“Allez, Karyn, c’est l’moment d’te faire r’coiffer. Ton p’tit gars pourra t’voir après l’spectacle. Y a pas d’mecs autorisés ici pendant qu’les filles s’habillent.” (“Come on, Karyn, it's time to get your hair fixed. Your young man can see you after the show. There are no men allowed in here while the girls are getting dressed.”) The small woman they had noticed earlier said to them in French with a very heavy Parisian accent.
Neither of them knew much, if any, French, so they looked at her with a blank expression on their faces.
“Niinâ” (“Nina,”) the woman called, and a younger girl around their age came forward. After a brief exchange in French, the girl Nina turned to them and said in English with an accent not quite as heavy as the first woman.
“Mademoiselle said you will ave to wait until aftair the show to speak to Karyn. Zere are no men allowed in ’ere while Karyn and the girls are getting changed.”
“Jon, you know I have always wanted to dance professionally. Not that I would ever let anyone back home know, but now I get my chance.” Karyn said to Jon with a pleading look in her eyes.
“I’m not sure, Karyn, this necklace is not safe. I mean, I am still wearing one of my mom’s dresses.” Jon said, only to be interrupted by Nina, the young girl they had only just met.
“I can elp you find some men’s clothes. Monsieur, I theenk there are some in one of the dressin’ rooms. I will take you to zem, and zen we can watch the girls from out front.”
“Please, Jon?” Karyn asked him again.
“Ok, but we leave at the first sign of trouble,” Jon said, giving in to her. He knew that if he hadn’t, she would never let him forget it, ever.
Nina turned back to the small woman and explained in French what they had agreed.
“The Mademoiselle is appy with what we ’ave decided. Come, Monsieur, I will elp you find those clothes. Karyn, you go and get yourself feexed.” Nina said as she grabbed Jon’s hand and led him out of the dressing, leaving Karyn to go over to the Mademoiselle so she could finish getting ready to go on stage. Finally, she would get a chance to live out her dream, and if she was no good, only Jon would know, and she knew she could trust him not to say anything.
