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2017 Inklings Book Contest finalist: Chloe Choo

2017 Inklings Book Contest finalist: Chloe Choo

Today we are featuring Inklings Book Contest 2017 finalist, Chloe Choo! Chloe finished 2nd grade this past school year. The story she submitted is called “The Ballet Competition” We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did!
Leave a comment below on what you thought!

 


The Ballet Competition

by Chloe Choo
 
+++++Once there lived a little raccoon named Clara. Clara was never in the center of attention. She took singing classes every Tuesday. She did that because singing was her passion.

+++++One day, when Clara was at school, her teacher told Clara’s class that in six months, their school would have a ballet competition.

+++++“Oh no!” Clara the raccoon murmured. “I don’t know how to dance ballet!”

+++++When she got home that evening, she asked her mom, “Mom, can I go to ballet classes?”

+++++“Of course, dear.” said her mom.

+++++Clara thought it would go well, but what happened the next day was not what she had in mind. The next day was her first day of ballet lessons and Clara the raccoon was nervous. When it was time for her to get into the class, she was so scared because she did not know how to dance.

+++++Then, she heard a very sweet voice echoed through the room, “Clara, I know you are there, so just come in”.

+++++Clara was very scared and nervous but she went in anyway still shivering with fear. There, she saw a sweet looking raccoon standing in the middle of the room.

+++++“Hello!” said the raccoon.“ My name is Mrs. Luongo. Please go to the barre.” So, Clara went to the barre and started doing some ballet stretches.

+++++After a few weeks, Clara realized she loved going to the barre and stretching every day, but what she did not like was a step called the “pirouette.” Every time she went on point doing a pirouette, she would start wobbling and grab onto the barre to keep herself from falling. Once when Clara did the pirouette, she fell and hurt her ankle. She could not dance for a while, but she was lucky because the competition was a few months later. That would be more than enough time for Clara to heal. Soon, Clara got better at ballet and doing the pirouette.

+++++After months of practice, the day of the competition came. Clara peeked from backstage as her mom told her to “break a leg!”. Clara realized that the raccoon that went on stage before her got so nervous that she never did anything but stood there and stared. Clara also stared at the raccoon and thought, “What if I am as nervous as that raccoon?” she whispered to herself.

+++++Soon, when it was Clara’s turn, she crossed her fingers, took a deep breath, and went on stage. In the middle of her performance, Clara fell down. But she did not give up. She kept on going till finished the dance.

+++++After the competition, Clara thought she would not win, so she sadly walked home.

+++++The next day the principal of Clara’s school announced the winner of the ballet competition. Clara sat back at her chair and sadly sighed “I’m never gonna win this.” she thought.

+++++When Clara heard her name on the loudspeaker, she could not believe her (tiny) ears! And can you guess what she won? A basket of Easter eggs!

+++++After the principal made the announcement, Clara heard that everyone was talking about her.

+++++“Finally, I’m the center of attention!” she thought.