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"Hurry," she called "I want to get everything done in one day"

I ran to the car and got in Moments later, ere off

"Getting the proper pointe shoes is paramount to success as a dancer," Celine lectured as we drove along "In ballet, , initial preparations are very, very important Your shoes should fit like a second skin There is no roorowth When you put theht You can dae your Achilles tendon Let me see your feet," she suddenly ordered

"My feet?"

"Yes, yes, your feet I need to check so I should have done it before," she muttered

I took off my sneakers and peeled off my socks She reached back between the seats and pulled my feet toward her and inspected my toes

"Oh," she cried, "these toenails are too long Didn't they teach you anything at that orphanage? You , every , do you hear?"

"Yes," I said, nodding

She reached into her purse and found a nail clipper She handed it to me and watched as I triht cut ry and I wanted to please her

"Are you sure the store will be open this early, Celine?" Sanford asked as we approached the business district

"Of course I'm sure I made a specific appointment They kno important this is to

I put on azed out the e slowed down and stopped before the specialty shop Sanford hurried around to get Celine's wheelchair out of the trunk

"It's such an inconvenience having to wait for that da, and Sanford moves slower than a turtle," she et into the store and have me fitted with pointe shoes I wished I could be as excited about it as she was, but I felt as if I had been caught up in a ind and barely had a chance to breathe As soon as she was in her chair, she called to me "Come on, Janet We're late"

When we entered the store, the salesman, a short, chubby bald man with thin wire bifocals planted on his thick nose, careet us

"Mrs Delorice," he said "GoodIt's so nice to see--"