Star Dreams

by Sue Bentley

  Georgie’s eyes lit up when he saw the magazines. ‘I borrowed them from our next-door neighbour,’ Fran explained with a grin.

  Jemma chuckled. They would keep him quiet for hours. Now they could get on with sewing without Georgie ‘helping’.

  It was Mrs Watson’s half-day. She had supper ready. Afterwards, Jemma and Fran cleared a space on the kitchen table and spread out their T-shirts.

  Fran sorted through her mum’s old sewing stuff. ‘Wow! Look at this sparkly braid. I love these pink sequins.’

  Jemma chose some colourful ribbons and glittery purple beads. As Jemma and Fran set to work, helped by Jemma’s mum, Flame wandered into the kitchen. He mewed a greeting.

  ‘Hello again, Flame,’ Fran said.

  ‘Did you have a nice sleep?’ Jemma got up and tipped some dry cat food into a bowl.

  Flame crunched it up, purring loudly.

  ‘Isn’t he cute? Like a ball of brown and cream fluff with big green eyes!’ Fran admired Flame. ‘When did you get him?’

  ‘He hasn’t lived here for long. But it feels like I’ve always had him,’ Jemma said fondly. It was difficult to even imagine life without Flame now.

  A few hours later, the T-shirts were looking good but there was still loads of work to do. And they hadn’t even started on their jeans.

  ‘Fran’s mum will be here soon,’ Mrs Watson said. ‘I think it’s time you stopped for now. Tell me what you want doing and I’ll carry on for a while.’

  ‘Thanks, Mum,’ Jemma said gratefully. Her fingers were starting to ache with all the hand sewing.

  Fran’s mum arrived and Jemma waved to her friend as the car pulled away. There was just time to practise her routine before she went to bed.

  The next day at school, she and Fran grabbed every spare moment to practise their songs and moves. They did their routines in the corridor between lessons and even ate lunch while dancing and singing.

  ‘Maybe I should add this move to my routine!’ Fran joked, posing with a sausage roll in one hand and a carton of orange in the other.

  ‘Definitely! It’s a real winner!’ Jemma said, giggling.

  Straight after school they went back to Jemma’s house and began sewing.

  ‘Your mum’s brilliant!’ Fran held up her jeans. The pockets and hems glittered with braid and sequins.

  ‘Yes, she is,’ Jemma agreed. Her jeans had seams decorated with silver and purple beads. Mrs Watson had even made a matching belt of plaited ribbons.

  By the time Fran had to go, their outfits were finished. Jemma hoped she’d never set eyes on another needle and thread! But she had to admit, the outfits looked fantastic.

  ‘Tomorrow’s the big day!’ Jemma said to Flame as he snuggled up beside her on the bed.

  She was sure she wouldn’t sleep a wink. But she fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

  On Saturday morning, Jemma could hardly concentrate on helping her mum deliver papers. She felt nervous but excited. In just a few hours she would be performing her routine in front of a panel of judges.

  Back at home, Mrs Watson made a quick sandwich but Jemma was too nervous to eat anything.

  ‘Sit here, love, so I can do your hair,’ her mum said. She brushed, pinned and sprayed Jemma’s long brown hair and then carefully applied some stage make-up.

  Jemma peered at herself in a mirror. ‘It looks great, Mum. Thanks!’

  She went upstairs to her bedroom, folded her outfit carefully and put it in a shoulder bag. Flame was stretched out on the window sill, sunning himself.

  ‘It’s time to go and meet Fran at the town hall,’ Jemma said to him.

  ‘Shall I come too?’ he mewed, jumping down.

  Jemma gave him a quick cuddle. ‘Of course you can. But you mustn’t do any magic. I have to do this all by myself. Deal?’

  Flame nodded seriously.

  Mrs Watson came out to give her a hug and wish her good luck.

  ‘Thanks, Mum. See you later,’ Jemma said.

  As she set off down the street, she began to sing her song to herself. But after the first line, she stopped. She couldn’t seem to remember any of the words. Maybe they’d come to her if she concentrated on her routine. But it was no use. The whole thing seemed jumbled up in her mind.

  A horrid, uncomfortable feeling crept up on Jemma. Her stomach churned and her knees began shaking. The thought of facing the panel of judges filled her with sudden panic.

  ‘It’s no use, Flame. I thought I could do this, but I can’t!’ she burst out.

  Flame looked up at her and whimpered softly.

  Jemma stopped, trying to decide what to do. She couldn’t bear to go home and face her mum’s disappointment, but there was no way she could face Fran either.

  Crossing the street, she started walking quickly, with no idea of where she was going.

  Flame padded along beside her in silence as they wove through the streets, then as they turned a corner he suddenly bounded ahead.

  ‘Jemma, come!’ Flame instructed as he purposefully made his way across the road and through some tall, decorative iron gates.

  Jemma looked up in surprise. They were at the park. She hadn’t realized how far she had walked. But where was Flame going? He had never taken off like that before.

  She quickly checked the road for cars and then dashed into the park after him.

