Without Grandma's income, even for a week. Don't you worry about that, Grandma Ruth said firmly, though her voice was weak. You focus on school. I didn't sacrifice everything to get you into Oakidge just to have you distracted by adult problems. But they were Jasmine's problems, too.
That night, after making sure Grandma took her medicine and was resting, she checked their bank account on the shared laptop. The balance made her stomach clench. $2437. Not enough for rent, let alone utilities and food for the month. As if the universe was conspiring against her, an email from Oakidge Academy appeared in her inbox. Scholarship student midyear review meeting scheduled with headmaster Williams April 15th.
April 15th, the day after the showcase. The email went on to explain that her academic performance and character assessment would determine her scholarship status for the following year. Jasmine stared at the screen, understanding the subtext perfectly. This was no routine review. This was a response to her showcase entry.
The next two weeks became a blur of impossible balancing acts. Jasmine woke at 4:30 a.m. to practice her taekwondo routine in the pre-dawn darkness of their small living room. Careful not to wake her recovering grandmother. She attended classes at Oakidge, keeping her head down as Whitney's harassment intensified. Somehow, Whitney seemed to sense that something had changed, though she couldn't identify what.
During lunch periods, Jasmine slipped into empty classrooms to practice, using the reflection in windows to check her form. After school, she rushed home to care for Grandma Ruth, prepare meals, and handle household chores. Once her grandmother was asleep, she would practice again, sometimes until midnight, before finally tackling her homework to maintain her perfect GPA. Sleep became a luxury she couldn't afford. Dark circles formed under her eyes, but her movements grew sharper, more precise, as if the pressure was distilling her into her purest form.
Master Park allowed her extra practice time at the Dojang on weekends, watching her routine evolve with quiet approval. "You've created something unique," he told her after a particularly intense session. "Not just taekwondo, but something that tells your story." "Will it be enough?" Jasmine asked, wiping sweat from her brow. Master Park considered this. For the judges, perhaps not, but for you.
He smiled slightly. I think it already is. With one week until the showcase, the mysterious Jay Taylor had become a topic of speculation among Oakidge students. The program listed only names and performance types, and next to number 14 was simply martial arts demonstration. "Probably that weird kid from the chess club," Jasmine overheard Whitney telling her friends.
"As if anyone cares about karate or whatever, my contemporary dance routine is going to blow everyone away." Jasmine said nothing, continuing her silent countdown. 6 days, 5, 4. With 3 days remaining, Grandma Ruth's health improved enough for her to return to work, though Jasmine insisted she take shorter shifts. The financial pressure eased slightly, but the upcoming scholarship review loomed like a storm on the horizon. 2 days before the showcase, Jasmine stayed late at school to use the empty gym for one final fullcale practice.
As she executed a particularly difficult sequence, a noise at the door made her falter. Ms. Powell stood watching, arms crossed, expression unreadable. "So, this is what you've been working on," she said, walking into the gym. "I wondered who Jay Taylor was." Jasmine froze, heart pounding. "Are you going to tell anyone?" Ms. Powell snorted.