“Because you turned off the television before the announcement finished,” he replied.
“Or because you did not expect anyone to discover what you did?”
The questions began coming from every side.
Had Rebecca withdrawn other dancers?
Were the competition fees actually paid?
Why had some children been told they failed to qualify without receiving official score sheets?
Why did only certain families receive copies of their evaluations?
Rebecca raised both hands.
“Enough.
This studio will not be turned into a courtroom because one parent cannot accept professional boundaries.”
“This is not about boundaries,” Camille said.
“It is about records.”
Rebecca turned on her.
“Remember who signs your checks.”
Camille’s face changed.
Until then, she had sounded confused.
Now she sounded certain.
“You asked me to score Penelope’s showcase audition again after the panel submitted its results,” she said.
Rebecca went still.
The other instructor looked at Camille.
“She asked me too.”
Camille nodded.
“She said the original score created an awkward family situation.
I refused to change mine.”
Rebecca’s voice dropped.
“Be very careful.”
“I kept the message,” Camille said.
She took out her phone.
The screen was too far away for me to read, but Rebecca recognized whatever Camille opened.
Her expression tightened before Camille had said another word.
“You wrote that Penelope receiving the solo would make people accuse you of favoritism,” Camille continued.
“But after she earned it, you gave her the role anyway because all three judges ranked her first.”
The second instructor nodded slowly.
“Then two weeks later, you added an exhibition solo for Marissa.”
Marissa was the daughter of a local athletic-wear sponsor whose banners hung at every Frost-Line showcase.
The pieces settled into place.
Rebecca had not removed Penelope because she feared a weak performance.
She had removed her because Penelope’s performance was too strong.
At the regional evaluation, Penelope had ranked above Marissa.
If both girls appeared in the spring showcase before judges, scouts, and sponsors, the comparison would be unavoidable.
Rebecca had promised the sponsor that Marissa would be presented as Frost-Line’s leading junior dancer.
Penelope’s earned solo interfered with that promise.
Withdrawing her from nationals ensured she could not outrank Marissa there either.
Throwing her out of the showcase completed the erasure.
Rebecca had expected Penelope to be too ashamed to fight back.
She had nearly been right.
Patrick looked at his sister for a long time.
“You broke her heart to protect a sponsorship.”
Rebecca shook her head.
“Do not reduce this to something so childish.
Running a studio requires relationships.
Sponsors pay for costumes, venues, scholarships, and instructor salaries.
Sometimes difficult decisions have to be made for the larger organization.”
“Then why lie about her ability?” he asked.
“Why tell a thirteen-year-old she should choose something where no one notices her?”
Rebecca’s eyes flicked toward Penelope.