  ‘Flame! Where are you?’ she cried urgently as she jogged across the grass and checked out the flower beds. Then she caught a glimpse of cream and brown fur over by the bandstand, but by the time she got there he had gone again.

  When she finally caught up with him by a park bench, she was out of breath. ‘There you are, Flame! Why did you run off ?’ she panted, flopping down on to the seat.

  ‘You told me that I was not to do magic,’ Flame told her, leaping up to crouch beside her. ‘But I had to help you somehow.’

  As Jemma stroked the top of Flame’s fluffy head, she realized that her attack of nerves had faded. Running after Flame had made her forget all about herself, which was just what he’d planned! She felt much better now. Just to test herself, she went through the song in her mind. She could remember every single word.

  ‘Will you go to the audition now?’ Flame purred hopefully.

  ‘I don’t know …’ Jemma took a deep breath. She thought of Fran waiting there for her and made up her mind. ‘All right. Let’s go!’ she said, jumping to her feet. But a quick glance at her watch filled her with dismay. ‘Oh, no! I’m so late. I’ll never get to the town hall in time. Unless …’ She looked down at Flame. ‘I know I said you mustn’t use magic to help me win, but can you help me get there, please?’

  Flame grinned as his fur began glowing with sparks and his whiskers crackled with electricity.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Jemma felt a bump as she landed. She was in a cubicle in a ladies’ toilet – wearing her new outfit! She could hear lots of nervous voices talking about the auditions. She was inside the town hall.

  Opening the door, she poked her head outside. There was a long queue of people twisting all down the corridor. Just then Fran came out of a room, looking hot and breathless.

  She rushed straight over. ‘Jemma! Where have you been? I thought you weren’t coming. Quick, it’s your turn next. They’re waiting for you.’

  There was no time to explain anything. Fran opened the door and almost pushed Jemma inside.

  Jemma’s heart pounded as she saw the judges sitting at a long table. She introduced herself and gave them her music tape.

  ‘All right, Jemma. Show us what you can do,’ one of the judges said with a smile.

  Jemma took up her starting position.

  This was it! All her hard work had brought her here. Her hopes and dreams of going to stage school were pinned on the next few minutes.

  As the music filled the room, Jemma began her routine. As she sang and danced, she forgot to be nervous. The sheer joy of performing carried her along. She twisted, jumped and swayed i
n time to the beat.

  It was going fantastically well until she missed a step and almost slipped over. But in a split second she had covered the mistake and carried on smoothly. She gave a final flourish and finished. Breathing hard, she straightened up.

  She searched the judges’ faces but couldn’t tell what they were thinking.

  ‘Thank you, Jemma. You’ll hear from us in a few days.’ The judges smiled coolly.

  She recovered her tape, thanked the judges politely and went outside.

  Fran was waiting for her. ‘Well? How did it go?’ she asked at once.

  Jemma’s shoulders sagged. ‘OK at first, but I made a stupid mistake. I don’t think they were very impressed. They didn’t say a word about how I did. How about you?’

  ‘The same,’ Fran said, pulling a face. ‘But they told us earlier they haven’t time to discuss the routines. There’s too many people to see.’

  ‘Really?’ Jemma said. Maybe she was still in with a chance.

  But she couldn’t convince herself. That mistake had been stupid and clumsy.

  Maybe she had been fooling herself to think she could win a place at stage school anyway.

  ‘How about a barbecue in the garden?’ Mrs Watson suggested the following evening.

  ‘Good idea.’ Jemma tried to sound enthusiastic. She knew her mum was trying to cheer her up. ‘Come on, Flame. Let’s go and tidy the garden.’

  Mrs Watson laughed. ‘I hope that kitten can use a lawnmower!’

  Jemma hid a smile as Flame padded into the garden after her. If only her mum knew!

  There were some boxes of flowers outside the back door. Her mum had got them cheap when the supermarket had a clear-out, but hadn’t had time to plant them.

  ‘Maybe I spoke too soon,’ Jemma sighed as she looked at the tangle of weeds, long grass and scruffy paving stones. But Flame took one look at it and sparks leapt out of his fur. There was a silver flash! Jemma screwed her eyes up against the light. When she was sure it was OK again, Jemma slowly opened one eye, holding her breath in anticipation.

  The garden was transformed!

  The flowers were all planted and the lawn had been mown. The paving stones were weeded and swept.

  ‘It’s perfect. Mum’s going to love it!’ she scooped Flame up and buried her face in his soft fur. ‘Thanks, Flame! I’ll tell her I had a lot of help from a friend with the gardening. It’s true in a way, isn’t it?’

  Suddenly Flame stiffened. She felt him begin to tremble.

  Jemma frowned. ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘I sense my enemies close by!’ he mewed nervously. ‘I must go soon! I need to find a new hiding place!’

  Jemma felt her stomach clench. She had known this moment would come eventually, but she had never wanted it to. What would she do without Flame? Jemma looked at the trembling kitten and sighed. She knew she was going to have to be stronger than this. Flame was in danger. If his uncle’s spies found him, he would be killed. ‘You should go, now!’ she forced herself to say.

