by Ann Bryant
My head was bursting with swirling lights. Savannah and Camilla preferred my acting to Cara’s. Cara herself wanted me to take over the role completely. I’d totally proved myself now. I could actually play Amy on my own merits and not just as an understudy because of Cara being ill. All my friends and my family would be so proud of me. I could just picture their faces, especially my gran’s. She’d probably be the proudest of all. But…the swirling lights slowed down and stopped as I looked at Cara’s crumpled face. The problem was, I wouldn’t be proud of myself. In fact I’d be disappointed in myself.
And in that moment I made a decision.
I put my arm round Cara and concentrated hard on the white lie I was about to tell. “Camilla and Savannah weren’t happy when I first took over from you, you know, but then they…got used to me. And they’ve just got to get used to you again. I bet you anything they’ll be fine in the technical rehearsal tomorrow. And I’ll make a deal with you… If they’re not fine, I’ll take over. But I don’t want to, because I watched you today and you were stunning.”
She turned to give me a hug but she was crying harder than ever. “I can’t believe you’re being nice when I’ve been so horrible to you.”
“We’ve both been horrible – and stupid!” I said.
She laughed through her tears and started to move away. “I’d better go.”
“See you at supper then, Cara.”
“Yeah…and thanks for making me feel better.”
Mia was in the mood for celebration when I got up to the dorm, because the exam was over and she thought she’d done well enough to at least pass.
“Just think, no more practising or horrid exams for ages!” she said, dancing about.
Grace held her hands and they did a cute little dance together. “And no more gym competitions or netball matches!”
Jess and I were laughing like mad. “You’re supposed to love all your sport and music, you two! What’s going on?”
Mia flopped onto the bed. “Yes, I do love it really.”
“It’s just nice when the pressure’s off,” agreed Grace.
“How did your scales go?” I asked Mia.
“Good, I think. So you see all that testing you did paid off!”
When we’d talked about the rest of her exam she asked how the rehearsal had gone and I told her what had just happened with Cara. The others all tuned in and everyone gasped when I said Cara had been crying and I’d had to reassure her about her performance.
“It must have taken real guts for her to come and talk to you like that,” said Naomi thoughtfully when I’d finished the story.
“Yeah, and she must have been hurting like mad inside,” added Mia. “When you told her you thought she was stunning this afternoon, did you really believe that?”
“Erm…well she was nearly as good as she’s always been.”
Naomi put her arm round me. “I’m really proud of you for giving her back her confidence when she’s been so horrible to you.”
Then Mia opened her eyes wide. “And you could have done both performances, but you’re sticking to sharing the role! That’s why I’m proud of you!”
“Yes, good old Georgie!” said Katy. “That was really…grown-up.”
“Well, thank you,” I said jokingly, “but actually I can only manage short bursts of acting grown-up, and right now I need to be my usual immature self, so who’s up for a game of Twister?”
Mia laughed and chucked the Twister mat on the floor. “Good! I’d hate it if you turned sensible the whole time because I’d miss the crazy old Georgie too much!”
After supper there was just one more sensible thing I had to do that day. I caught up with Camilla and Savannah coming out of the dining hall but didn’t talk about Cara till we were outside.
“She’s really lost her confidence,” I said, “because she thinks you prefer my interpretation. But it was her performance that inspired me to be able to do the role, so I think we ought to support her, don’t you?”
“But you’re better than she is!” said Savannah. “I can’t act half so well myself when Cara’s playing Amy, and that’s bringing the standard of the play down.”
“Savvy’s right. You should be doing both nights, you know,” said Camilla shaking her head and looking worried.
I didn’t tell her that that was what Cara thought too. “Look, it was her first time acting for ages and she must have been really anxious about how she was doing, and then when everyone seemed so flat and Miss Pritchard said what she said, if I’d been Cara at that moment I would have felt absolutely awful. It was no wonder that she kept stumbling.”
Camilla looked down and Savannah heaved a big sigh but neither of them said anything so I carried on in a quiet voice, not really knowing if I was doing any good.
“If you could only…kind of…reassure…her… then her acting would automatically get back to how it was before.”
After a few seconds Camilla looked up, and then suddenly broke into a giggle. “I don’t know about you, Savvy, but I feel as though we’re being told off by a Year Seven!”
Savannah smiled. “Don’t worry, Georgie, we get the message. We’ll try to make her feel more confident at the technical, okay?”
I felt like dancing back to Hazeldean, calling out, “Mission accomplished!” at the top of my voice. But that would have been too crazy even for me, so I just strolled back at my usual lazy pace feeling happy that at last everything was as it should be. Well, okay I was late for prep and I hadn’t a clue how to do it, but hey, what’s new?
Chapter Ten
It was seven twenty-two on Saturday night. Eight minutes till the curtain was due to go up. I was standing in the wings feeling the most nervous I’d ever felt in my life. I knew Mum and Grandma and Roxanne were somewhere out there. They knew I’d got a main part but they were going to get the shock of their lives when they saw just how big the part was. But it would be a nice shock, hopefully.
