Dear Becky — From the time I was 8 I’d been going to a boarding school for ballerina’s. By the time I was 13 I’d grown to be more mature then most, also having little to no supervision didn’t really help either. I lived in a co-ed dorm hall so there were guys around ALL OF THE TIME. My best friend Hayden lived next door to me, so we were really close. One night we were at a party after a show and we were really drunk and we had unprotected sex. Funny enough, I should have learned my lesson there when I didn’t get pregnant. But we were dumb and did it again, and again, it sorta became our after-show ritual. Nothing ever happened, so we assumed it was ok. Until one day I started getting sick. I assumed it was the flu. I didn’t mind because it helped me keep my weight down. It went on for about a month until I realized something was wrong. The school doctor didn’t think anything of it, so they had a drier take me to a local doctor. He asked me if I had been sexually active and I lied and said no, because I was kinda embarrassed. He did a bunch of tests but I didn’t know what they were for. Then a while later he came back in and said “so are you sure your not sexually active? Because if not it looks like we’re in for a virgin birth.” I didn’t know what to say! It took me a minute to realize that I was pregnant.

The doctor called my school … when I got back I had a meeting with the dean. First she asked me who the father was. So I told her it was Hayden. She then gave me the choice of telling him or having her. She told me that I would have to leave school to have my baby, but that if I give it away or when it gets old enough, that I could go back for ballet training. I decided to tell Hayden before my parents.

As I walked to the dorms and cried uncontrollably I tryed to form what I would say in my mind. When I got to his dorm I couldn’t even knock on the door. I just stood there. After an hour I just went back to the room to try and compose myself. It didn’t work. He came in to see if I was ready for dance practice, and I was sitting on the floor crying. He rushed over to me and kept asking “what’s wrong what’s wrong?” Finally it came out “I’m pregnant” it was in the weakest Voice that it was hard to hear. The look on his face was unforgettable. The fear in his eyes was a horrible thing to see. He just grabbed me and hugged me and we cried. He kept saying “It’s ok. It’s gonna be ok” I knew in his heart of hearts he didn’t believe it and neither did I. He asked me what I wanted to do, and the fact was I hadn’t thought about it yet. I knew I wasn’t going to have an abortion, and that once it came out there would be no way that I could give it away for adoption. It was then I decided to keep my baby. He said he would leave school and have the baby with me and then we would both go back for training when our baby got older. But I knew that if I made him give up his dreams I would never be able to live with myself.

We then called our parents. His mom and dad proceeded to call me a tramp about 1000 times and say that there was no way Hayden was leaving school. My parents kept it a little more calm. My mom was upset and then thankful that I would be ok. My dad was mad but I could tell he cared. I went home and had my baby, Cameo Vouge Monroe, on Decemeber 12, 2001. Hayden was there for the birth. I kept my daughter and started a normal high school. It was weird because I didn’t remember what normal school was like. It was a big change from haVing 4 hours of ballet a day to none. I never went back to my boarding school for training. but it looks like little Cameo has got the ballet gene. I took Cameo to the ballet school to see her dad perform, but the look on his face after the show when he ran up to us, and my old friends that were near by, was priceless. It was the face of complete pride and joy and happiness to see us as a family. I’m 17 now, and going into my senior year of high school. Cameo is 3 and a budding ballerina [who would have thought?}. For college I’m hoping to go somewhere in London with Hayden, so finally we will have that family we have always dreamed of.Avalon | maxfashion@cox.net

Dearest Avalon,

I read your story and I just smiled! The ending was just so beautifully written and I’m so happy to know that there is one more little beautiful ballerina out there. It does sound like you were a very mature 13 year old young girl, and now a mature 17 year old young woman with a beautiful baby girl.

I’m sorry that his parents said the cruel things that they did. Unfortunately, sometimes people react in a way that is not so positive. It’s only a matter of time before they do, however, start to look forward to the beautiful little arrival.

It sounds like your little angel has a wonderful Stand Up Guy for a father too.
I hope that many young girls will read your story and also find the strength to be a Stand Up Girl … just like you were!

Thank you for your e-mail.

Luv Lisa | Contact Becky