The letter arrives to the theatre of the Ballet Troupe by hand of a young boy who does not stay an instant longer than he must. While the handwriting is fairly neat, it is obviously the hand of a youth at the first beginnings of cursive writing.

To the Ballet Troupe of Rhydin,

We would like to say that it is a very fine thing you do for the people of Rhydin, and we are very thankful for the hard work you do. So few people come here bringing something pretty to share, and we know that better than most.

We are the orphan children of the streets of Rhydin. We have seen the worst from the beginning of our days, but now we know there is good, too. Only, our friend says that your shows are not good for kids to see, and she says there is killing and other adult things.

If you could please, for the winter holiday season, something that the children of Rhydin could see would be very nice. We are not sure what that is, but a friend of ours who is a very smart man said there was something called a Nutcracker Sweet. We think it sounds fun.

Thank you,

The Children of High Spires House

((the spelling errors are intentional for the characterization))

Lirssa's eyes rolled and she shook her head at the high pitched shriek of delight that shot out of Esther when the letter was read. Some of the other foster children were so astounded as to not make a motion at all. Various contortions of the face were frozen in dismay. Most of the boys looked suspicions and wary. Even Jess looked like she might want to disappear right there and then, but Anasta and Esther along with some of the other girls where already starting wild twirls about the backyard garden.

It was the closest to dancing they could manage. Esther had a natural grace to her and Anasta did her best to get her gangly limbs into the poses of the elder girl. Lirssa was frowning at the letter. "I spelled suite wrong." It was that more than the rest she was focused upon. "Butter and beans."

"I wanna wear blue. Will they let me wear blue?" Anasta stopped twirling to ask.

"Do the boys gotta wear sissy clothes?" Sampson finally stirred himself to speak, crossing his arms.

"Yeah," came some mustering noises from the other boys.

"I'm not dancing with a girl, either," Val added with a nod and looked to the others of his sex to agree with him and found the echoing nods to his satisfaction.

Lirssa finally stirred from the letter and her disappointment at failing to spell correctly. "What?" Her mind was just catching up with all that had been spoken while she was in her own thoughts. "First off, Mister Val-I'm-too-good-for-everyone-else, you think every kid gets to do something like this? If you know what's good for you, you'll do as they say and smile a'doin' it."

That started the shouting and the arguing so loud that Mrs. June came out to see what was the matter, but Lirssa was not about to let go her command just yet on the matter. She held up a hand to the kindly matron and said, "Just a moment, I've gotta few words to say yet."

With that, she turned back on the children all at once and shouted, holding the beautifully written note in the air, "I tear up this letter and you'll regret it! I bet my motley and bells on it."

That had their attention. Esther near to weeping at the thought, Jess curled back behind the biggest boy she could find, and the frowns and sneers turned to gobsmacked expressions at how serious this was to their Lirssa that she would bet her motley. "Now, that I got your attention, I want you to think good and hard on this. You're gonna be seen by lotsa folks. Folks with money, 'cause those tickets don't just grow on trees, ya know. Some might not be good folk, but some will be. They'll be seein' you. They'll be seein' you at your best if you think to act proper and do as your told."

There was nothing more she needed to say on that count. They all knew what it meant. She did add with a satisfied smile, "And if nothing else, you get to be on stage and have a fine experience. Now, we are all in or we aren't. What say you?" It was at that time Lirssa had thought to use a speech from one of the plays she knew, but it wouldn't have worked on those children.

The lack of hesitation stunned even Lirssa. It seemed a fancy speech was not needed at all, and Lirssa left to inform Mister Alain that the house was going to get some other funding, too.

At High Spires House the rest of the conversations for that day over every chore and at every meal was the ballet.

"I thin' tha' Bryans' nah gonna throw her ta th' stage." Katarina even with her long legs was striving to keep tempo with Madame Hasbrouck, "He's doin' jist fine."

"I just want him to be more delicate with her, since there is no understudy." Madame glanced over to Katarina, and frowned at her teal dress, "You are not scheduled for today?"

There was a quick shake of her head, "Nah, nah today. Gotta watch Andy do his thin' 'lone."

Madame nodded with a sigh, "Very well. I-"

"Excuse me Madame." A boy in his teenage years approached the two, "Katarina." His face quickly flushed before he stammered on, "There's.. there's.."

"Out with it, lad." Madame encouraged with a very faint twitch of a smile on her harsh face.

"There's some kids with a letter from you at the back door." And with the message given he hurriedly returned to his duty behind the stage.

"The children from the orphanage." Madame seemed to nod in approval at the unexpected arrival, "I have to return to the rehearsal. You can direct them, can't you? Just arrange the schedule accordingly, I expect that you can manage that."

"Nah a problem." The words breezed right out without any indication at the frown that she hid. It was another task set upon the high stack she was trying to manage. Still, their was a usual bounce in her step as she headed for the back stage door.

"How we doin' Darrel?" She smiled a brilliant smile for the man holding the door to the three children. "Keepin' a good watch, bu' these fine people ar' welcome any ol' time." Darrel stepped aside to let Katarina be responsible for the children.

"Well, c'mon 'n, wun't'cha?" She held the door open for them and waited for all of them to step inside before offering out her hand. She would give these children the same respect she gave any other person. "My name's Katarina, an' 'm playin' th' Suga' Plum Fairy fer the Nutcracker. Wha' kin I do ya for?"

Katarina's expression hid her amusement at the young boy's admiration. She acted as if she noticed no difference in his attention or his coloring. "Esther, Val, i's nice ta meet ya'll." The interactions reminded her of her own siblings, and she felt an unexpected wave of being homesick. Katarina would have tried to ease the remarks from Val and Esther, but the other girl who was clearly the leader, moved her away.

"'m glad ya'll could make it ou'. We're real excited ta hav' ya be par' o' our production." Katarina tried to be as warm and welcoming as possible, but she could not get past Lirssa's bargaining attempts. It boggled her mind that this young child was in fact, asking for details specifics and announcing herself in charge of the orphanage crew.

"Ten kids we'll be jis' perfec'. We're havin' otha children as well, bu' they ar' gonna be dancin' an' th' like." Katarina decided to give all the details that she knew about the purpose of the children, and tried to find the balance between treating Lirssa as someone she respected while still being so young. "Ain' gonna hav' 'em do much, 'cept play 'round a bi' an' then sit 'n th' sides ta watch. I's righ' 'n th' very beginnin'."

Katarina looked over her shoulder to see Darrel and a few other backstage workers keeping an eye on Val and Esther, "We're gonna be havin' practices durin' th' days 'n Mondays an' Wednesdays. I dunno if tha's gonna be a problem wit' any schoolin' er somethin', bu' we kin make some 'rangements. Th' firs' day will be fittin's fer th' outfi's, bu'cha dun hav'ta pay fer 'em. Tha's jist par' o' th' gig."

"Madame an' mahself ar' gonna be 'n charge durin' ya'lls rehearsals. If possible, try an' come ta me fer anythin' ya need er go' problems wit'. Madame's gotta worry 'bout everythin' else too, yanno?"

"We always hav' a dress rehearsal a day er two bafore th' openin' nigh' which's gonna be middle o' November sometime. The children an' anyone else 'volved wit' th' High Spore House ar' welcome ta watch 'n th' house."

"Now," beaming smile back in place, she directed them back to Esther and Val, glad to see that at least verbally they had settled things. "Do ya go' anymore questions? If nah, ya'll ar' welcome ta stay an' mahbe look 'round, er see th' practicin' goin' 'n."