The Secret Talent Read Free Page A

keep that fact in the family for now?”
    â€œOf course,” Uncle Theo said with a nod. He checked the time on his phone. “We should get changed.”
    Gabby walked out of the women’s restroom while we were walking into the men’s. I stopped and let Uncle Theo go in without me.
    â€œHey, thanks for the support earlier,” I told my sister, laying on the sarcasm. “It really meant a lot.” I patted my chest.
    Gabby made a face. “Sorry. You know how I feel about confrontation.”
    â€œYou confront me all the time,” I argued.
    â€œThat’s different. You’re my brother. Fighting with you is second nature. Whenever I see yourface, I just want to . . .” She held up a clenched fist.
    â€œPunch the air with joy?” I finished.
    She grinned. “Look, it’s really not a big deal that you’re a Greek folk dancer,” she said. “Those girls were dumb.”
    â€œEasy for you to say! You’re a girl. Nobody freaks if you wear a skirt and prance about.”
    She smirked. “When have you ever seen me prance?”
    â€œWhatever,” I said. “You say it’s not a big deal, but the reaction from those girls says otherwise. Greek folk dancing isn’t going to be making its way into any music videos.”
    Gabby snorted and waved a dismissive hand. “Who cares? You really want to date someone who’s going to think less of you for pursuing a passion?”
    â€œGreek folk dancing isn’t my passion!”
    Through the restroom door I could hear Uncle Theo coughing, so I lowered my voice. “Look, I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing this. Dancing was fun in kindergarten, and it was tolerable in elementary because people threw money, but now that we’re in middle school, I’ve got a reputation to think about!”
    Gabby rolled her eyes. “Right, right. I forgot that you’re the poster boy for cool. Tell me again . . . Did you find your gym shorts in the shallow or deep end of the pool?”
    I pointed at her. “And if the guys at school knew I dressed in silly costumes and sometimes danced with my sister, it wouldn’t just be my shorts in the pool. It’d be me.”
    â€œThen thank goodness you can swim,” she said.
    Uncle Theo emerged from the restroom and I went in, changing as fast as possible. When I was in full dress, I poked my head out to makesure nobody was around and then sprinted to the studio where Gabby, Uncle Theo, and several other Greek dancers were already waiting.
    The choreographer greeted us, started the music, and we fell into formation. I had to admit, the upbeat tempo was pretty hard to keep out of my body, and soon, I was bouncing along and clapping with everyone else. When rehearsal was over, it didn’t even bother me that Uncle Theo wrapped me in a sweaty bear hug.
    â€œI could see you feeling the music! That’s my Timotheos!” he said. He was so happy, in fact, that he took me and Gabby to get frozen yogurt at the shop next door.
    There are a few different yogurt shops around town, but my favorite has a bookstore next to it. I can grab a book and then a yogurt at Eat Your Words, where all the flavors are named after book titles. My favorite flavor is Chocolate War, which is milk chocolate with adark-chocolate swirl in the center.
    I started in on my cup while Gabby got her Grapes of Wrath and Uncle Theo got Crime and Punishmint.
    From where I sat, I could see the list of flavors on the wall, which I’d read at least a hundred times. Behind me, I heard the kaching of the cash register and Uncle Theo asking the cashier, “Is that a Nike T-shirt you’re wearing?”
    I shook my head and smiled to myself while I checked my phone. I had a couple new group texts from Brooke, Heather, and Vanessa about ideas for our pre-Christmas issue . . . and one from Berkeley Dennis!
    Saturday before Christmas, 5:00 p.m.
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