Feline Charm Read online

  “Oh,” said Maddy in a tiny voice.

  “Never mind,” said Ollie, rubbing against her thumb. “There are no small parts, only small actors! Dance your heart out in your given role, that’s what I say.”

  Maddy sighed. Of course she would, but it still wouldn’t be nearly as good as dancing Clara. “So … you don’t have to go yet?” she ventured, stroking Ollie’s beautiful tail.

  He shook his head. “Not yet. Rachel’s only got the part; she hasn’t performed it in front of an audience yet. The problem won’t be truly solved until then.”

  Maddy’s pulse quickened as she gazed at the miniature cat in her hand. “You mean – you’re staying until the show opens?” she gasped, lifting him up to eye level. “But that’s brilliant! That’s weeks away!”

  Ollie patted her nose with a tiny paw. “Yes, I’m afraid you’re stuck with me,” he said cheerfully. “I don’t mind.” She grinned. “Oh, Ollie, that’s wonderful – it even makes up for not being Clara.”

  Then Maddy caught sight of her poster of Snow Bradley, looking pale and beautiful as she danced en pointe as Juliet. She bit her lip. Well, maybe it didn’t quite make up for it … but it certainly made it a lot easier to bear.

  As the days passed, Maddy thought gloomily that if it hadn’t been for Ollie, she might have been tempted to give up ballet herself. All they did in class now was rehearse for The Nutcracker. And no matter how often Maddy told herself that the magic had got things right, she couldn’t help it – seeing Rachel twirl lightly through Clara’s steps gave her a hard, tight feeling in her chest.

  “Maddy, are you sure you’re not cross with me?” pressed Rachel at school. She adjusted her glasses on her nose. “You seem so … quiet all the time now.”

  “I’m sure,” said Maddy, forcing a smile. It was break time, and they were standing outside in the chilly playground. “Come on, let’s go and grab the swings before Sherry gets them!”

  She set off at a run, and was soon swinging so high that conversation was impossible. Rachel swung beside her, looking worried.

  Maddy pretended not to notice. She wished she could tell Rachel how awful she felt – but then again, Rachel should know without having to ask. A real friend would.

  But all she cares about now is being Clara, thought Maddy angrily, swinging as hard as she could. Deep down, she knew that she wasn’t being fair … but she didn’t care.

  With things so awkward now between her and Rachel, spending time with Ollie was the only thing that cheered Maddy up. She had made a stage for the little cat out of an old cereal box and a red T-shirt, and watched in delight as he strutted about on it, acting out bits of plays for her.

  “Marry Freddie – ha!” he intoned, striking a pose with a flourish. There was a pause. “That’s the end,” he muttered to Maddy out of the side of his mouth, still holding his pose. “You may applaud now.”

  Maddy clapped wildly. She had been surprised that a play with such a dull-sounding name as Pygmalion could be so funny – and Ollie had been brilliant, acting out all the parts!

  The little tabby purred with delight, inclining his head in a bow. “Thank you … oh, so kind … thank you …” he murmured.

  Greykin and Nibs sat together in the “audience”. As usual, the two ceramic cats were touching, which made the feline magic stronger. Glancing at them, Maddy thought that Greykin looked amused, and Nibs rather grumpy.

  She stifled a giggle. She had a feeling that the matter-of-fact Nibs probably found Ollie’s extravagant ways a bit hard to take!

  “Ollie, tell me more about the Aladdin Theatre,” she said eagerly, propping her elbows on the desk. “Where was it? Why were you and the other cats there?”

  The cat’s amber eyes took on a dreamy, faraway gaze. “Ah, the Aladdin! It was the most beautiful theatre imaginable. Especially the curtain. Red velvet is traditional, you know, but so ordinary. So I used a bit of – er, persuasion, and they changed it to midnight blue instead.” He beamed at her. “I think blue is much more dignified, don’t you?”

  “Definitely,” said Maddy, holding back a smile at the thought of Ollie using his magic powers to change the curtain colour. “But, Ollie, why—?”

  She jumped as her mother came into the room. On the cereal box, Ollie immediately became smooth ceramic once more.

