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    Nova in New York
    Nova in New York
    Nova in New York
    Ebook79 pages1 hour

    Nova in New York

    By Katherine Richards

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    About this ebook

    Seventeen-year-old Nova Abbott grew up dancing barefoot in the backyard with her aunt Ivy, whose dreams of becoming a professional ballerina were cut short by cystic fibrosis. Nova is invited to attend a prestigious ballet school's summer intensive program. She is a bit overwhelmed by New York City: the bustle of people, the talent of the other dancers, the demands of the instructors and being separated from her beloved aunt, whose health is deteriorating rapidly. With a coveted apprenticeship up for grabs, Nova isn't sure she'll make it in the big leagues, and now she's not even sure she wants to.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOrca Book Publishers
    Release dateJan 29, 2019
    ISBN9781459820319
    Nova in New York
    Author

    Katherine Richards

    Katherine Richards has a BA in creative writing from the University of Victoria. She is currently living abroad in the town of Bath, England, while she completes her MA. She trained in classical ballet at the International School of Ballet for fourteen years, dancing in productions such as The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides and Coppélia. Nova in New York is her first novel. For more information, visit katherinerichards.ca.

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      Book preview

      Nova in New York - Katherine Richards

      One

      One

      On my last morning at home, the giant orange sun rose into the fiery sky. As I biked to Aunt Ivy’s I could hear her words. Red sky at night, sailors’ delight, red sky in the morning, sailors take warning. I couldn’t shake the sense of dread that trickled down my spine. My palms stuck to the handlebars. Although it was still early, my skin was already damp from the heat. I turned off the highway and onto the gravel lane.

      Aunt Ivy was sitting on the porch when I came through the gate. She held a mug against her chest. Her oxygen tank rested at her feet. Another mug sat on the table at her elbow. For me. Coffee…too…much milk…no sugar. She paused every few words to breathe. Her lungs had to work twice as hard as anyone else’s.

      I dropped my bike onto the grass and settled in beside her.

      She asked, You’re…all packed? Passport? Pointe shoes? Toothbrush?

      Three pairs of new pointe shoes with ribbons and elastics sewn on, I replied.

      A few shallow breaths. You’ll love…New York. I went there before…you were…born… with your dad. It’s got…such an…energy…to it—bursting with…skyscrapers…and people.

      I sipped my coffee to avoid responding. I had auditioned for the summer intensive because that’s what my ballet teachers expected of their advanced students. Two months of no training was too long. Muscles lost their strength, flexibility and precision in less. But I had not expected to get in. I kept waiting for excitement to settle in, the jitters of happiness. Girls fought for the chance to train with the renowned teachers at Joffrey Ballet School. But I just felt anxious.

      Dad signed me up for ballet when I was seven. Since then he had often found Aunt Ivy and me dancing barefoot in her backyard, surrounded by flowers. She’d leave her oxygen tank on the step. Out on the grass, she’d raise her arms to her shoulders and twirl, head thrown back. I’d spin beside her.

      Do you feel that, Nova? she’d ask. Do you feel it?

      And there, with Aunt Ivy beside me, I always felt the bubbled joy in my chest. In those moments it felt like she didn’t have cystic fibrosis. That she could do anything she wanted with her life. She seemed at her best when we spoke ballet-anything. Her breathing appeared less burdened, easier, fuller, better.

      Bug? Aunt Ivy leaned toward me, bringing me back to the front porch. New York? Are you…excited?

      I stirred my coffee, focusing on the swirling liquid in my mug. Yeah, just nervous.

      She settled back into her chair. Perfectly… normal…but it’s going…to be…wonderful…I can… feel it. I can’t wait…to hear…all about it.

      * * *

      I left Aunt Ivy’s at nine with a cucumber sandwich tucked in my basket. She wanted me to have a snack for the plane. She waited at the gate as I biked away. At the end of the lane I dropped one sneaker-clad foot on the pavement and looked back. She stood there, waving with both arms, her wrists crossing above her head. I blew her a kiss and then pedaled away.

      At home my key grated in the lock, resisting. Cool air met me when I stepped inside.

      Nova? That you? my dad replied, his voice muffled by the whir of the air conditioner. He always asked even though it was just the two of us.

      Just your friendly neighborhood burglar, I called out. Guilt made my stomach churn. My dad would be alone while I was in New York, wandering around a too-big house. He’d have no one to call out to when he got home from work. There would be no Sundays at the Grand River Raceway, making five-dollar bets. He’d have to go star searching by himself.

      My dad stepped out of his office. His tie was loosely tied around his neck, and his sleeves were rolled to his elbows. A smudge of blue ink ran down his temple and mixed into his silver hair.

      You said goodbye to Ivy?

      There’s ink on your face. I tapped the side of my head. Yeah, she said to call after you’ve dropped me at the airport.

      Right. Will do. He rubbed at the smudge. Reminds me, I bought you something to eat on the plane… He went back into his office and rummaged through his briefcase.

      When he couldn’t find what he was looking for, he began to search the room. You excited?

      I leaned on the doorframe and avoided the question. Are you sure you’ll both be okay while I’m gone?

      He began to empty his jacket pockets. Of course. I know you don’t believe it, but Ivy and I can take care of ourselves.

      I spotted a grocery bag on the floor and pulled out a deli sandwich. Dad. I held it out. I didn’t tell him Aunt Ivy had already made me one.

      Oh! There it is! New York will be amazing, and the school will be amazing. This is what you’ve always wanted, Nova. He pulled me in for a hug. Don’t second-guess yourself now.

      I wrapped my arms around him in return.

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