by Kitty Wells
Snow made a face. “Well, it’s still the way I feel! So I do understand why you’re scared, Rachel. I am too.”
There was a pause. Rachel swallowed hard. “But – how can you go on, then?” she whispered. “Honestly, Snow, I – I feel like I’m going to forget every move I ever knew.”
“Because I know a secret,” said Snow. She gave Rachel a little smile. “And do you know what that secret is?”
Rachel shook her head mutely. In the orchestra pit, Maddy could hear the musicians rustling their sheet music, getting ready to begin.
Snow dipped her fair head close to Rachel’s. “The secret,” she said softly, “is that I’ve danced this ballet before – and so I know I can do it again.”
Rachel’s shoulders straightened slightly as she stared at her.
“No matter what my head is telling me, I can do this,” continued Snow. She tapped Rachel’s nose. “Because I’ve danced this ballet perfectly dozens of times now – and so have you.”
The music began. “Go on,” whispered Snow, squeezing Rachel’s shoulder. “You’ll be fine.”
“It’s time, girls, it’s time!” hissed Madame.
There was a hush as the curtain rose in a great swish of velvet. Rachel took a deep breath – and then danced out onto the stage with the other girls. Maddy leaned against the concrete wall, smiling. Even without cat magic, her friend was dancing perfectly … just as Snow had said she would.
The famous ballerina was still standing beside Maddy. “By the way, I meant to tell you before,” she whispered. “You’re a good dancer too, Maddy – you’ve got a lot of natural talent. You should have a word with Madame about the ballet summer school. If you keep working hard, you might get in.”
“Thank you!” breathed Maddy. “I – I will.”
She watched with shining eyes as Snow slipped away from the wings to talk to some of the adult dancers. Snow thought she had talent! If she kept working hard, she might get into the ballet summer school!
And that’s just what I’m going to do, Maddy promised herself. She stared out at the stage with shining eyes. Starting that very night, she was going to work as hard as Rachel ever had. Maybe she was only a mouse minion, but she’d be the best mouse minion there ever was!
There was a party after the performance, with the dancers and guests all mingling together, talking and laughing. Maddy wore her grey mouse costume and carried her papier-mâché mask under one arm. She felt fizzy with happiness. Why, being a mouse minion had actually been fun – and the audience had even applauded!
“Well done, sweetie – you were brilliant!” said Maddy’s mum, catching her up in a hug.
Maddy giggled. “You probably couldn’t even tell which one I was.”
Her father tugged her ponytail with a grin. “All the mice were brilliant, so you must have been as well.”
“And you were wonderful too, Rachel,” said Maddy’s mother warmly. “Your parents must be so proud.”
“Oh, we are,” said Rachel’s mother, squeezing her daughter’s shoulders. Rachel beamed, looking as excited as Maddy felt. She was still in her Clara nightgown, but now with her glasses perched on her nose.
As their parents started chatting, Rachel turned to Maddy. “Um – I was really a numpty, wasn’t I?” she whispered sheepishly. “I’m sorry I got so cross when you tried to tell me about the magic, Maddy. I – I was just afraid that my dancing was all down to that, and that maybe I’m not very good after all.”
Maddy almost choked on the fairy cake she was eating. “But you are! The magic just stopped you being so nervous – you did the rest yourself.”
“I know that now,” said Rachel with a grin. “Thanks, Maddy – a bit of confidence to get me going was just what I needed.”
Maddy thought how funny it was. Rachel had needed more confidence, and she had needed less! Dancing had always come so easily to her that she’d never thought she had to practise much … but now she knew better.
She told Rachel what Snow had said to her about ballet summer school, and her friend’s face lit up.
“Really? Wouldn’t it be great if we got to go together?”
“It would be amazing.” Maddy linked her arm through Rachel’s. Going to ballet summer school with her best friend would be a hundred times more fun than going alone – if she got in herself.
But somehow Maddy had a feeling that she would. She gazed across the crowded room at Snow Bradley, and smiled. Whenever she looked at her poster of Snow now, she’d remember dancing with her … and Snow’s whispered words in the wings.
“I still can’t believe that I was the problem,” said Rachel, shaking her head. She glanced over her shoulder at their parents, and lowered her voice. “Maddy, did you bring Ollie? Could I meet him, do you think?”
