Lesson 3:Grandma's Other Life

By Amy BreguetIllustrated by Craig OrbackPHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS: 11 © Reven T.C. Wurman / Alamy; 15 (top) © Stockbyte, (center)© PhotoDisc / Frames; 14–15 © Shutterstock; 18 © PhotoDisc / MetaphorsCopyright © by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing CompanyAll rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic ormechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the priorwritten permission of the copyright owner unless such copying is expressly permitted by federal copyright law. Requestsfor permission to make copies of any part of the work should be addressed to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt School Publishers,Attn: Permissions, 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, Florida 32887-6777.Printed in ChinaISBN-13: 978-0-547-02620-6ISBN-10: 0-547-02620-X1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0940 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11If you have received these materials as examination copies free of charge, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt School Publishersretains title to the materials and they may not be resold. Resale of examination copies is strictly prohibited.Possession of this publication in print format does not entitle users to convert this publication, or any portion of it, intoelectronic format.

The next photo is one of Grandma and me on the porch.Three photos later, I come to an image I don’t recognize at all.The photo shows two teen girls in ballet dresses.“Isn’t that a great picture?” I hear Mom ask quietly frombehind me.“Yes,” I answer. “Who are they?”“The girl on the left is Grandma’s dear friend, SusanWilbur. Do you remember meeting her when she visited today?The girl on the right is Grandma. Can you believe it?”It is hard for me to believe.I can’t imagine that Grandmawas once young, beautiful,and graceful. I feel guiltyabout that. With hergruff personality, Iimagined her playingsports, not dancing.“She was adancer?” I ask. I keepmy eyes on the photo.Mom laughs.“More than youimagine,” she says in a farawayOne photo showsvoice. Then she returns to the Grandma and her friendpresent. “Come on — let’s go talk in ballet dresses.to the guests.”4

I groan silently, but I don’t say anything. There’s no needto upset Mom today. Keeping a polite demeanor — and goodmanners — means a lot to my mom.In bed that night, I try to picture life without mygrandmother. I want to remember her as a woman who livedvigorously. I don’t want to think of her last days in the hospital.And I wonder how my mom and I will get along. Grandmawas always there for me, but Mom and me. . . . Well, let’s justsay that we have almost separate lives.Then I start thinking about cooking, cleaning, homeworkhelp, and school activities. Who is going to do all this stuffwith me? I can only picture Grandma. She always helped mewhen I needed it. I don’t think I showed her just how much Iappreciated her. It’s too late now. . . .Art class, now that was her idea. “You have talent, Justin,”she told me back in third grade. That year, the teacher pickedmy drawing to display in the library. “You need to feed thattalent,” Grandma said. What, like the elephants at the zoo? Iwondered at the time. You see, my parents divorced when I wasthree. Then, Mom and I moved to San Diego, her hometown,to live with Grandma. My mom is a partner at one of the city’sbest law firms. Usually, she’s too busy to help at school events.Mostly, almost always, it was just Grandma and me.Then I think about the photo I saw today and the wayMom acted when I asked about Grandma’s dancing. I’mcurious. I resolve to ask Mom more about Grandma’s dancingdays in the morning — that is, I think, if morning ever comes.5

Chapter 2: Discovering the Past“Justin!” That sounds like Grandmacalling me. Uh-oh, I think, in apanic. She found out I got 72 onmy social studies test. “Justin!Come downstairs, hon.” Myeyes open slowly. I realizeit’s not Grandma. Aunt Dee,Grandma’s younger sister, iscalling me to come eat. I smellbacon, and I hope she madeeggs and fried potatoes to gowith it.“Morning, baby,” my mom,already seated at the kitchen table, saysgently. “How did you sleep?”“Fine,” I lie. I’m too tired to talk Justin and Grandmaabout my worries.visited the zoo often.“Listen, Aunt Dee decided to stay another week. She willhelp me go through Grandma’s things. She’ll take you whereyou need to go. You definitely don’t want to miss another artlesson.” My mom says definitely a bit too emphatically.Why not? I feel like saying. Sure, I like to draw. But I’m13 now, not eight. I have better things to do on Thursdayafternoons than go to art class. My friends often tell me to quitart class. Besides, I want to find out more about that photo. Artclass can wait.6

