Something Old - Dianne L. Christner [24]
Considering the options available to her, she placed the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher. Mom would probably tell her to quit her job and remind her that she could live at home until she got another one. Lil would insist that as long as Katy wasn’t dancing, she wasn’t doing anything wrong. Megan was adept at handling sticky situations. She would advise Katy to use this as an opportunity to witness to the children. So far that tactic hadn’t worked with Tyler when he wanted to listen to the radio. But then she hadn’t made Christianity sound very enticing, had she? Nevertheless, Megan’s imaginary advice was the best.
She gripped the edge of the sink. She wanted to please her employer, but she didn’t want to displease God. She definitely believed that bars and nightclubs were not God-honoring places. Lil had watched enough television and passed along enough steamy details for Katy to make valid conclusions about those devil houses. But that wasn’t really the issue.
The Bible talked about King David dancing. Katy had wondered about that when she came across the Old Testament passage. She did little joy dances herself when she was alone. Lil had perfected the garbanzo shimmy. Nothing wrong with those. But to move your body seductively, unless it was with your husband, of course, was definitely wrong.
She had picked up Addison’s dance costume off the floor several times. It was skimpy, yet how seductively could a seven-year-old dance? She turned on the faucet and watched the water rinse the sink. She washed her hands, dried them, and carefully folded the hand towel, even though she never found it that way.
She didn’t want to overreact. Tyler already thought she was a pilgrim. She wasn’t sure where he’d come up with that idea. Was he confusing her with Quakers? Still, it was meant as an insult, and she hadn’t enjoyed his wisecrack.
A glance at the clock told her she needed to decide now. With a sigh, she opted to follow Tammy’s instructions and evaluate the experience. This wasn’t a permanent position, anyway. Maybe Tammy had already found a replacement for her. And God knew her heart, that she didn’t want to sin against Him.
Church restrictions were put in place to keep a person from falling into situations of temptation that could lead to sin. She would be very careful not to allow temptation in. She pushed the dishwasher’s START button and hurried to the stairway.
“Addison. Tyler. It’s time to go. Are you ready?”
CHAPTER 6
Katy followed Addison through a lobby decorated with modern chrome furnishings. A bright ballet poster graced one wall, and a rack of glitzy costumes hung from a corner rack, but no one staffed the desk. Katy followed as Addison skipped down the hall and into a cloakroom. Next Addison went into a practice studio where she greeted her enthusiastic friends. Katy hovered by the door tentatively taking in the assortment of girls and a few jean-clad moms.
The girls ranged from about six to ten in age. They chatted and giggled with each other as they did warm-up exercises, reminding Katy of a physical education class. Only these girls were like little princesses. Most wore tights and leotards. A few had frilly tutus, and some wore skin-fitting slacks and glittery tops.
Soon the instructor walked into the room, speaking kindly and clad in a black second skin. The striking young woman intrigued Katy as she floated in and out among the girls, like a breath of fresh air that touched here, repositioned there, causing smiles and looks of adoration on her little students. When she had everyone’s attention, she demonstrated a few movements that they all tried to imitate.
Katy bit her lip, amused. Although the little girls looked the part, they were hopelessly out of sync. But the instructor’s youthful body and graceful air fascinated Katy. She could almost imagine Megan using her