Princess at Silver Spires

by Ann Bryant

  I sighed and slumped. “I’m going to be useless, aren’t I, because I daren’t even try it in front of my friends.”

  “Well if it helps at all, I wouldn’t dare either,” said Grace.

  “Me neither,” Mia agreed, shuddering.

  “And I’d just be rubbish,” said Jess.

  In the end the others said they’d go back into the dorm so there’d only be Katy with me, and finally I plucked up the courage to walk once along the corridor.

  “Wow! That was brilliant!” said Katy. “You’re a natural, Naomi, honestly!”

  But I was sure she was just trying to raise my spirits. “I don’t feel like a natural. I feel like an idiot.”

  “Do it again and walk in time with my click, and just lift your head a bit.”

  I did as I was told because it was easier the second time.

  “I tell you, Naomi, you look amazing, and that’s just in tracky bums and a top!”

  The third time I tried it I actually felt quite comfortable with myself, because Katy’s words had given me confidence. She insisted I showed the others, so they all came tumbling out of the dorm and stood there waiting for me to do my thing, which felt much more daunting than when I’d done it for just Katy.

  I took a deep breath and started immediately before I could change my mind. I just took a few steps in one direction then paused, before turning as confidently as I could, and after another pause I went back the other way. When I stopped I felt a hot wave of embarrassment creeping up my back, but then I got a nice surprise because they all started clapping, and Georgie whooped so loudly that Matron appeared.

  “I recognize that loud voice!” she said, giving Georgie a strict look.

  “Sorry, Miss Jennings,” said Georgie. “But I think you might have been a touch whoopy too, if you’d seen the way Naomi struts her stuff!”

  I saw Matron hide a smile. She’s very strict, but Georgie always wins her over. I was just dreading the thought that she might ask me to demonstrate, but she was obviously busy because she disappeared in a hurry, thank goodness. I had a couple more goes, to get used to the audience, and then we all went to get ready for bed.

  Maybe it won’t be as bad as I think, I told myself as I cleaned my teeth. But I was shivering in my jamas. It was one thing doing it for my close friends, but quite another doing it in front of loads of Year Tens and Elevens and teachers at the full rehearsal. I closed my eyes and thought about Abina. Tomorrow morning I would get up at seven o’clock. Abina would get up at five, and spend the next six hours collecting dirty water in order for herself and her family to survive. And the saddest thought of all – they might not.

  I opened my eyes and looked hard at myself in the mirror, feeling something strong gathering inside me.

  You will be nervous, Naomi, but that’s a small price to pay.

  Walking into the main school hall where we have assemblies, I couldn’t believe how it had been transformed. I stood and stared from the back, feeling like a complete impostor and wishing I could go and hide.

  Think about Abina.

  Elise appeared from behind me and I was pleased to be able to talk to someone.

  “It’s incredible, isn’t it?” I began. “I mean it really looks like a catwalk…”

  “Oh this is nothing!” laughed Elise. “This is just for the first rehearsal to give us an idea of layout, so the models know how long the catwalk is. Wait till you see how they decorate the place for the actual show, and then there’ll be all the lights too. It’ll be stunning. For today, you’re simply getting used to the music. No one gets changed or anything. It’s called a walk-through.”

  I was relieved we were taking it one step at a time. Seeing how many people were involved with something that sounded as simple as a walk-through was really scary, though. There were two teachers, and I recognized one of them because she’d directed a play that Georgie was in before Christmas. “Oh, there’s Miss Pritchard!”

  “Yes, she’s the choreographer,” said Elise.

  “Choreographer! We don’t have to dance, do we?” I asked, feeling rising panic for about the tenth time.

  Elise must have found me hysterically amusing. “Hey, Tanz!” she called to her friend, who was standing around at the front with all the other designers and models. “Naomi thought you had to dance!”

  I felt mortified, because lots of people turned round, grinning and sniggering.

  “Come on, we’re starting!” said Elise, putting a hand on my back and pushing me forwards.