I thought I knew Grandma well since I spent so much timewith her. But I guess I drew the wrong conclusion about her.What else didn’t I know about Grandma?When she was alive, Grandma surprised me sometimes.I remember back two weeks ago, when I visited her in thehospital. I told Grandma that I wanted to quit art class. Thatwas a mistake. She was in agony, but she still wanted to makesure I did the right thing. Her eyes closed, and she softlytold me to stop talking like that. You’re an artist, she said, andthat was that. Even when she suffered from the cancer pain,Grandma expected a lot of me.Today, Mom eats her breakfast quickly and then leaves tomake some phone calls. Aunt Dee mops up her egg yolk with acrust of toast. I think this is kind of revolting, but I keep quiet.Then, Aunt Dee seems to read my mind.“Justin,” she begins, “Your mom told me about yourinterest in the photo of your grandma’s dancing days. If youthink that was special, wait until you see what I found inGrandma’s room. It’s a real treasure chest.”I clear the table while Aunt Dee goes to get the treasurechest. She returns with a cardboard box. She opens it and takesout an old theater program. I know what it is because Grandmatook me to see a show in fifth grade. The cover on the programsays Swan Lake. I think that’s a famous ballet. Aunt Dee findsthe page she wants and hands the program to me.7

“Read,” she orders softly, pointing.I recognize two names. Susan Wilbur is the friend I metyesterday. Angela Wright is — was — my grandmother.“Your grandma had the leading role in this ballet,” AuntDee explains. “That was nothing new, but I remember this oneso well. She looked like an angel on stage.”Next, Aunt Dee pulls out a newspaper clipping. Again, shetells me to read.OK, I decide, I admit that this stuff is cool.Serendipity Ballet Company presentsSwan LakeApril 23, 1959CAST (in order of appearance)Jester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan WilburPrince Siegfred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Willie JacksonBallet Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew PittmanThe Queen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roberta SilverVon Rothbart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James DonnellyOdette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angela WrightOdile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maria Barrera8

‘An Evening of Dance’ Is an Evening of MagicBY SCOTT DOOLITTLESerendipity Ballet’s “An Evening of Dance” tookplace Saturday night at Roosevelt High School. The annualevent filled the school’s auditorium. The audience enjoyedperformances by more than 75 students in the youth balletcompany. Often, the audience cheered loudly.A solo number by Angela Wright, age 17, was the highlightof the show. Wright planned this dance by herself. The localdance community knows Wright very well. She received tophonors at the state dance competition two years in a row. Lastyear, Wright won Serendipity’s dance scholarship, which is givento a high school junior each year.Story continued on page C8“So Grandma was a big star?” I ask Aunt Dee.“Within this community, she sure was.”“This article says that she was 17,” I observe. “She wasprobably a senior in high school. What happened after that?”Aunt Dee looks at me for a moment, like she doesn’t knowwhat to say. “Let me start with what could have happened,” shefinally says. She hands me another item from the treasure chest.It’s an envelope. I remove the letter inside and start to read.9

West Coast Ballet1819 Bay StreetLos Angeles, CA 90024Dear Miss Wright:I am writing in response to your audition. We requiretalent and star power in all of our dancers. Your résumé,interview, and performance show that you have both ofthese qualities. It is a great pleasure for me to offer youa position with the West Coast Ballet for our next danceseason.Please call or write our main office by September 27 totell us if you accept or decline this invitation.Sincerely yours,Sandra TorringtonExecutive DirectorEven I know about the West Coast Ballet. The name is onsigns downtown. This letter is a big deal.“What happened?” I ask eagerly. “Did Grandma become aprofessional dancer?”10