  Flame shook his head. ‘I must build up my magic. It takes time.’

  ‘You’ll be safer in the house.’ Jemma took him in and ran up the stairs two at a time. ‘Maybe you could hide inside my wardrobe?’

  She made a nest out of some clothes. Flame crept right inside and curled up. His big green eyes and pink nose were all that could be seen. He looked very tiny and vulnerable.

  Jemma felt scared for him. A wave of heavy sadness washed over her. First, she had almost certainly lost her chance to go to stage school. Now she was going to lose Flame. She didn’t think she could bear it.

  ‘Jems! Mum’s got the stuff for the barbecue.’ Georgie came to fetch her. ‘She says I can cook the sausages, if you help me.’

  ‘All right, I’m coming.’ Jemma made a huge effort to push her worries aside. She definitely wasn’t hungry any more. She took a last look at the wardrobe where Flame was hiding and then slowly followed Georgie downstairs.

  Jemma didn’t sleep well that night. She had nightmares about fierce cats chasing Flame and woke when it was still dark.

  Flame had crept in beside her. She cuddled up to him, feeling dreadful. His little furry body was comforting.

  ‘I wish you could stay here forever,’ she murmured.

  ‘I cannot,’ Flame mewed sadly. ‘In my homeland I will be king, one day.’

  Jemma nodded sadly. ‘I know.’

  The next time Jemma woke it was time to get up. She was pulling her school jumper on when she heard the sound of the letter box. The post was here!

  When she came into the kitchen, her mum held out an envelope. It was the results from the audition. Any minute now she would know the bad news.

  Jemma felt sick. ‘Will you read it, please, Mum?’

  Mrs Watson opened the letter slowly. As she read, her face changed. ‘You’ve done it, Jemma! You’ve won a scholarship!’

  Jemma’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t believe it. ‘Let me see!’ She scanned the letter with shining eyes. ‘They think I’m talented. And they were impressed because I didn’t let a small mistake put me off …’ She looked up. ‘Oh, Mum. I’ve done it! I’m going to stage school!’

  Mrs Watson gave her a big hug. ‘I knew you’d do it! I’m so proud of you, love!’

  Jemma had to tell Flame. She almost flew up the stairs.

  ‘Flame, I’m going to stage school!’ she cried, pushing open the door. ‘I did it, all by myself. And … oh!’

  There was a bright silver flash. On the rug stood the elegant white lion. Silver sparks glittered in his fur like a thousand fireflies.

  Prince Flame! He was no longer in disguise as a cream and brown kitten. Jemma gasped. She had almost forgotten how stunning he was in his true form.

  An older-looking grey lion stood next to Prince Flame. ‘We must hurry, Your Highness,’ he growled urgently.

  ‘You’re leaving right now?’ Jemma asked, her voice breaking.

  Prince Flame’s emerald eyes crinkled as he smiled sadly. ‘I must. My enemies come ever closer.’

  Tears came to her eyes. She managed a shaky smile. ‘We had a great time, didn’t we? I’ll never forget you.’

  She stretched out her hand. Prince Flame lowered his head and allowed her to stroke him one last time before he backed away.

  ‘Be well. Be strong, Jemma.’ He raised a shining white paw in farewell.

  Both cats began to fade. There was a final spurt of silver sparks and they were gone.

  Jemma wiped her eyes. Something glittered on her bed. It was a single silver sparkle. Reaching out, she picked it up. It tingled against her palm before blinking out.

  ‘Be safe, wherever you go, Prince Flame,’ she murmured.

  Just then she heard a knock on the front door. An excited voice called through the letter box. ‘It’s me, Fran! My letter came this morning. I’ve got some brilliant news!’

  Jemma took a deep breath as she thought about Flame for a moment longer, then she hurtled downstairs, a huge grin breaking out on her face.

  ‘So have I!’ she shouted.

  10 things you should know about Flame

  Whatever kitten colour he takes, Flame’s eyes are always bright emerald green. He is very unusual because when he is in his true form his fur is completely white.

  Flame is a loyal friend and never forgets those who are kind to him.

  Flame tries hard to get things right, but he sometimes makes mistakes … which can lead to funny results!

  Flame is tiny in his kitten disguise, but he is always brave and steadfast. He has a big heart and is very curious about everything.

  Of course, Flame’s even more than a super-duper magic kitten. What is he? Here’s a clue – ROAR!!

  Flame is very affectionate and has a super-loud purr, but he chooses who can hear it – just like he chooses who is able to see him.

  Flame loves being in our world, having adventures with different people, and learning new and exciting things.

  Flame is
not keen on bullies, whether they’re mean kids or animals. He’s likely to let them know it, too!

  Flame loves to help people with their problems, but not always in ways they expect!

  Flame often appears suddenly and without warning. Look out for him. He might come to visit you next!

  Odd One Out

  All these pictures of Georgie from Star Dreams are exactly the same – except one.

  Which one is different from the others, and why?

  Answer on the last page.

  Answers

  Odd One Out

  Picture E is different – the shirt pocket is missing.

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