Feline Charm Read online

  A DAVID FICKLING BOOK

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Text copyright © 2010 by Lee Weatherly

  Illustrations copyright © 2010 by Joanna Harrison

  All rights reserved. Published in the United States by David Fickling Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York. Originally published in paperback in Great Britain by David Fickling Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of the Random House Group Ltd., London, in 2010.

  David Fickling Books and the colophon are trademarks of David Fickling.

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Wells, Kitty.

  Feline charm / Kitty Wells; [illustrations by Joanna Harrison]. — 1st American ed.

  p. cm. — (Pocket cats)

  Summary: The third of Maddy’s ceramic cats comes to life to help her best friend Rachel realize her dream of playing the lead in The Nutcracker ballet.

  eISBN: 978-0-375-89803-7

  [1. Cats—Fiction. 2. Magic—Fiction. 3. Ballet dancing—Fiction.

  4. Self-confidence—Fiction.] I. Harrison, Joanna, ill. II. Title.

  PZ7.W46485Fe 2011

  [Fic]—dc22

  2010038227

  Random House Children’s Books supports the First Amendment and celebrates the right to read.

  v3.1

  Also by Kitty Wells

  Paw Power

  Shadow Magic

  The Pocket Cats series is dedicated to all cat lovers, everywhere … including you!

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Other Books by This Author

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter One

  “And plié … keep your back straight, Poppy … much better, Sue.”

  Madame Dumont walked down the long line of leotard-clad girls, stopping here and there to correct a posture. She had bright red hair piled up on top of her head, and a faint French accent.

  Maddy Lloyd stood with one hand resting on the barre, doing the exercises with the others. Out of the corner of her eye she could see herself reflected in the mirrors that lined one wall: a small girl with a long brown ponytail, her arm held out gracefully to one side.

  “Nice,” said Madame Dumont, tapping her shoulder as she passed. Maddy smiled to herself – but her smile faded as she caught sight of her best friend, Rachel. The tall blonde girl’s movements were tight and jerky, and there was an anxious frown on her face.

  Madame Dumont shook her head as she came to her. “You’re still trying too hard, ma petite,” she said gently. “Just let go and feel the music!”

  Maddy winced in sympathy at the glum look on Rachel’s face. Poor Rache – she loved ballet, but no matter how much she practised, she just couldn’t seem to relax! She was as stiff as a stick.

  “And … back to first,” Madame instructed them as the music finally came to an end.

  Up on her tiptoes, Maddy eased herself down to the floor, sliding her pink-slippered feet into a perfect first position. She sighed happily. She’d been doing ballet for three years now, and enjoyed it hugely. She just wished that Rachel was better at it so that they could both enjoy it together.

  With a swirl of long purple skirts, Madame Dumont strode to the front of the studio. “Very good, everyone. And now I have an exciting announcement.” Her voice lowered dramatically. “There’s going to be a benefit production of The Nutcracker at the Civic Auditorium this December – and our ballet school will be taking part!”

  An eager murmur swept through the class. Madame Dumont smiled. “Of course, most of the roles will be taken by more advanced dancers, but The Nutcracker does have several parts that students in this class can perform … including Clara, the main character.”

  Maddy caught her breath. Clara, the girl who got whisked away on an amazing winter adventure, was just her age.

  And though it might be big-headed even to think it, she knew that she was one of the best dancers in her class. She hardly even had to practise; ballet just came naturally to her.

  What if … what if she got the role of Clara?

  Poppy Harris’s hand shot up. “Madame, will we have to audition?”

  Their teacher nodded. “Yes, we’ll be holding auditions this Saturday. But I still haven’t told you the most exciting part!” Her dark eyes twinkled. “The role of the Sugarplum Fairy is going to be danced by a very fine ballerina … Snow Bradley.”

  A gasp ran through the room.

  “Really, Madame?”

  “I’ve got her poster on my wall!”

  “She was in Swan Lake, and Giselle, and—”

  Their teacher laughed. “I see you’ve heard of her! Yes, Snow is a former student of mine. She’ll be joining us a few weeks before the performance.”

  Maddy was in a daze. She had a poster of Snow Bradley as well, dancing in Romeo and Juliet. She’d got the DVD too, and had watched it more times than she could count. Just imagine if she got the part of Clara. She’d be dancing with her favourite ballerina ever!

  “I’ve got letters for your parents that will explain everything,” Madame was saying. “That’s all, girls. Class dismissed.”

  Her students broke into polite applause and then filed out of the studio to the changing room, chatting eagerly.

  “You’ll get to be Clara, of course,” said Rachel, nudging against Maddy’s side.

  “Definitely – the rest of us won’t have a chance,” put in Poppy.

  Maddy hoped fervently that they were right. She sat down on the bench and started pulling off her shoes to hide her excitement. “Don’t be daft, it could be anyone.”

  Rachel made a face as she sat down beside her. “Except me, that is.”

  Maddy bit her lip. She wanted to comfort her friend, but she knew Rachel was right – there was no way she’d be dancing Clara!

  Poppy looked uncomfortable too. “Maybe if you practised harder—” she started.

