Chapter 17 - To Dance or to Dream?

                                    

                                          
Every day when he got home, Cole would quickly switch his school bag with one for "dance practice." He was always so excited to meet up with Sensei Wu and his friends to learn more and improve his skills. However, on one particular day, as he approached the front door and called out, "By Dad, I'm off to practice!" his father called out to stop him

                          
"Hold on, Cole I need to speak with you before you go."
                          
Reluctantly, Cole entered the practice room where his father could always be found at this time of day. "What's up?" he asked.
                          
"Look what we got in the mail today!" his dad singsonged. He held up a letter – already opened – with large fancy print at the top that read: Marty Oppenheimer School of Performing Arts. "They've said that they're looking forward to your application in the future, and that you're practically a shoo-in to be accepted. Or you will be." His father was beaming from ear to ear, ready to burst with excitement. "Isn't that great?"
                          
Cole attempted a fake smile but answered dryly, "Yeah, that's fantastic. I can't wait until I can actually apply." Even though Cole was still a few years from being able to apply for and attend the prestigious school, his father was much too eager, and was doing everything to make sure that his son would be accepted when the time came. He'd written a letter to the school asking for clarification on what Cole would need to get in, as well as his current eligibility.
                          
"It's never too early to start thinking about your future, son. Now, how are your grades? Still straight A's I hope?"
                          
"Well . . . I think I have a few B's right now," Cole said absentmindedly. There might have been a C somewhere in there, too . . . Trainingmight have become first priority tohim, while school had taken a back seat. So what if he didn't complete or eventurn in every single assignment? "I can bring them back up," hereasoned
                          
But his father crossed his arms and warned, "Cole . . . You know that you have to keep your grades up if you want to get into that school."
                          
"Dad, it's not a big deal. I still have time to fix it."
                          
"Not a big deal? Your entire future is at stake! Marty Oppenheimer's only accepts the very best – grades like that would never be good enough, no matter how much talent you have! You've obviously been getting distracted from your studies."
                          
"I'm not getting distracted, I just –"
                          
"No, no, I don't want to hear any excuses."
                          
"Excuses!" Cole repeated, indignant.
                          
"Do you not understand how important this is? Or do you just not want to get into this school? Cole, if you don't start taking your school work more seriously, you won't be guaranteed a spot at Marty Oppenheimer's, and then where will you be? You might as well kiss all your dreams good-bye!"
                          
Cole rolled his eyes. "I've got a lot going on, okay? I can't do everything at once."
                          
But Cole's father shook his head. "Maybe I ought to take you out of a few of your extra classes, if you think you need more time."
                          
"Wait, what? No! That's not what I meant!" His father didn't know it, but ninja training was one of those "extra classes." He couldn't take that away!
                          
"Perhaps I have been pushing you too hard. If you can't make do with what you have now then it would obviously be better to give you more time to focus on your studies."
                          
"Can't we talk –"
                          
"Put all that down, you can practice with me later. Your new priority every day from now on is to get your schoolwork done first. You can practice afterwards."