  The other teacher was directing some of the models and designers to stand on one side of the stage, and some on the other.

  Elise was marching on ahead of me now, but Lara was by my side, explaining things to me in a low voice. “On the night of the show you’ll all get changed in the wings, and the curtains will be closed, apart from a gap in the middle that you go through at the start of your walk.”

  I nodded, feeling grateful for every bit of information I could possibly get about this big scary event.

  “I guess they’ll keep the curtains wide open for today,” she went on, “so you can all watch each other and get used to the choreography.”

  That was such a scary word. I wished it wouldn’t keep coming up. “What exactly do you mean by choreography?”

  “It’s just the number of steps you take and the order you walk in, that’s all.”

  I thanked Lara, then went to join Elise. She’d plonked herself right near the middle of the stage with Tansy. Standing beside her, I felt horribly conspicuous. Quite a few of the designers were used to me being in the textiles room, but some of the models hadn’t seen me around before. They were exchanging looks with each other and whispering behind their hands, and I wished I could magically fast-forward to the next rehearsal so everyone would be used to me and no one would give me a second glance.

  It was going to be awful when we had to actually get changed in the wings. I know some people don’t care at all about that kind of thing, but I do. Maybe we’d be allowed to find a little private place somewhere. Lara was just behind me and I decided to ask her, because I wasn’t going to risk Elise broadcasting my silly question to the whole hall.

  “Do the models have to get changed in the wings?” I whispered.

  She gave me a sympathetic smile as she nodded. “But nobody ever has time to look at anyone else, I promise you. It’s completely mad once it starts.”

  It was so kind of Lara to try and take away my fears. I gave her a grateful smile.

  Elise was talking excitedly with Tansy when I turned back to her, but all the chatter stopped a moment later as the teacher I didn’t know raised her voice.

  “Right, let’s have some order, girls. I want this to run like clockwork because we only get two more rehearsals before the real thing, so listen carefully.” Lara looked at me and mouthed “Miss Owen” and I nodded and smiled, grateful again that she was keeping me in the picture. Miss Owen was speaking briskly. “You may feel a bit ridiculous, but I want you models to go through the motions of pretending to get changed in between your turns on the catwalk. It’s important that we do this preparation today so that when we try it for real there are no surprises. Now this is the order. Listen carefully. And, models, take a mental note of who you’re following so we can roll it through without any glitches. It’s the same order for all three categories. The first time, Miss Pritchard will talk you through the actual catwalk bit as you’re walking, then at the end she’ll keep back anyone who needs extra help.”

  I gulped, and got ready to concentrate so I wouldn’t forget who I was following, even though the name probably wouldn’t mean anything to me and I’d have to ask Elise which girl it was. Miss Owen explained that it was the “Caj with a Dash” category first, followed by the “Dress to Impress for Less”, and lastly the “Prom” category. I was to follow a girl called Emily, who was following Petra, so that was a relief because at least I knew who Petra was. It turned out Emily was modelling for Charley, and I re
cognized her by sight.

  Next, Miss Pritchard took over the instructions. “Now you might feel a bit exposed today, because we’re having the curtains pulled right back so everyone can watch each other, and also so that Miss Owen and I can get a full picture of what’s happening backstage as well as on the catwalk. You’ll have to concentrate hard, please, and don’t talk when you’re pretending to get changed. It’ll be silent backstage on the night, so let’s get used to that today. Those of you who’ve never done a fashion show before can learn from those who have. Kelsey, can you demonstrate the counts, please.”

  My heart beat faster as pounding music suddenly exploded into the hall and Miss Pritchard counted loudly and rhythmically above the music, while Kelsey did the most perfect demonstration.

  “One – two – three – four – five – six – seven – eight – two – more – stop – two – turn – two – stop – two – walk – two – three – four – five – six – seven – eight.”