“Not quite,” Aunt Dee answers. “Oh, she wanted it morethan anything. And she had more than enough talent to be abig success.”Aunt Dee continued, “One day, she and Susan traveledsecretly to Los Angeles on a bus. Our parents didn’t knowshe tried out for the ballet. You see, our dad believed a careerin ‘show business,’ as he called it, was a bad idea for a youngwoman. Later, Angela showed our parents the letter. Shebegged them to let her accept the offer. But Dad refused tolet her. Angela’s friends also didn’t want her to accept. Theywanted Angela to have a ‘normal’ life.”I sit and just stare for a minute. I try to understand AuntDee’s words. “I bet Grandma felt awful,” I finally say.“She did,” Aunt Dee answers. “But you know yourgrandmother. She decided there was no point in looking back— and she never did. Or at least she never let anybody see herdisappointment.”I feel confused because of what Aunt Dee toldme. Why didn’t Grandma ever tell me this? Whydidn’t my mom? Suddenly, out of nowhere, anew idea comes to me.“Aunt Dee,” I say, “can I borrow thisstuff for a while?”“Of course,” she answers.Ballet dancers wearslippers like these.11

Chapter 3: Putting Together a LifeAs it turns out, the program, newspaper review, and letterare just a few of the things in the box. I find more clippings.There’s another review of the “Evening of Dance” program.I find a group photo of Serendipity’s cast of The Nutcracker.Another article tells about Grandma’s scholarship. There arealso some letters and cards. One of them seems to be from mygreat-grandmother. I read it twice — then once more.To my Angela,When I see you up on that stage, I amthe proudest parent in the world. Youshine like a star. And that’s exactlywhat you’ll always be to me.Lots of love,Mom12

Reading this note, I wonder about my great-grandmother.What was her role in the decision not to let Grandma join theballet? Aunt Dee only talked about her dad. From what I knowabout him, he acted like a strict boss. He believed many ofGrandma’s friends were menaces, people who would ruin herchances for a good life. You learned well, was my thought anytime Grandma talked about her father. Grandma believed myfriends were bad influences, too.Now, I only think about what I need to do. I bring thebox to my bedroom and check my art supplies. I decide to useposter board, scissors, a glue stick, a ruler, and a hole-punch.Next, I select items from the box. I use the scissors to preciselytrim the items, so they look nice. Then, I take my time andmanipulate the items to make sure they fit neatly on the paper.I take one last look at the first two pages of my scrapbookbefore I start to glue the items down on the paper.I still need to get a few more things at the art supply store.Then I can finish the scrapbook. I decide to show my project toAunt Dee now. I am afraid to move the pages just yet, so I godownstairs to find her.“Oh, Justin,” she says when she sees my project. “I had afeeling you would make something wonderful.”I watch as Aunt Dee’s eyes slowly scan the treasures shehelped me find. One hand covers her mouth. Her other handmoves slowly toward one of the photos.13

West Coast Ballet1819 Bay StreetLos Angeles, CA 90024Dear Miss Wright:I am writing in response to your audition. We requiretalent and star power in all of our dancers. Your résumé,interview, and performance show that you have both ofthese qualities. It is a great pleasure for me to offer youa position with the West Coast Ballet for our next danceseason.Please call or write our main office by September 27 totell us if you accept or decline this invitation.Serendipity Ballet Company presentsSwan LakeApril 23, 1959Sincerely yours,Sandra TorringtonExecutive DirectorCAST (in order of appearance)Jester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan WilburPrince Siegfred . . . . . . . . . . Willie JacksonBallet Master . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew PittmanThe Queen . . . . . . . . . . . . Roberta SilverVon Rothbart . . . . . . . . . . . James DonnellyOdette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angela WrightOdile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maria Barrera‘An Evening of Dance’ Is an Evening of MagicBY SCOTT DOOLITTLESerendipity Ballet’s “An Evening of Dance” tookplace Saturday night at Roosevelt High School. The annualevent filled the school’s auditorium. The audience enjoyedperformances by more than 75 students in the youth balletcompany. Often, the audience cheered loudly.A solo number by Angela Wright, age 17, was the highlightof the show. Wright planned this dance by herself. The localdance community knows Wright very well. She received tophonors at the state dance competition two years in a row. Lastyear, Wright won Serendipity’s dance scholarship, which is givento a high school junior each year.Story continued on page C814

