Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
APRIL
T he number of people filling the dance studio surprises me. Samuel comes up and wraps an arm around my shoulders, giving me a squeeze.
“Don’t look so shocked. You’ve done a lot for this community. They appreciate it.”
I look up into his face. “I just hope it gets their attention,” I say, annoyed I still haven’t received an email from the company.
“Well, I’ve called the local radio and television stations, got the head office address. Hopefully, our little protest can get some traction. Make Frazer Development sit up and listen.”
I don’t know what I would have done if it wasn’t for Samuel taking on all the organisation of today. I’ve been trying hard to keep it business as usual , which doesn’t leave much time for anything else.
I give myself a shake. I need to think positively. Only, I’ve seen this so many times before. We are the small fish, and the sharks just gobble us up.
“We’ve got this, Ms April,” Tyler, one of my teenage dancers says, coming up and standing next to me. Placard in hand.
SAVE OUR DANCE SCHOOL
I smile. “Thank you, Tyler.”
I look around and find most of the dancers and their parents, even my older ladies, all standing around the room with placards in their hands. The pressure in my chest lifts a little as they all raise them in the air and begin chanting.
Samuel turns to the rest of the troop. “Let’s do this. We want to make the developers realise what this place means to us.”
I swing to face him, and he looks over but continues addressing the crowd.
“We want to save your dance school and Ms April’s business. We may be dancers and not singers, but we have the best voices out there. Let’s make sure Frazer Development hears us.”
He turns and winks at me. If it does the job, who am I to complain?
We ride the tube to Frazer Development’s head office. It’s mid-morning, so the pavements are clear. We form a circle outside the front of their offices and begin to chant, the mood positive. A few passersby stop and stare. Some even get their phones out. A light-hearted feeling spreads through my chest. Maybe, just maybe, this will work.
Samuel moves to one side, speaking on his phone, his hand covering his other ear. I watch as his face freezes, and a frown appears.
I move to his side, allowing the kids and their parents to continue to march up and down.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“The press, television. They’re not coming.” His shoulders sag. “Apparently, we’re not big enough to warrant airtime. It seems Frazer Development are city heroes. No one wants to say anything negative.”
I give him an empty smile. It’s as I suspected. There’s no getting around the bigwigs in this city. The fat cats stick together.
Who am I?
A small-time dance teacher whose tenancy agreement has expired. My life savings and livelihood may be tied up in the building they are about to purchase, but that will mean little or nothing to them. Why should it? Pain resonates through my chest, and I rub it with the heel of my palm.
A burly man comes up to stand next to us. “Excuse me, Miss?”
“Yes,” I say, turning towards him.
“The lad over there pointed you out.” He turns and points to Tyler, who is frowning in our direction. “Are you the organiser?”
“Yes,” I repeat, taking in the Frazer Development logo on his jacket.
“You need to move on,” he says. “You can’t protest outside these offices, blocking the pavement.”
“We can. That’s the whole point of a protest,” Samuel jumps in. “Freedom of speech.”
“Well, I’m warning you. Management will call the police if you don’t leave,” he says, shrugging.
I square my shoulders. Damn Frazer management .
“We want to speak to management,” I say, unsure where my sudden backbone has come from.
“Mr Frazer and his team are on an off-site. He’s not here today.”
“Is he really? How convenient,” I say.
The guard sighs. “Look, I’m sure you don’t want any trouble. I wanted to give you a heads-up. You have kids and older women here.”
“We’re not going anywhere,” Samuel says, folding his arms over his chest.
“Have it your way. You’ve got ten minutes before my boss calls the police,” he says, turning and leaving.
I watch him go. My heart is pounding.
“What do you want to do?” Samuel asks.
I drop onto the wall and look at the group in front of me, circling and chanting. Their smiles and togetherness warm my insides.
We tried.
“We go home.” I sigh. “I’m not risking any of these kids. This is my battle.”
When he goes to open his mouth, I hold up my hand. “Our neighbourhood—the police don’t need any excuses. I won’t be part of these guys getting hauled into a police station. This is a peaceful protest. We’ve all seen on the news how things can escalate.”
Samuel pulls me in for a hug before moving off towards the group.
Tyler appears with his friends beside me. “Is everything okay, Ms April?”
“Everything is fine.” I give him a bright smile.
“Is what Samuel says true? Are we really leaving?”
I nod. “We are. Apparently, management isn’t here today. We are wasting our time.”
I want to get them out of here as quickly as possible. Tyler and his friends already have some minor misdemeanours from their time before me.
“But—”
“No buts, Ty. We are heading home. Round up the gang.” I rest my hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “This is phase one. Next week, phase two. We have to be clever.”
I pray the boys listen and heed my warning. I don’t want them getting into trouble on my account.
“If you’re sure, Ms April.”
“I’m sure. Let’s go home. Betty and Don promised cake and coffee when we return.”
Tyler and his friends whoop before returning to the group. Word spreads quickly. No one turns down Betty and Don’s cake.
“So what next? Please tell me you’re not giving up,” Samuel says, returning to my side.
“No, but dragging these people into my battle is not something I’m prepared to do. This is my fight.” I turn towards the offices. “This is not over. I will find another way, and if I can’t, then I’ll need to work on a backup plan. But one that only affects me.”
Samuel nods, although my mind is already elsewhere. I don’t have a legal leg to stand on. But despite what the landlord and my solicitor say, I see my dance school's impact on the community and these kids. I just need to make this Mr Frazer and his team see it too. There’s nowhere else for these kids to go. I used every tool in my arsenal at the beginning to pull them together. I found them dancing on street corners, hanging out in the park, decorating the outside of local buildings! Now they have a purpose, somewhere to go. Whether Frazer Development likes it or not, these kids will be part of their new neighbourhood.
I follow behind as everyone makes their way to the tube station. The sense of camaraderie is strong among the old and the young. I watch them laugh and joke together. Tyler and his friends carrying Alice and her friends’ banners. Helping them. Maybe, just maybe, even if I can’t save my studio, I can make Frazer Development listen to the needs of the community.
The battle begins.