Bright Lights

by Linda Chapman

  ‘Go on, you think they're sweet really,’ Jessica teased him.

  Tom raised his eyebrows.

  ‘You do!’ Jessica and I said together.

  ‘OK, maybe they are quite cute,’ Tom gave in.

  Dad looked at us and smiled. ‘This evening might have been a bit traumatic, but it's good to see you three getting on again.’

  Tom, Jessica and I exchanged looks.

  ‘It's been a difficult time recently, hasn't it?’ Mum said softly.

  For a moment none of us said anything. I thought about everything that had happened in the last few months – me doing the film, Mum's new business, Jessica and Dan, Tom and his band. Mum was right. It had been difficult.

  ‘There's been a lot happening,’ I said.

  ‘A lot of changes,’ Dad agreed. He put an arm round my shoulders and Jessica's. ‘But we're pulling through.’

  ‘Together,’ Jessica said.

  Mum smiled. ‘Like a family should.’

  Chapter Twenty

  ‘Will you sign my call sheet?’

  ‘And mine please.’

  It was Monday afternoon and Issy and I were finished on set. We were charging about the green room and the set getting as many people as possible to sign their names on our call sheets. It had been Issy's idea. Apparently she always did it at the end of each film or play she worked on.

  ‘Alan!’ Issy cried as Alan walked into the green room. ‘Over here!’

  I hurried after her. I definitely wanted to get Alan's autograph. I had been really pleased when I had found out he had been called in on the last day to shoot an extra bit of dialogue with me. I had wanted a chance to say goodbye.

  ‘Can you sign my sheet too please?’ I asked eagerly.

  ‘Of course.’ As Issy dashed off, he took my sheet, wrote something and signed his name. ‘There you are. And I mean it.’

  I looked at what he had written:

  Dearest Sophie, If I had a real daughter I'd like her to be just like you. From your ‘Papa’ – Alan Thomas

  I blushed. ‘Thank you,’ I said.

  He smiled. ‘It's been a pleasure working with you. Maybe we'll work together again another time.’

  ‘I'd really like that,’ I said, and then suddenly I hugged him.

  He kissed the top of my head. ‘Take care, sweetheart.’

  As Alan walked off, I felt a lump in my throat. I was really going to miss him and all the others – Laurence, Cathy, Steve, Jules, Gary, Margaret, Joan, Gillian…

  I stopped, realizing I hadn't got Gillian's autograph yet. I knew she was on set because she had a scene to film that evening. Maybe she was in Make-up. I told Margaret where I was going and hurried over to see.

  Gillian was there, reading a magazine while Jules arranged her hair. She looked up when I came in and smiled. ‘All finished?’

  I nodded. I felt suddenly shy. ‘Will… will you sign my call sheet for me please, Gillian?’ I asked.

  ‘Of course.’

  She took the sheet wrote something and signed it. ‘So what are you doing next?’ she asked me as she handed it back.

  ‘Nothing at the moment,’ I admitted. ‘Just going to school.’

  ‘Do you still want to do more acting and go to drama school?’ Gillian asked.

  ‘Yes!’ I said.

  She smiled. ‘Then I'm sure you will. You're very talented.’

  I blushed. ‘Thank you.’ I glanced at her. ‘Thank you for everything,’ I said hesitantly. ‘You've been really nice.’

  ‘It's my pleasure,’ Gillian said. For a moment I wondered if she was going to hug me, like Alan had, but she just squeezed my hand. ‘Good luck, Sophie. With whatever you do.’ She smiled. ‘Now off you go and get some more autographs.’

  As I left the room, I read what she had written:

  To Sophie, The bright lights are waiting for you. Follow them, but always stay true to yourself. With love and best wishes – Gillian

  I swallowed. I knew I was going to miss Gillian almost more than anyone.

  By the time Dad arrived to collect me I had about forty names on my sheet and there was hardly any room for Issy to fit her message. But she managed it.

  To my bestest friend, Sophie, ring me EVERY day.

