out of her skin, but fights her instinct to run. Running away from conversations is rude... 

"Uh...Hi, how are you? I'm Naomi!" Naomi thrusts her hand towards Calvin. That's how mommy told her to greet people who talk to her. 

Calvin fails to surpress his amused smile, "...I know. We have class together, like, everyday...?" 

Naomi blushes. She messed up again! What should she do?

Too abruptly, Naomi laughs and smacks Calvin's shoulder. 

"Tag, you're it!" 

"Wha?" 

"You snooze you lose!" Naomi parrots the words her classmates often yell to each other during recess. 

Not one to back down from a challenge, Calvin dashes away. 

It takes a while, but Naomi eventually tags him back. 

"Fine! Fiiiiine, you win," Calvin wheezes. He went easy on her at first, but it turns out that Naomi is very, very fast. Getting away from her for as long as did took all of his energy. 

"I'm sorry," Naomi blurts out, "For making you lose..." 

Calvin laughs, "You're weird. That's how tag works, dude." 

Naomi giggles nervously. "I'm not a dude..." 

He looks at her dress, "I guess not." 

There's a beat before Calvin continues. 

"It's pretty late. I need to go home." 

"Oh, ok. Where's your bike?" 

Calvin shrugs, "I don't have one." 

"Huh? But where do you live?" 

Calvin points vaguely behind him, "A buuuunch of miles that way. Normally my mom picks me up, but she had to work late today. I was supposed to go home straight after scouts, but uh...yeah..." 

Naomi looks at the time. Eight PM. 

"But it's so dark and late! It's not safe for kids to walk home alone!" 

Calvin quirks an eyebrow, "Then what am I supposed to do? I can't just wait here, it's cold." 

Naomi's heart skyrockets, "I...guess you could wait at my house. Until your mom or dad can come and get you. But you have to leave before my mom gets back from work. She doesn't like.... surprises." 

Calvin shrugs. Beats walking home alone. 

Naomi fidgets nervously once they're inside. 

"I uh, have to eat. Are you hungry?" 

Calvin shakes his head, "We roasted some marshmallows and had beef jerky at Scouts." 

After Naomi heats up her dinner, she chatters nervously as she eats and Calvin does his homework. 

"Do you play any computer games?" 

Naomi shakes her head, "We don't own a computer." 

This really catches Calvin's attention. "Really? How do you even live?" 

Naomi shrugs, having no reply. 

"Ugh, school is so boring. Homework sucks," Calvin sighs. 

"Calvin! You can't say...the S word! It's bad et-eee-cut," Naomi looks at the ceiling as she pronounces the word syllable by syllable. 

"What does that word even mean?" 

"It means you can't do it!" 

"But why?" 

"Because mommy says so..." 

Calvin snorts, "You still call your mom 'mommy'?" 

Naomi looks down and squirms anxiously, "Is there anything wrong with that?" 

"Yeah it makes you a baby," Calvin says matter-of-factly. He looks up and sees Naomi near tears and his expression falls. 

"Aw, Naomi... look I'm sorry I called you a baby. Call your mom whatever you like! Call her dad if you want! Uhhh....." he looks around in a panic, "Do you have any toys?" 

Naomi perks up, "Some blocks..." 

"Cool! We should make a house!" 

Tears forgotten, the pair runs off to play with Naomi's wooden blocks. Naomi hopes that they'll have enough time to build a house. Calvin's mom can't pick him up until 10...

But it doesn't seem like Sage will return any time soon. 

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AN: Sage had work during Naomi's recital and she's not one to skip work engagements for anything. 

For some reason the kids in this save like to linger around the school building once class is over. I'm not complaining since it gives Naomi (and later family) a golden opportunity to socialise with their peers.