Transcript for Chapter 16A
Opens with Katrina, arms crossed, addressing Jade and Amber. The two girls are nervous about what she's going to make them do.
Katrina: Make some space and stand up straight with your arms out beside you.
As they do what they're told, Amber glares at Jade. Jade knows her sister so well that she can practically read her thoughts.
Amber, via Twin Telepathy: Told you you were going to get us in trouble.
Katrina: Very straight, like a T.
Jade is humbled and a little regretful.
Jade, via Twin Telepathy: I know, sorry.
Katrina: Don't lock your knees.
The twins stand next to each other with their arms out, as instructed. Katrina gestures to the two of them while the other girls look on.
Katrina: The rest of you, stand like Amber and Jade. Now, technically these two were the only ones screwing up my dance.
Amber sweats, bothered by having been named again.
Katrina: But the way things work in groups is this: when somebody goes down, they drag everybody down.
We get a close-up of Katrina, eyes narrowed.
Katrina: So now we're all going to do finger-pops.
Katrina lifts her arms in a rigid T.
Katrina: Like this.
She closes her hands into balls. Then, with one explosive maneuver, flicks all her fingers out so that her hands are spread out wide. She demonstrates more of these finger-pops while all the girls mimic her example.
Katrina: One. Two. Three. Can you do that?
The girls answer with more finger-pops.
Katrina: Good. Here are the rules of finger-pops. You do not drop your arms. You do not droop. Most importantly, you pop on the beat with everyone else. We're a team. We pop together. Got it?
Several of the girls murmer responses.
Amy: Uh-huh.
Hannah: Yes, ma'am.
Grace: Got it.
A cameraman snaps pictures while Katrina keeps giving instructions.
Katrina: We're going to do twenty-five finger-pops. But if anyone breaks her posture or pops off the beat, we start over. At no point are you to drop your arms. Once we get to twenty-five, we go back to dancing. Everyone ready?
Jade isn't sure what the big deal is.
Jade: That doesn't sound so bad.
Katrina starts the count in a loud voice.
Katrina: Okay, let's go! One, two, three...
Katrina helps them out by clapping out the beat as she counts.
Katrina: Four! Five! Six! Seven!
The girls pop to the beat and some time passes.
Katrina: Fourteen! Fifteen!
Jade rolls her eyes as she pops. She thinks the whole thing is stupid.
Katrina: Sixteen, seventeen...everyone stop, but don't drop your arms. Bridgette's rhythm is off. Let's start over.
Bridgette, a petite blonde, blushes and looks humiliated to have been called out.
Katrina: One. Two.
Jade frowns, grumpy about having to start over.
Katrina: Three. Four.
A little more time passes. Katrina notices a drooping arm.
Katrina: Eleven. Twelve. Hannah, your arms are drooping. Start over.
Hannah, horrified, snaps her arms up into the correct position as Katrina begins the count again. Jade grimaces like she's finally starting to realize that this is no fun.
Jade: [How many times is she going to do this? We can't hold our arms out forever.]