I tried to clear my mind of all thoughts of everything except the actual play, because that’s what Miss Pritchard had told us to do. Savannah, Camilla, Rebecca and a couple of others were all waiting in the wings too, but none of us were talking because we were focusing hard on getting into role, letting ourselves slide into our characters so we truly felt as though we were those people. I was finding it quite hard because my mind wouldn’t stop going over the events of the last two days.
The technical rehearsal had taken place during school time so I hadn’t been able to watch it, but Cara and I had agreed to meet in the courtyard afterwards, and she’d come rushing up, given me another of her big hugs and said she felt much happier because it looked like Savannah and Camilla had got used to having her back in the role of Amy after all, as they’d acted brilliantly and said “Well done!” to her at the end.
The dress rehearsal had been brilliant because the play totally came to life with everyone in their costumes. The excitement leading up to the first Friday evening performance had been crazy and I’d sat in the audience with all my friends and felt nervous for the actors, especially Cara. But I didn’t have to worry. It was a big success with tons of clapping at the end, followed by Ms. Carmichael making a speech to thank everyone for coming, and thanking Miss Pritchard and all the actors for their hard work. So, of course, the applause grew even louder after that and Cara actually winked at me from the stage.
And now it was about to happen all over again and I was the one who was brand new to it all, standing behind the curtain with my make-up on, and listening to the audience’s excited chatter.
“Break a leg, everyone!” said Miss Pritchard, appearing in the wings before she had to rush off to watch us from the front row. Then she blew a kiss into the air, which made us all smile the tiniest of nervous smiles, and a minute later the curtain went up and the show began.
I don’t think any two hours in my life have ever gone as fast as those two hours, which is so totally unfair because I wanted them to go on for ever and ever, it was
so utterly exhilarating, to use a word that Savannah taught me. In the interval we all talked at the tops of our voices in the green room behind the stage, while Savannah had a make-up change because she had to look deathly pale for the second part. Then the few of us who were on at the beginning of the second half went back to the wings and got into role again.
When it came to the part where I’m so sad about Beth dying, I really forgot where I was until I heard someone in the audience do a little sob, and I realized the tears were rolling down my face. Savannah was crying too and for a moment neither of us could speak so we just hugged each other tight and then someone else in the audience sounded as though they were crying. It was awful. But wonderful. And incredible.
And then it was over and we had to take our bows. We four sisters were the last people of all to bow, and when we ran on the stage the clapping seemed to turn to thunder and people started to stand up, until in the end the whole audience was on its feet. Lots of the girls were whooping and cheering, including my friends, who were all sitting together with some of their parents. I scanned the rows for Mum’s face, but it was hard to see because of the lights glaring in my eyes, but then I spotted Roxanne standing on a seat and saw that Mum was on one side of her and Grandma on the other, and…wow! There was Dad too, clapping up high and grinning at me with such a proud look on his face.
Even when Miss Pritchard appeared on the stage and stood between me and Savannah with her arms round our shoulders, the clapping didn’t stop, so in the end she had to raise her hands for silence. Then the house lights went on so we could see the audience clearly, and she made a really moving speech telling everyone how wonderful their daughters were and praising all the staff who’d helped with the production, and finishing up with the story of Cara being ill and how I’d stood in for her, and then Cara had got better so we’d finished up sharing the role. As she spoke I thought how straightforward it all sounded, but only three people in the world knew how complicated and emotional it had all been. Cara wasn’t even there, but Mia was, and she gave me her best smile, then started off a new round of applause.
There was complete bedlam after the speeches were finished because all the actors rushed into the audience to be with their parents. Roxanne ran towards me for a cuddle, with Mum not far behind, then Grandma kissed me and finally Dad gave me a big bear hug. He said that Miss Carol had made a special phone call to Mum to tell her she’d heard that my dad wasn’t going to be at the play but she thought he might want to change his mind because she understood from the drama teacher that I was a real sensation. And Mum had explained to Miss Carol that the moment Dad had heard I’d got a big part he moved mountains to get back a day early from his business trip.
“But the drama teacher was right!” he added, shaking his head as though he couldn’t believe it. “You were a total sensation!”
I laughed. “I’m glad you thought I was good, Dad, because then when I show you my report, you might remember that at least I’m good at something.”
My laughter petered out when I saw the serious look on Dad’s face. Oh dear, perhaps that wasn’t the right moment to bring up my report.
“Georgie, we were chatting with your friend Mia before the show started, and she explained a bit about what you did to cheer up that girl, Cara. So, by my reckoning that’s two A stars you’ve got! One for drama and one for life skills, which is the most important subject of all, I might add!”
Dad had tears in his eyes when he said that and as I leaned against him, Mum wrapped her arms round both of us and spoke into my hair. “I’m so proud of you, Georgie!”
Then suddenly Mia was right there at my side. “Oh, Georgie you were fantastic!” she said, jumping up and down. And I thought for the thousandth time how lucky I was having a best friend like her, especially one who could get me A stars from my dad.