  Mum laughed when she saw him. “What are you doing? Having a show with your cats?”

  Maddy’s cheeks blazed. “Sort of.”

  Her mother’s expression was thoughtful. “Speaking of shows, shouldn’t you be practising for The Nutcracker more? I’m sure we could clear a space in the lounge for you to dance in if you wanted.”

  Maddy shook her head. “No, that’s OK.”

  Mum shrugged, one hand resting on the doorjamb. “All right, it’s up to you. I just wanted to tell you that we’re going out to dinner tonight – be ready in about half an hour, OK?”

  After Mum had left, Maddy made a face. She felt less like practising now than she ever had. She was only performing in group scenes anyway. She could do those in her sleep!

  But as the time for the performance of The Nutcracker drew closer, Madame Dumont seemed to disagree. More and more often now, she was telling Maddy off for not concentrating. “You must tighten things up, ma petite,” she scolded. “Your footwork is becoming very sloppy.”

  They were now practising at the Civic Auditorium, on a giant stage with rows and rows of empty seats in the audience. “Yes, Madame,” mumbled Maddy, her cheeks flushing.

  It didn’t seem fair when she had always done so well at ballet – and Rachel hadn’t been told off once! The feline charm continued to work its magic, and her dancing was smooth and confident.

  I wish I could tell her why she’s doing so well, thought Maddy sulkily, looking away as Rachel tried to catch her eye.

  Then, a week before the performance, Snow Bradley arrived to begin practising with them.

  Though Maddy knew it was silly, she’d been half expecting Snow to turn up in one of her amazing ballet outfits – the white feathered one from Swan Lake, or the blue one with ribbons from Romeo and Juliet. Instead, she came through the stage door of the Civic Auditorium wearing jeans and a jumper like anyone else.

  “Brr, it’s cold!” she exclaimed cheerfully, taking off her coat. Her famous pale hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and her eyes were green and sparkling. “Has Madame been working you all hard? She certainly did me when I was your age.”

  Mumbling a reply with the other girls, Maddy stared at the jean-clad woman in wonder. It seemed unbelievable that this was really Snow Bradley!

  But then Snow got changed, and came out onto the stage wearing a pale blue practice leotard, with white tights and a filmy white skirt. Standing in the wings with the other mouse minions, Maddy watched raptly as she went through the Sugarplum Fairy’s dance.

  She made it look so easy! Her leaps were like flying. Rachel was so lucky, to be right there on stage with her for the whole ballet – and to actually get to dance with her as well!

  Rachel was standing in place on stage, looking as awestruck as the rest of them. In fact … Maddy looked more closely at her, wondering whether Rachel was about to lose her nerve again. Ollie was in Maddy’s bag, back in the changing room. Could she use the cat magic with him so far away?

  A nasty little voice inside her head said, Well, if I can’t, it’s not my fault. And then everyone would see that Rachel’s not that great after all.

  Her heart pounded at the terrible, wonderful thought. The beat in the music came. Snow turned towards Rachel, hands out. Rachel hesitated … and then lifted her chin and began to dance.

  Maddy let out a breath, half relieved and half disappointed as Rachel twirled about the stage with Snow. Oh, she’d give anything to dance with Snow herself, just once! The famous ballerina was so beautiful – and you could tell that she was really nice too.

  Maddy looked on wistfully as Snow smiled at Rachel during a pause in the rehearsals. Then she stiffened
as Snow’s voice carried to the wings: “You have a lot of talent, Rachel. Have you thought of going to ballet summer school next year?”

  Rachel’s cheeks turned pink. “No, what’s that?” she asked shyly.

  “It’s an intensive programme for gifted young dancers,” explained Snow. “You’d have to audition for it, but I’m sure that wouldn’t be a problem for you.”

  Ballet summer school? Tears pricked at Maddy’s eyes. That should be her, not Rachel!

  She watched in a daze as the ballet continued, with the dancers acting out Clara’s adventures in the snowy wonderland. I can’t cry here, she told herself, clenching her fists tightly. I just can’t!

  Suddenly Maddy came back to herself with a start. The other mouse minions had all left and were halfway out onto the stage. She’d missed her cue!