SERENDIPITYNAMES DANCESCHOLARTo my Angela,When I see you up on that stage, I amthe proudest parent in the world. Youshine like a star. And that’s exactlywhat you’ll always be to me.Lots of love,MomThe Serendipity BalletCompany has awarded its15th annual AchievementScholarship to AngelaWright, a junior atRoosevelt High School.According to the company’sdirectors, the scholarmust be a junior and ischosen on talent, commitment,and potential.Wright, who has alreadyearned state titles indance competitions, willstudy with the companytuition-free during hersenior year.Dear Angela,How are you? First of all,congratulations!! That’s great that you gotthe part. You deserve it, of course . . .I will definitely be there on openingnight. Please don’t break a leg — you can’tafford it. See you soon!Your favorite cousin,Rosa15

“I forgot all about this photo,”said Aunt Dee. “Your grandma sentit with her résumé to the West CoastBallet. When she declined their offer,she asked them to mail back thephoto. She said there was no reasonfor them to keep it on file.”I ask Aunt Dee for a ride tothe art supply store. On the way,she suggests that after I finish thescrapbook, I leave it on the kitchentable. It will be a surprise for Momwhen she comes home late tonight.“Your grandma and you, you’re herworld, you know,” Aunt Dee says. “Ithink this will be quite a sight for hertired eyes.”I wonder, who did I make thisscrapbook for? My grandmother?Myself? I didn’t really think aboutwhy I was making a scrapbook.Maybe I was making it for all of us,for my family.Angela sent this photo to theWest Coast Ballet.17

Chapter 4:A New BeginningeaselLater that night, I hear thegarage door open and shut. Islowly go downstairs. I lookaround the corner and seemy mom at the kitchen table.She has both hands on thescrapbook, just as Aunt Dee didwhen she first saw it. There’ssomething more I need to do, Ithink. I imagine myself at theart studio. I picture that glossyphoto of Grandma clipped tothe top of my easel. I imaginemy pencil drawing the perfectlines of her beautiful face. Then,I will paint my grandmother’sportrait: For Mom.I’ll start this week, I think.After all, there are not manyThursdays left before my artlessons end.Justin plans to make a paintingof his grandmother.18

RespondingTARGET SKILL Text and Graphic FeaturesMake a chart like the one below to record textand graphic features from Grandma’s Other Life.Also state the purpose of each feature.Text orGraphicFeaturephoto of Angelaand Susan asteensPageNumber4PurposeWe learnsomethingsurprising aboutJustin’sgrandmother.? ? ?Write About ItText to Self Suppose that Justin stopped takingart lessons. How would the ending of the bookbe different? List your ideas for a new ending.Then write a new ending for the book.19

TARGET VOCABULARYagonyconclusiondemeanoremphaticallymanipulatedmenacepreciselyresolverevoltingvigorouslyTARGET SKILL Text and Graphic FeaturesExamine how the arrangement of text and visualsmakes ideas clearer.TARGET STRATEGY Analyze/Evaluate Thinkcarefully about the text and form an opinion about it.GENRE Realistic Fiction is a present-day story withevents that could take place in real life.Write About ItIn a famous quotation, Aung San Suu Kyi said,“Please use your freedom to promote ours.”What freedoms do you value most? Why? Writea letter to the editor of a Burmese newspaperexplaining the freedoms you have and why theyare important to you.20

Level: XDRA: 60Genre:Realistic FictionStrategy:Analyze/EvaluateSkill:Text and Graphic FeaturesWord Count: 2,4806.1.3HOUGHTON MIFFLINOnline Leveled Books1032552