  Lots and lots and lots of love from Issy xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

  ‘I'm really going to miss you,’ she wailed, hugging me as I read her message. ‘Now you write on mine.’

  I took her call sheet.

  To Issy, I wrote. I hesitated. What should I put? I remembered a rhyme I had read once and quickly wrote it down:

  A ring is round and has no end and that's how long I'll be your friend.

  Lots of love, Sophie

  ‘I love it!’ Issy said, reading it. She hugged me. ‘I promise I'll phone and e-mail you every day.’

  I smiled but didn't say anything. I liked Issy, but I knew now that it was Ally and Harriet who really mattered. They were my best friends. Whatever I did, wherever I went, they would always be there for me, just like I would always be there for them.

  ‘Come on, Sophie,’ Dad called.

  I gave Issy a last hug. ‘Good luck with the TV series.’

  ‘Thanks.’ She smiled. ‘And good luck with getting some more work soon.’

  ‘I won't hold my breath,’ I said.

  ‘Sophie!’ Dad called again.

  ‘Coming! Bye, Is.’

  ‘Bye, Soph,’ she said, and that was it.

  I turned and hurried across the car park to where Dad was waiting, my autographed call sheet in my hand.

  As we drove out of the film lot, I took one last look at the huge factory-like building, the security fences, the parkland where outdoor scenes could be filmed, and then we were through the gates and away. Filming was over.

  ‘Welcome home!’

  As I opened the back door, a loud shout greeted me and I stopped in my tracks. The kitchen was full of people who were all looking at me and smiling. The table was packed with food and there were streamers hanging from the walls.

  ‘Hi, darling,’ Mum said, hurrying forward. ‘We thought we'd have a little party to celebrate the end of filming.’ She hugged me.

  ‘Wow!’ I said, looking round.

  Ally and Harriet were standing by the window, grinning. Tom's band, without Zak, were standing around the crisps. Jessica was there with her friends Nicole and Laura, and our next-door neighbours were there too.

  ‘Have a drink,’ Jessica said, getting me a can of Coke out of the fridge.

  I stepped forward and suddenly everyone was crowding round me and patting me on the back. Tom turned some music on.

  ‘It's party time!’ he said. ‘Come on, everyone, through to the lounge!’

  ‘Tom, turn it down!’ Mum called as people started moving in that direction.

  I reached Jessica and took the drink. ‘I can't believe it,’ I said, looking round at the party. ‘Dad didn't say anything!’

  ‘That's because it was supposed to be a surprise.’ She looked at me. ‘A good surprise?’

  ‘A very good surprise,’ I said. I glanced at her as I pulled the tab on my Coke. ‘So, have you spoken to Dan yet?’

  She looked down. ‘Yeah,’ she said, her voice suddenly so quiet that I had to move in close to hear her above the music and the chatting. ‘He… he said that he felt things weren't working too and that he couldn't trust me. He agreed we should split up.’

  ‘Oh, Jess,’ I said.

  She shrugged. ‘I guess I knew that's what he would say.’ She smiled bravely. ‘But look, I'm not going to be sad. It's your party.’

  Just then the back door opened. Jessica froze as Dan stopped in the doorway. Their eyes met across the crowd. For a long moment they looked at each other and then he half held out his hand. Jessica walked towards him as if in a daze. I watched as they went outside into the garden.

  ‘Sophie!’ Ally said, grabbing hold of me. ‘Did you know about the party?’

  ‘No, I didn't have a clue,’ I said
, dragging my eyes away from the back door. I wondered what Dan wanted.

  ‘Your mum says you can still come round for a sleep-over tonight,’ Harriet said.

  ‘Come and have some Kettle Crisps,’ Ally said, dragging me over to the table. ‘And then can we go and see the puppies. They are so cute!’

  The puppies! I remembered that Mum was supposed to have rung Mrs Ling to tell her the news. ‘Mum!’ I gasped, going into the lounge, where Mum was standing with Barbara, our next-door neighbour. ‘What did Mrs Ling say?’