  I was so pleased that Mia had mentioned the counting in eights and I’d been practising counting to eight whenever I was walking on my own. The music stopped and Miss Pritchard’s voice sailed effortlessly round the hall. “Okay, I hope you all got that. You walk for eight beats, until you feel the end of the musical phrase, then the next lot of eight consists of two more steps, a pause for beats three and four, turn for five and six, and pause again for seven and eight. Then the third set of eight is the return walk.”

  Kelsey had to demonstrate twice and I watched her really carefully, and thought I’d got it by the end of her second go.

  “Now,” went on Miss Pritchard, “Tasha, you must make sure you are counting Kelsey’s third set of eight and set off immediately they are finished, so that your first steps overlap with Kelsey’s exit. On the night, I’ll be standing backstage to cue you, but once you’re out there, you’re on your own. So let’s watch Kelsey one more time, everyone, particularly the way she walks. See how she strides out and also notice that she’s got a very natural swing to her hips, but she’s placing her feet one directly in front of the other, as though she’s walking along a line that’s been painted on the floor. I also want you to notice how Tasha and she overlap. Sarah, you can carry straight on after Tasha and so on… Okay, everybody clear?”

  I swallowed. I thought I was clear about what I was supposed to do, but I had no idea whether I could do it. Also, I was scared stiff that I was going to look rubbish and be the only one kept back at the end for not getting it right.

  The music started again and every part of my body tensed up. I was almost the last one on Miss Owen’s list, and as girl after girl swanned up and down the catwalk, I grew so nervous I felt sick. Not everyone got the counts totally right, but all the girls looked incredibly grown-up, the way they pushed their hips forwards and wore pouty looks on their faces. Katy and the others were obviously just being kind when they said I was good. I didn’t look anything like this when I walked.

  My heart was in my throat by the time Petra set off. Then I stepped forward, like I’d seen the others doing, as soon as Emily set off, and finally, I don’t know how my shaky legs allowed me to take a single step, but somehow I found myself on the catwalk. I remembered Katy telling me to hold my head up, but apart from thinking about that, my whole brain was taken up with getting the counts right. I managed to turn smoothly, but felt like dying when Miss Pritchard stopped counting after my first eight steps and just stared at me. She’d been counting non-stop up till that point. How embarrassing. I was definitely going to have to stay behind. And no wonder. It would completely spoil the fashion show to have someone so much younger amongst all the older girls. She was probably going to order Elise to choose a different model from Year Ten or Eleven.

  “Well done!” Elise whispered, when I came back into the models’ waiting area. But she was hardly looking at me, so I knew she didn’t really mean it. “Now pretend you’re getting changed,” she went on. I felt stupid miming taking off a jacket, but that’s what everyone was doing all around me, so I just got on with it. I kept telling myself that it didn’t matter if Miss Pritchard or Miss Owen chucked me off the show. Although it would be embarrassing, they’d be doing me a big favour because I wouldn’t have to worry and get nervous any more.

  The music went on and on until all thirty models had had a turn on the catwalk. Then it faded and stopped, and finally the place erupted in excited chatter, but Miss Owen soon put a stop to that.

  “Pretty good for a first go, girls. Well done! Now on the night, there’ll be a pause of about five minutes here, and then we’ll plunge straight on with the next category, which will have different music but exactly the same counts. Some of you went wrong with the counts last time, but I think most of you realized when you’d made a mistake, so let’s try it once more for practice, pretending we’ve moved on to the ‘Dress to Impress for Less’ category.”

  Miss Pritchard took over then, and said that most people had managed the actual style of the walk quite well, and it was largely a question of confidence. “Let yourselves go! You have to show off, girls, and make people want to look at you.” My heart sped up a bit because I was dreading her mentioning the names of the people who hadn’t got it right and needed to stay behind. “On the other hand,” she went on, “several of you overdid it, and looked awkward and false.” She paused and her eyes ran over us all. “Naomi…”

  My stomach clenched at the sound of my name, and I was aware of lots of eyes on me.

  “Where are you, Naomi?” Miss Pritchard was trying to see over the heads.