  Chapter Seven

  There was a gap in the group of mouse minions where Maddy was supposed to be. Running out on stage, she quickly got into position, stumbling as she tried to catch up with the others.

  Suddenly she found herself on her own. She had gone in the wrong direction! Maddy almost fell as she tried to correct herself, and then she was alone again, with the other mouse minions moving off downstage.

  “Stop, stop!” called Madame’s voice. There was an awkward silence as the other dancers came to a halt. Maddy couldn’t look at anyone. Her face was on fire. Oh, why did this have to happen in front of Snow?

  Leaving her seat in the front row, Madame came up onto the stage.

  “This just won’t do!” she scolded Maddy. “I’ve spoken to you several times already, ma petite. You must pay attention to what you’re doing, or else you won’t be able to perform in the show.”

  “I’m sorry,” whispered Maddy. “I – I’ll do better, I promise.”

  Madame shook her head. “See that you do,” she said. “You have talent, Maddy, but that’s not enough if you won’t practise. You should try to be more like Rachel. She always works hard – and see what results she gets!”

  “Yes, Madame,” Maddy mumbled. She felt as if red-hot coals were sizzling inside her. Be more like Rachel, when Rachel couldn’t even dance without the help of feline magic!

  Her teacher patted her shoulder. “I know you can do it, Maddy. Now, again, everyone – from the mouse minions’ entrance.”

  After the rehearsal was finally over, the girls in Maddy’s ballet class went back to the children’s changing room together, chatting eagerly about Snow. “Isn’t she wonderful?” sighed Poppy. “Rachel, you’re so lucky.”

  “She isn’t lucky at all,” teased Sue, nudging Rachel with her arm. “You heard Madame – she works really, really hard!”

  Rachel grimaced, and gave Maddy a worried glance. “I wish Madame hadn’t said that,” she whispered, going over and squeezing her arm. “Are you OK?”

  “I’m fine.” Maddy shrugged. She pulled her hair from its ponytail and shook it out. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  Rachel blinked in surprise as she put her glasses on. “Well – because Madame was awfully hard on you, that’s why. I think she was really unfair, Maddy, telling you off in front of everyone like that.”

  Ha – I just bet you do! thought Maddy. Rachel had probably loved hearing her get scolded – it meant that she got to be the star in front of Snow. “What were you and Snow talking about, anyway?” she asked pointedly.

  Rachel looked uncomfortable. “Um … nothing much.”

  “Really?” Maddy’s voice trembled. “Well, that’s funny – because I thought I heard her say something about a special ballet summer school.”

  Rachel’s ears turned red. “Oh, that,” she said weakly.

  “Yes, that,” said Maddy. The other girls had gone silent, watching them. “Weren’t you going to tell me, then?”

  “Tell you what?” protested Rachel. “Nothing’s definite yet. I might not even get in.”

  “Oh, so you’re going to try, are you?” burst out Maddy. She couldn’t explain why this seemed so unfair, but it did. A month ago Rachel couldn’t dance without freezing up, and now she and Snow Bradley were having cosy little chats together about ballet summer school!

  “Maddy, what’s wrong with you?” Rachel’s blue eyes were bright with tears. “You’ve been horrible to me ever since I got Clara! Can’t you be just a little bit happy for me?”

  “I am happy for you!” Maddy cried. “Why, if it weren’t for me—” She stopped abruptly.

  Rachel looked as if Maddy had slapped her. “If it weren’t for you, what?”

  “Yeah, Maddy, what are you talking about?” demanded Poppy with a scowl.

  “Nothing!” Maddy flung on her clothes over her tights and leotard. “It’s just – it’s just that I’ve given you loads of help with your ballet, Rachel, and—”

  Rachel’s mouth dropped open. “What? Are you saying that’s why I got Clara – because you helped me?”

  “No, of course not!” snapped Maddy, snatching up her bag. She wished she could take Ollie out and wave him under Rachel’s nose! But everyone was already staring at her as if she’d lost her mind.

  “Maddy, what are you on about?” asked Sue, looking bewildered. “First you say it is because of you that Rachel got to be Clara, and now you say it’s not—”

  “I don’t know!” shouted Maddy, stamping her foot. “Just – just leave me alone, all of you!” She ran blindly out of the changing room.