  “How could I practise harder?” said Rachel tetchily. “All I ever do is practise.” Reaching for her bag, she put on her glasses with a sigh. “Anyway, I’d be happy just to take part in the show, so who knows – maybe I’ll get lucky at the auditions.”

  “I hope we all get lucky,” said Poppy. “Imagine being on the same stage as Snow Bradley – it’d be magic, pure magic!” She did a quick series of pirouettes across the room. The other girls giggled as she bumped into them.

  At the word “magic”, Maddy and Rachel exchanged a secret smile. Though no one else knew it, the two of them really had experienced magic – in the form of three tiny ceramic cats. The cats belonged to Maddy, and could actually come to life – though so far only two of them had done so.

  “Has anything happened with the third cat yet?” whispered Rachel as they got changed.

  Maddy glanced at the other girls. They were all talking and laughing, not paying any attention to them. Picking up her bag from the corner, she carefully unzipped the side pocket, and she and Rachel peeped inside.

  The little ceramic set was nestling in a piece of soft cloth, staring up
at them with painted eyes: a slender black cat, a chunky grey one, and a tabby with white markings. It was the tabby who was due to come to life this time … but he remained as still and silent as the other two.

  Maddy let out a breath, disappointed despite herself. “I guess it’s too soon. It’s only been a few days since Nibs came to life.” She touched the tiny black cat’s smooth head, remembering the adventure they’d shared.

  “I don’t think that matters,” said Rachel thoughtfully, tying her trainers. “Just because Nibs appeared a few weeks after Greykin, that doesn’t mean it will happen the same way again with this cat. It could happen any time at all!”

  Maddy’s scalp tingled as she realized that Rachel was right. Her best friend was very scientific, and often saw a logic in things when Maddy herself did not. It was just as well that Rachel was so awkward at ballet, she reflected. It wouldn’t be fair for her to have all the talents.

  Maddy kept this thought to herself. “I’ll let you know the second something happens!” she promised, zipping up the bag again.

  “Great,” said Rachel happily as she pulled on her jacket. “And maybe this time I can find out where the cats came from!”

  But the tabby showed no sign of coming to life over the next few days, and Maddy decided she’d been right after all – it was too soon. She still carried the cats in her bag with her, just in case … but meanwhile, with the audition coming up, she had other things on her mind too.

  Each night Maddy pored over her ballet books, drinking in pictures of Snow Bradley. The famous ballerina was really named Sophia, but everyone called her Snow because of her pale, flaxen hair.

  Maddy traced a photo of her up en pointe. Snow herself had danced Clara once, when she was first starting out. Just imagine if I got the part – she could give me tips! thought Maddy.

  Her stomach lurched excitedly. It was Friday night now, and the auditions were the next afternoon. Only a few more hours.

  Maddy’s mother laughed as she came into the room and spotted Maddy sitting cross-legged on her bed. “Wouldn’t you be better off practising, rather than just staring at your ballet books?” she asked.

  Maddy shrugged. She had never practised her ballet very much – somehow she just did well without really trying.

  Shaking her head good-naturedly, Maddy’s mother dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Time to get ready for bed,” she said. “Jack’s out of the bath now – and you’ll want a good night’s sleep before the audition tomorrow.”

  “OK,” agreed Maddy, slowly closing her book.

  Later, her hair still slightly damp from her bath, Maddy put on her pyjamas and stared dreamily at herself in the mirror. Rising up on her tiptoes, she arched her arms gracefully over her head. As if you’re holding a marble between your two middle fingers, Madame always said.

  Maddy’s bedroom seemed to fade around her as she began to dance. All at once she wasn’t Maddy any more. She was Clara, dressed in her finest clothes at a lavish Christmas party – and she had just been given the most wonderful present ever.

  “A nutcracker!” she breathed. She could almost see the little wooden man – he was dressed jauntily in red, with a bristling black beard and bright blue eyes.

  Maddy spun lightly around the room, pretending to dance with the toy. She was just getting to the part where pesky Fritz, Clara’s little brother, grabs the nutcracker and breaks it (Maddy could sympathize: Jack had broken loads of her things in the past) when she heard a soft chuckle.

  “Bravo!” called a purring voice. “Bravo!”

  Chapter Two

  Maddy stumbled in surprise. Whirling towards her desk, she saw the tiny cats sitting just where she’d left them … but only two were still ceramic. The tabby sat on his haunches with his bushy tail wrapped neatly about his paws, watching her with twinkling amber eyes.

  “You’ve come to life!” cried Maddy. She popped her hand over her mouth and glanced at the wall. Jack was in the next room, and it wouldn’t do for him to find out about the cats. He couldn’t keep a secret for a second.

  “Yes – it is I!” announced the cat grandly.

  He strolled across the desk, waving his tail from side to side. Stopping near Maddy’s eraser, he struck a grand pose. “You may comment on the beauty of my markings if you like,” he said. “Don’t hold back for modesty’s sake.”

