‘I worked out that the two of you have had almost one hundred years combined tap-dancing experience,’ said Carol to break the silence between Valerie and Katharine. ‘And you have taught different styles of tap dancing.’
It had taken both Carol and Sofia to convince Valerie to go to the Boatshed Cafe to discuss the tap-dancing competition with Katharine. Each time she came up with an excuse – a doctor’s appointment, another engagement, the beginner’s tap class.
Carol fidgeted with her spoon. She stirred the foam on top of her latte one way, then the other. She removed the packets of sugar from the saucer and placed them on the table.
‘We need to resolve the problems with the dancing group if we have any chance in the competition,’ she said.
‘I warned you there’d be problems,’ said Valerie.
‘And we have apologised for the way we handled the situation,’ said Sofia.
‘I’m not sure your apology is enough. I know I said I was moving on, but I’m still upset about the way you treated me.’
‘Please let’s not dwell on that now,’ said Carol. ‘The important thing is the competition.’
‘And I have my new class to think of,’ said Valerie. ‘I’m not sure I can fit both in.’
‘But you still come to the Tap Cats rehearsals.’ Carol was getting more and more anxious to find a solution. The competition was now so close that if they didn’t sort this mess out today, she was sure they wouldn’t have enough people to perform at all.
‘We need to work together,’ said Sofia. ‘You both love tap dancing, that’s a strong link. And, speaking for myself, I love both styles. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could combine them somehow?’
‘To be fair, I have learnt some new tips from you, Katharine,’ said Valerie.
Carol picked up one of the packets and poured the grains of sugar in her coffee. She sipped the sweet coffee, wishing that someone would come up with an idea.
‘Well, I’d be happy to have your help, Valerie,’ said Katharine.
‘Do you think you can work together?’ asked Carol. Valerie shifted in her chair. Katharine fiddled with her phone.
‘This might be a solution,’ said Katharine. ‘We used a combination of styles in an edgy performance a few years ago, which I’ll show you if I can find it. Here it is.’
Katharine played them the clip of the dance on her phone. Carol put on her reading glasses. Male dancers were doing the rhythm style and female dancers were doing the Broadway style.
‘As you can see, the set up was different, but I’m sure we could modify it,’ said Katharine. She replayed the video. Valerie unfolded her arms and took the phone.
‘It might work,’ conceded Valerie. ‘Maybe the whole group could perform a familiar Broadway style routine.’
‘And in the middle of the routine there would be a rhythm style dance off between the best dancers,’ added Katharine.
‘That means Valerie could work on the Broadway section and Katharine on the dance off.’ Carol was pleased at the elegant solution.
‘We’d have to work together,’ said Katharine. ‘To make sure the transition from one to the other was smooth.’
‘Please, please, please,’ Carol said under her breath as she crossed her fingers.
‘Very well,’ said Valerie. ‘I can see the value of combining the two styles.’
‘That sounds like a perfect solution.’ Carol hugged them both.
Carol and Sofia left Valerie and Katharine to discuss the dancing arrangement and dropped in to see Bonnie at her unit.
‘Great news,’ said Carol. ‘Valerie and Katharine will work together on the routine for the regional competition.’
‘Good for them,’ said Bonnie. ‘I guess that means I’ll see even less of Katharine and to make it worse she’s upset about the way Mum reacted to her.’
‘I don’t blame her,’ said Sofia. ‘I’m so sorry about the way your mother talked to you both when we visited.’
‘Now I understand how bad it must have been for you when you found out you were pregnant,’ added Carol.
‘That’s why I didn’t want to take Katharine to see Mum and I wouldn’t have if you hadn’t meddled.’
‘Although I do think your mother will come around once she gets the chance to know Katharine,’ said Sofia.
‘That’s the other thing,’ said Bonnie. ‘I’m so scared of losing Katharine, since she found me after all those years. At first it was so easy to be together, but now this has happened and I don’t know how to fix it.’
‘Maybe you could help us with the regional competition,’ said Carol. ‘That way you could see more of Katharine and be part of the action. Kill two birds with one stone.’
‘Sometimes I feel like killing you,’ said Bonnie. ‘Joking. But what would I help with?’
‘The costumes for one thing. Remember how we used to make and alter them when we were young?’ said Carol. ‘And they need sorting and storing. It’d be just like old times. Come on.’
‘Okay. You always were good at roping me in to help.’
All the members of the Tap Cats had been regularly attending rehearsals again and were gathered at Marcotta Hall for a final rehearsal and costume check. Carol was delighted when she and Sofia were selected to do the complicated version of the dance off. Alice and Maude would do the simpler version.
Carol and Bonnie finalised the costume adjustments. Their outfit consisted of straight black pants with a white stripe down the side and a white sequin top that was easy to move in. Brett had designed lighting to make the sequins sparkle in different colours.
The group performed the routine in full dress, making sure to keep inside the chalk lines on the floor which marked the stage they’d be dancing on.
‘Perfect. You are perfect,’ called Valerie.
‘Now, you will need to relax for the next twenty-four hours,’ said Katharine. ‘Go over the routine a few more times in your head and remember to breathe and have fun.’
Bonnie helped Carol put the costumes into suit bags which Carol had found at the Reject Shop. There was one for each dancer, with their name written on a label. Carol’s grandchildren had stuck stars on the labels. All they had to remember were their tap shoes. Carol’s daughter, Emma, was to meet them at the venue to do their hair and make-up.
Carol and Bonnie did a last-minute check to make sure all the costumes were in George’s van before they walked to the Boatshed Cafe to join the others.
‘I’m so nervous,’ said Maude. ‘What if I forget my steps and we don’t win?’
‘You won’t,’ said Alice. ‘And we’ve got a better chance now that the Jazzy Jezebels have lost one of their members due to some family crisis.’
‘Well, George reckons the Yokel Boys have been practising very hard,’ said Maude.
‘There’s no point speculating,’ said Sofia. ‘We don’t know what the groups from the other heats are like. We just have to do our best.’
‘Don’t you dare say it’s about the journey and not the destination.’ Carol made a threatening face.