  “She’s here!” said Elise loudly.

  “Yes, Naomi, you’ve got a very natural poise and elegance. But you look anxious. Just let yourself go, dear, and you can turn that poise into something great.” She turned instantly away from me and spoke to everyone else, while I stood there shaking. “There are quite a few others, too, who need to relax and just go with the flow of the music. But as I said, some of you went the other way, and overdid the swing of the hips. Now I don’t want to curb your enthusiasm, but you need to tone it down a bit. Naomi’s an example of someone who’s used to being in the public eye, which is probably why she looks so poised. Try and find the happy balance, girls.”

  Miss Pritchard stopped talking then, thank goodness, because I hated her praising me and talking about me being in the public eye. What must all these experienced models who’d been in last year’s fashion show be thinking? It only took a few seconds for me to find out because I distinctly heard one of them whisper sarcastically, “Great! Even Miss Pritchard sucks up to her just because she’s a princess.”

  A few moments later, as Miss Pritchard talked in more detail about how your arms and head and hips should be positioned, I took a subtle look about me, and noticed that everyone seemed to be listening quite carefully. That was a big relief. At least no one was aiming evils in my direction. But now I just wanted to get on with the rest of the rehearsal and then flee from this hall to my secret garden.

  Finally, after two more run-throughs, Miss Owen decided that we’d done enough for a first rehearsal, and she read out the names of the girls on her list who needed to stay behind. There were only a few and I wasn’t one of them.

  “Are we allowed to go?” I whispered to Lara.

  “Yes, it’s hot in here, isn’t it? I can’t wait to get out. Well done, by the way. Don’t worry about jealousy. It goes with the territory. Just keep your head down and get on with it, like I do.” She grinned at me and I thanked her with my eyes for being so lovely, then crept towards the door.

  It wasn’t till I actually opened it and was almost out in the corridor that I heard someone say, “Hey, looks like you were right about your little prodigy, Elise!”

  And then Elise’s voice rang out for all to hear. “I know! I am so going to win this competition. I told you, girls, it wasn’t for nothing I found myself a princess! Even Miss P commented on that natural do-it-for-the-cameras thing she’s got going for herself. And wait
till you see her in a tiara. Master stroke, eh?”

  “I know!” squeaked Tansy. “That’s such a brilliant idea!”

  My hand stayed on the door handle and my head crowded with raging thoughts. First Elise had lied about the competition, then she’d lied about the silver slides, and now I knew for sure about the worst lie of all – she really had chosen me because I’m a princess. I wasn’t leaving this hall now. My blood boiled.

  Abina, you don’t need me to stick myself in the limelight. I’ll still make sure Just Water helps you, but I’m pulling out of this ridiculous fashion show. Right now.

  Chapter Six

  I let go of the door handle and turned to face the room, my back against the door, my heart racing with anger. Everyone was buzzing with excitement. No one was paying any attention to me. Miss Owen had a crowd of girls round her, who all seemed to be talking at once. Miss Pritchard had put the music back on at a lower volume and was walking down the catwalk with exaggerated rhythm, a girl on either side of her. All three were counting loudly.

  Still I just stood there like a statue, and the more I took in the scene before me, the more I hated everything about it. Katy might love this world of fashion, but it wasn’t for me. A few people were turning to leave, chatting and laughing, coming towards the door where I stood. Elise was one of them. I watched the bright smile quiver round her mouth as her eyes changed from sparkling to puzzled when she noticed me standing there, tense and still. She knew something was wrong. And one by one the others stopped talking and stared.

  “What’s up?” asked Elise, suspicion narrowing her eyes.

  My determination hadn’t left me. I was still angry. “I’m not doing it.”

  It was as though my words had punctured the buzz and the throb of excitement in the hall, and it was seeping out of our small solemn corner.

  “Of course you are! Don’t be silly!” snapped Elise.

  Her friends’ eyes widened as they jerked their gazes from me to Elise and back again.