  Maddy giggled. Sliding into her desk chair, she regarded the little cat with shining eyes. His markings were indeed beautiful. Brown and black stripes swirled across his forehead, back and tail, with pure snowy-white fur covering everywhere else.

  “You’re gorgeous!” she assured him.

  The cat purred with pleasure. “I’m Ollie,” he said. “Why haven’t you stroked me yet?”

  “Sorry,” said Maddy with a grin. “I wasn’t sure whether you’d want me to.” She ran a finger gently over Ollie’s back. His long fur was just as soft and silky as it looked.

  Ollie blinked. “Wouldn’t want you to? Why on earth not? My coat is exceedingly luxurious, as you’ve probably noticed – perfect for stroking!”

  “It’s lovely,” agreed Maddy. She hid a smile as she scratched Ollie’s head with her little fingernail. He reminded her of a strutting peacock she had once seen at a wildlife park!

  Ollie flopped over onto his back to let Maddy scratch his stomach. “Yes, and it needs regular combing, or I get tangles,” he murmured contentedly. “I hope you have a suitable brush.”

  A brush? For a cat five centimetres tall? “Er – I’ll find one,” promised Maddy.

  Finally Ollie got to his feet with a satisfied sigh. “Exquisite,” he said. “You have very understanding fingers. Was that The Nutcracker you were practising earlier?”

  Maddy’s eyes widened. “Yes, but – how did you know?” Greykin and Nibs, the two cats she had met before, were each very wise in their different ways, but she was certain neither of them knew much about ballet!

  “I have trodden the boards myself in my time,” said Ollie with a dramatic sweep of his tail. “You’ve heard of the Aladdin Theatre, of course?”

  Maddy shook her head.

  “Oh.” Ollie’s ears flicked in disappointment. “Well, it was very famous, believe me. The three of us were there for some time, though Nibs and Greykin never quite embraced the dramatic life as I did.” He gave the other two cats a slightly pitying glance.

  “Ah, those were the days,” he sighed. “What plays, what characters! Lady Bracknell – Mrs Malaprop – Malvolio!”

  Maddy gaped at him. Had the cats really been in a theatre? “Mal – who?” she echoed.

  “Shakespeare,” said Ollie. “Twelfth Night.” Leaping up onto a library book, he puffed out his furry chest and half yowled, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness … and some have greatness thrust upon them!”

  He gave Maddy an expectant look. She applauded softly, and he dipped his head in thanks. “So you see, my dear, I know a bit about the theatre … and as for ballet, we always performed The Nutcracker at Christmas. Along with a good panto, of course.”

  Maddy wished fervently that Rachel were here. None of the cats had ever volunteered so much about their past before – she hardly knew where to begin with her questions!

  “Ollie, where was the—” she started.

  “May I have a tour?” interrupted Ollie, jumping down from the book.

  He padded across the desk and nudged her hand with his head. “I see you have a most charming room. Pink and yellow; very sweet.”

  “Oh – of course.” Distracted for a moment, Maddy turned her hand over and felt Ollie’s slight furry weight as he stepped onto her palm. Happiness fluttered through her. She’d never get tired of having tiny magical cats – and Ollie really was a very beautiful one.

  Maddy rose from her chair, and then remembered her question. “Ollie, was the theatre in London, or—”

  “And who is that beautiful ballerina on the wall?” demanded Ollie, craning his head for a better look.

  He me
ant her poster of Snow Bradley! Maddy forgot her interest in Ollie’s past as she eagerly told him all about the famous ballerina, even getting out her ballet books to show him other photos.

  “If I’m not mistaken, I think the problem we need to solve might involve her,” said Ollie thoughtfully.

  Maddy was sitting cross-legged on her bed by then, with the little cat perched on her knee. “The problem is with Snow Bradley?” she gasped. The cats only came to life when there was some sort of trouble that needed their attention, but Maddy had never dreamed that it might involve her favourite ballerina!

  With a quick spring, Ollie landed on the book. He gazed down at a glossy photo of Snow leaping through the air in a grand jeté.

  “Yes, I think so,” he said. “It’s not directly about her, but I’m definitely getting a sort of pre-tingling sensation in my whiskers. They’re very sensitive, you know, as well as being extremely long and elegant.”

  “Wow,” breathed Maddy. Was she going to be able to help Snow in some way? She opened her mouth to ask – and then jumped as her bedroom door opened and her mother came in.

  “Maddy! Aren’t you in bed yet?”

  Sitting on the open page of the book, Ollie was now just a ceramic cat again. Mum picked him up and placed him back on Maddy’s desk with a tiny clink.

  “Come on, sweetie, into bed – you’ve got a big day tomorrow!”

  Maddy blinked. She had forgotten about the audition! “OK,” she said quickly, climbing under the covers.

  Her mother kissed her and turned out the light. Maddy lay listening until her footsteps faded away down the landing – and then she quietly slipped out of bed, lit by the glow of her pink fairy nightlight.

  “Oh Juliet, wherefore art thou?” whispered a feline voice.

  Maddy giggled. She could just make out Ollie’s amber eyes in the faint light. “Here,” she whispered back, going over to the desk.