  ‘She was astonished, but when she got over her shock she was delighted,’ Mum said, her face breaking into a smile. ‘She's such a nice lady. She said she's going to recommend Purr-fect for Pets to all her friends.’

  I grinned. ‘Another contented customer.’

  Tom was standing nearby. He overheard and raised his can. ‘To Purr-fect for Pets,’ he said, ‘the best pet-sitting business there is, and to Mum, the best Mum there is.’

  ‘Thank you, Tom,’ Mum said, smiling.

  Tom looked at me. ‘And to Sophie,’ he said, ‘our film star.’

  Everyone raised their glasses. ‘To Purr-fect for Pets, Annie and Sophie,’ they said.

  Hearing the back door open, I glanced round and saw Jessica and Dan coming in from outside. I stared. They were holding hands!

  Jessica grinned at me.

  My heart felt like it was about to burst with delight. Filming might be over, but suddenly I didn't care. My life was great just the way it was. I had my friends and my family and everyone was happy.

  Just then the phone rang.

  ‘Sophie! It's for you,’ Mum called.

  I fought my way to the phone.

  ‘Sophie?’

  It was a woman's voice. Who was it?

  ‘Sophie, it's Sheila Blake here.’

  Sheila Blake! Of course! The casting director!

  Sheila laughed. ‘You sound like your having a bit of a party.’

  ‘We are,’ I said.

  I moved through the lounge and into the dining room, where it was quieter. Why was Sheila ringing? What did she want?

  ‘Well, I won't keep you long,’ Sheila said. ‘I'm just ringing to find out whether you would be interested in auditioning for a play I'm casting.’

  ‘A play!’ I exclaimed in delight. ‘Yes, yes, of course I'd be interested.’

  ‘It's being performed over Christmas and New Year at the Palace Theatre in Nottingham,’ Sheila said.

  My thoughts whirled. I could be in a play at a really big theatre! Wow!

  ‘What play is it?’ I asked her eagerly.

  ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,’ Sheila replied. ‘I'd like you to audition for the role of Lucy.’

  ‘Lucy!’ I exclaimed, my voice sounding like a mouse being strangled in mid-squeak. ‘You want me to audition for Lucy?’

  ‘Only if you want to,’ Sheila said.

  Want to? I gaped. I pictured myself on an enormous stage with rows and rows of people watching me as I knelt beside a great fallen lion. I gaped some more.

  Unfortunately Sheila seemed to take my stunned silence for uncertainty. ‘Well, you don't have to make up your mind right now, Sophie. Have a think about it for a few hours if you like.’

  Luckily my brain and mouth managed to get it together. ‘No,’ I gabbled. ‘I don't need to think. I want to do it I really do.’

  ‘Well, go and get your mum, then, and I'll have a chat to her about the auditions,’ Sheila said, a smile in her voice.

  I ran to get Mum, who was now in the kitchen. ‘Sheila wants to talk to you!’ I gasped. ‘About an audition! It's for a play!’

  ‘An audition?’ Mum handed me the plate of sausage rolls she was carrying. ‘Here, take these. I'll go and speak to her.’

  I flew back to the party with the sausage rolls. Just wait till everyone heard my news!

  I pushed the door open. Tom was teasing Ally and Harriet. Nick and Raj had let Baxter and Wilson in and were feeding them crisps. Jess and Dan were standing by the window, talking softly, and Dad – Dad was walking towards me, a smile on his face.

  ‘Ah, sausage rolls,’ he said. ‘My favourite.’ He popped one into his mouth and put an arm round my shoulder. ‘Having a good time, sweetheart?’ he asked and, looking up at him, I saw that his eyes were full of love.

  All of a sudden, my news about the audition didn't seem to matter quite so much. I looked around the room. Yes, I wanted to be Lucy – I really did. But it was just one play. There would be other plays and other films. It was my family and friends who were really important.

  I thought about Dad's question. Am I having a good time?

  ‘Yes,’ I said, hugging him happily. ‘I am. I really am.’