Maddy fetched her bag, and she and Rachel stood in the corner near a giant potted plant, half hidden from view. Rachel held her breath, hardly moving as Maddy started to undo the zip – and then both girls jumped when Maddy’s mother appeared.
“There you are!” she said, jingling her keys. “Come on, Mad, we need to leave now.”
The two girls exchanged agonized glances. “Couldn’t we just—” started Maddy, clutching her bag.
“Sorry, sweetie, we need to get home in time for the babysitter.” Mum put a hand on Maddy’s back, drawing her away from the corner. “Bye, Rachel – we’ll see you soon.”
“Bye, Rache,” echoed Maddy glumly. They both knew that now the problem was solved, Ollie would be leaving soon – that very night, probably. “Um … next time, I guess.”
Rachel nodded, and tried to smile. “Yeah … next time.”
“Ah, yes … ooh, lovely … yes, there, right there …” Ollie lay on his back, purring blissfully as Maddy groomed him with the tiny brush one last time. It was very late at night, and apart from the two of them, the house was asleep. Only Maddy’s nightlight was on, casting shadows around the room.
Finally Ollie got to his feet with a sigh. “Lovely,” he said, gazing at his reflection in the mirror on Maddy’s chest of drawers. “You know, I think that brush makes my fur even fluffier than usual, don’t you?”
“Definitely,” said Maddy softly, stroking his tiny head with her finger.
The excitement of the ballet had faded now, leaving her with a sad ache in her throat. Oh, she couldn’t bear to say goodbye! She’d had Ollie with her for longer than any of the other cats – and he’d been such a good friend to her when things were so awkward with Rachel.
“I – I guess you have to leave soon,” she said hesitantly, hoping against hope that Ollie would say no, as he had done once before.
But this time the little cat nodded. “Yes, I’m afraid so. Thank you for all you’ve done, Maddy – I know that it wasn’t always easy for you.” He curled his tail warmly about her little finger.
“That’s OK,” said Maddy. Scenes from the past few weeks flashed through her mind: using her power on Jack, Ollie acting out Pygmalion for her, dancing with Snow Bradley. There had been some difficult moments too, of course – but she knew that she’d never forget this time with Ollie, not for as long as she lived.
She turned her hand over, and the little tabby hopped onto it, snuggling into her palm. Maddy rubbed his silky fur against her cheek. “I’ll miss you,” she murmured.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon,” he purred. “And it’s been most enjoyable – I must say, I’ve never had my very own stage before! Even the Aladdin pales a bit in comparison with that.”
Maddy smiled as she remembered all the stories he had told her. “Ollie,” she whispered, “you never did tell me where the theatre was, or—”
“I’m afraid it’s time for me to go now,” he interrupted gently, tickling her nose with his whiskers. “Would you take me back to the others, please?”
Even through her sadness, Maddy felt a flicker of amusement. Naturally he still wasn’t going to tell her!
Slowly she carried Ollie over to her desk and put h
im down. He strolled across to the little stage, his bushy tail waving with every step. Maddy had placed Greykin and Nibs on it, and the two ceramic cats sat waiting for him.
Leaping up onto the stage, Ollie took his place beside them and bowed his head. “Parting is such sweet sorrow, Maddy,” he said softly.
“I know.” Her voice caught as she struggled against tears. She stroked Ollie’s back one last time. He rubbed his tiny head against her finger … and then arranged himself so that his paws were entwined with Greykin’s.
“Goodbye,” whispered Maddy, hugging herself.
“Au revoir.” Ollie’s amber eyes gleamed. “Oh, and by the way … it was in London. The West End.” He winked at her as a shimmer passed through him.
A wide smile spread across Maddy’s face. “Thank you!” she breathed.
Suddenly she realized something, and lurched forward. “Ollie, wait! Which of you will be coming to life next?” But it was too late; Ollie was ceramic again, frozen in place.
Maddy let out her breath. She’d just have to wait and find out, she supposed. And in a way, it didn’t really matter – she loved all three of the cats. Tenderly she ran her hand over the little set.
“Goodbye for now,” she whispered. “And whoever’s going to be next … I can hardly wait to see you again!”
THE END
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