  Her mother hadn’t arrived to pick her up yet. Maddy waited near the stage door, trying not to cry. She knew that she had behaved very badly to Rachel … but at the same time, it had been something of a relief to finally let her feelings out.

  She heard the other girls approaching, and ducked hurriedly behind a vending machine. “Honestly, Rachel, don’t worry about it,” Poppy was saying. “She’s so jealous she can hardly see straight, that’s her problem!”

  Maddy felt sick as she realized they were talking about her. She pressed against the vending machine, straining to hear.

  “Yes, and it’s really selfish of her,” put in Sue. “You’re supposed to be her best friend.”

  “Some best friend,” said Rachel bitterly. “I think I’m better off without one!” And then they were gone, with the stage door banging shut behind them.

  Maddy’s thoughts were spinning as she stepped slowly out into the open again. She wasn’t jealous of Rachel – how dare they say that! She just knew how unfair it was that everyone thought she was so wonderful, that was all.

  A tiny voice inside her whispered that it was true what Madame had said. Rachel had always worked much harder than Maddy, and now that she wasn’t nervous any more, her talent shone through. If she, Maddy, worked just as hard—

  She pushed the thought away crossly. Ballet had always come easily to her. Madame wouldn’t even be thinking that she should work harder now if it weren’t for Rachel showing her up!

  Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, Maddy took Ollie out of her bag. The little cat stayed ceramic, nestling coolly in her palm. “Oh, Ollie,” she whispered, pressing him to her cheek. “I didn’t know this was going to be so hard! What am I going to do?”

  Ollie’s painted amber eyes met hers. There was no response. Finally, with a sigh, Maddy put him away again and sat down to wait for her mother. Tactfully Ollie didn’t say anything about the row once Maddy got home again. Instead he talked some more about his life at the Aladdin Theatre, distracting Maddy with funny stories.

  “I remember once when we were working with GBS,” he said, perched on the cereal-box stage. “I was in the stage manager’s pocket as usual (he liked to keep me there, along with his tobacco), and—”

  “Wait – what’s GBS?” interrupted Maddy. “You mean, like … in a car?”

  Ollie twitched his whiskers in distaste. “What? No, no, GBS – George Bernard Shaw. He wrote that play, Pygmalion, and he was such a dramatic man himself – he had a great mane of thick white hair, and a flowing beard, and he was over six foot tall! And wh
en he spoke, he …”

  Maddy almost forgot her hurt feelings as Ollie chatted on. It felt so strange, though, not to be sharing this with Rachel. Her friend had been involved with the cats right from the very start, and was wild to know their history.

  Remembering this, Maddy waited for a break in the little cat’s story and said, “Ollie, when was all this?”

  “Oh, long ago,” he said comfortably. He leaped down from the box with a tiny thump. “It seems like yesterday, though.”

  “Yes, but when? And where was the Aladdin Theatre? Was it in London?”

  Instead of answering, Ollie prowled over to the pot of pens and markers where Maddy kept the eyebrow pencil. Rising up on his hind legs, he snagged it neatly with his paws and pulled it out.

  “Would you be a dear?” he said, pushing it across the desk towards her. “I can feel a slight tangle on my tummy.”

  Maddy shook her head with a smile as she began to groom the little cat with the eyebrow brush. She was beginning to suspect that it was no coincidence that Ollie never answered her questions!

  In the week that followed, things felt ten times worse than before. For one thing, Rachel wasn’t speaking to her. Though this wasn’t too bad at school, where Maddy had other friends, it was really dreadful at rehearsal … because no one else there was speaking to her, either.

  Pretending that she didn’t care, Maddy concentrated on her dancing. Maybe Snow Bradley would notice her, and then the famous ballerina would suggest that she too should go to the special ballet summer school!

  But no matter how hard Maddy tried, Snow didn’t seem to see her. No wonder, thought Maddy glumly as she sat in the changing room on the night of the final dress rehearsal. She was just one of a dozen mouse minions, with nothing to make her stand out. Why should Snow notice her?