Later Mia and I went up to the dorm together. I was about to go inside when she stopped me.
“What?” I asked.
“Anything different round here?” She was flicking very unsubtle glances at the sign on the door.
I looked at it, expecting to see the alteration I’d made, but instead I saw another alteration. This is what I read.
Katy the Queen of Style
Grace the Sportswoman
Jess the Artist
Mia the Musician
Naomi the Wise One
Georgie the Best Actress in the World
And for some reason the sight of those words made me want to cry. “I didn’t think you’d noticed I’d changed it,” I said in a wavery voice.
“Course I noticed!” said Mia looking indignant. “We all did! But you obviously didn’t notice that I changed it again, because it’s been like this for the last week! You were fantastic with Cara and you were fantastic in the play!”
“You’re pretty fantastic yourself, Mamma Mia,” I said, from the bottom of my heart.
And at that moment my whole world shone brightly as though I was standing in the beam of the most glittering golden spotlight. My very favourite place to be.
School Friends Fun!
It’s great going to school at Silver Spires, because I get to be with my friends all the time! Why not organize a special night for all your friends to get together too? I’ve got some fab ideas for fun stuff you can try, and they’re all to do with my favourite thing…acting!
How to hold a film night
Even if you don’t like acting yourself, I bet you like watching other people do it, so a film theme night is great fun for everyone! Apart from watching your favourite movies, there are brilliant games you can play that will definitely give you all the giggles. Just pick a theme, grab some DVDs…and don’t forget the popcorn!
* The theme for your film night could be anything – comedies, musicals, or maybe your favourite actress or actor. Once you’ve picked one, you can stock up with DVDs, decorations, and even get your friends to dress up, all according to your theme. So ballgowns all round for Hollywood night!
* Play the Who Am I? game! Put the name of an actor on a Post-It note and stick it on your friend’s forehead so they can’t see it. Then they have to ask yes or no questions (like “Have I ever won an Oscar? Was I in a film with Keira Knightley?”) to work out who they are. How many questions will it take them?
* Entertain your friends with your best impression! Do a famous line, or even act out a whole scene from a film and see who’s first to guess the title. Whoever gets it right gets the next turn!
* Have a competition to see how many films each person can think of that feature a particular actor – whoever gets the most wins. (And I always think chocolate’s a great prize!) You can try other themes too, e.g., how many films can you think of with a colour in the title?
So what are you waiting for? Grab your friends and have some School Friends fun!
Now turn the page for a sneak preview of the next unmissable School Friends story…
Chapter One
I love this moment of walking through to the school pool from the changing room. My whole body comes alive, even more than it does on the athletics field. Maybe it’s something about the smell, or the steamy atmosphere, or the beautiful pale green water that reminds me of the sea back home in Thailand. Whatever it is, I love it. I always find my footsteps speeding up, because I’m so desperate to get into the water and swim and swim. But this time Jess’s hand on my arm stopped me in my tracks.
“Grace, look!” she said in her dreamy voice. Her eyes were on the far window, which goes right from the floor to the ceiling. “Look at that sun shining in. Isn’t it beautiful? The water looks like liquid gold up at the deep end, doesn’t it?”
I smiled at my best friend. “I bet you’ll do a painting of that later, won’t you?”
But she didn’t answer because she was lost in a little Jess-daydream. By now there were quite a few people in the pool. I hadn’t seen anyone diving in yet, though, so I decided not to do that either. It might have seemed like I was showing
off and that was the last thing I wanted anyone to think.
Mrs. Mellor, our lovely PE teacher, was hurrying people out of the changing room while the lifeguard sat on high and watched over us all. I went down the steps and felt the cold water rising up around me, and although it made me shiver, it was a shiver I loved. It took me straight back to swimming in the sea in Thailand over the Christmas holidays. This is the beginning of the spring term at Silver Spires, which is the most perfect boarding school in the world, and here I am about to start our very first swimming lesson, because last term we didn’t have any actual timetabled swimming. I should be totally happy, but there’s just a small chunk of happiness missing because I can’t help feeling a bit homesick. My mum and dad and my big sister seem so far away when I’m in England. I know I’ve got my lovely group of friends, including my very best friend, Jess, and I also know I’ll soon be back in boarding-school mode, but it’s only the second term of boarding for all us Year Sevens so we’re still getting used to it.
“Oh no! This is torture!” came good old Georgie’s voice. I glanced over to see her hunched up at the top of the steps.
“The quicker you get in, the quicker the torture – as you call it – will be over!” said Mrs. Mellor firmly. She clapped her hands. “Chop-chop, everyone! Five minutes’ free swimming to get used to the water and then we’ll start the lesson.” She went over to help someone tighten their goggles a bit, then turned back round. “Georgie Henderson, your challenge this term is never to be the last one in the pool.”
Georgie didn’t answer, just hunched her shoulders even more and folded her arms, while her best friend Mia jigged up and down in the pool in front of her. “You’ll get used to it really quickly, honestly!” I heard her say, as I set off to the deep end, doing front crawl.