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Beatnik Betsy
She learned what a beatnik was from a Beatles cartoon. Man, she was into it. Audrey Hepburn’s performance in Funny Face was an inspiration. Oh, to get away with those tights! Cool. In a weird world, weirder was good!
There was this one issue. Betsy’s parents frowned on alternative lifestyles and forbade her from wearing black. The horror began at the ballet studio, whose dress code was black leotard, pink tights. When Betsy showed up in a blue leo, the little flock of bunheads sniggered, pointing.
Just within earshot of the entire class, Betsy’s mum mansplained to the much beloved and very Russian teacher, that “…we don’t wear black at our house. Navy blue will have to do!” Tatiana nodded, rolling her eyes and shaking her head, as she marched her perfectly-turned-out character shoes into the studio. Clapping her hands, she called out, “And, we begin!” At her gesture, the accompanist began to play.
After a few years of stepping up to that barre, it turned out that Betsy’s turnout was less than desired. And, she was well and truly sick of the silly pink tights. Anything pink, for that matter. By this time, Betsy had learned to smuggle alternate outfits to school, and roll her skirts, never dreaming that one day a muffin top would create that thick waistline for her.
Even the term ‘beatnik’ had faded from Betsy’s memory, love beads and peace…
