BALLET OR BUST It was a book that started all the trouble Read read read That’s all grown-ups ever say to me said Bean but when I finally do read I get in trouble She slumped in her chair And then the grown-ups take the book away Ivy nodded It’s totally not fair she agreed And they shouldn’t blame us anyway It’s all Grandma’s fault
Ivy’s grandma had sent her the book It was called The Royal Book of the Ballet Each chapter told the story of a different ballet with pictures of fancy girls in feathery tutus and satin toe shoes Bean was at Ivy’s house on the day it arrived They were supposed to be subtracting but they were tired of that so they ripped open the package and sat down side by side on Ivy’s couch to look at The Royal Book of the Ballet I heard that sometimes their toes bleed when they’re dancing said Bean The blood leaks right through the satin part That’s gross said Ivy turning the pages Suddenly she stopped 8
Whoa Nellie murmured Bean staring Is she kicking his head off asked Ivy in a whisper That’s what it looks like said Bean What’s this one called anyway Ivy flipped back a few pages Giselle she said reading quickly It’s about a girl named Giselle who um dances with this duke guy but he’s going to marry a princess not Giselle so she takes his sword and stabs herself Ivy and Bean found the picture of that interesting Yeah and then she turns into a ghost with all these other girls They’re Ew said Bean But called the Wilis 9
