Broadway Baby Read Free Page B

eyes.
    My legs were starting to twitch nervously, so I got out of my seat and walked around the foyer, checking everyone out. Kids younger than me were there, as well as adults as old as my grandpa.
    Most of them chatted to each other and seemed very comfortable. I told myself not to be scared, but I didn’t see anyone I knew, except for a couple of faces I recognised from competitions. Oh, and Violet from tap class. But I sure wasn’t going to talk to her.
    Plus, I wanted to be by myself. To prepare. I could see people warming up and going through tap steps, but I felt very out of place and unlike my confident self at Silver Shoes.
    I found a corridor running off the foyer and made sure it was empty. Then I shuffled my feet, going through tap steps that I thought might be used in the audition. I wanted it fresh in my memory.
    â€˜Beauuu-tiful mooorrrr-orrrr-orrrr-orrrrorniiiiing,’ came a voice from around the corner.
    I poked my head around the wall to see who was singing.
    It was a girl about my age, with fabulous burgundy-coloured hair, a small pointed nose and a large red mouth.
    Well, maybe her mouth only looked large because she was singing in a very exaggerated way.
    â€˜Oh, hello,’ she said. ‘Sorry, did I disturb you? I’m just warming up.’
    â€˜No, that’s okay,’ I said.
    â€˜My name’s Cadence Kohdean.’ She flashed me a big smile that took up most of her face.
    â€˜Ellie,’ I said, backing away from her teeth.
    â€˜I know the singing isn’t till after,’ Cadence explained, ‘but vocal warm-ups help me get in the audition zone.’
    â€˜You have a nice voice,’ I said, although my mind secretly added, but mine is better.
    â€˜Gosh, thank you,’ said Cadence. ‘I’ve been singing since I was two. This will be the third main role I’ve auditioned for. Last year I played the lead character in Annie and one of the von Trapp children in The Sound of Music . What parts have you played?’
    â€˜Um …’ I fumbled, pushing my long ponytail off my shoulder. I couldn’t make up something quick enough. ‘I played Ariel in The Little Mermaid ,’ I finally said, which was a lie, unless you count a ten-minute performance of ‘Under the Sea’ in kindergarten. ‘Usually I just go for the chorus. You get to do all the cool dances that way. Dancing is really my thing.’
    â€˜Yes! You totally look like a dancer,’ said Cadence, in a tone of voice that made it hard to tell if she was giving me a compliment or not. ‘I’m more of a singer. I’ve sung in front of the Prime Minister with the Youth Voices Choir, and also I’ve sung on a children’s education CD. It was to learn your times tables.’
    â€˜You must be busy,’ I said, taking another step away, because she had come right up to me. ‘So you’re going for the part of Jane?’
    â€˜Oh yes,’ said Cadence. ‘I think it will be great for my repertoire.’
    I wasn’t really sure what a repertoire was, but I knew straight away that this Cadence Kohdean was my main competition.
    You can beat her, Ellie , I said to myself, but suddenly I really wanted Paige and Riley and Ash here with me. I always felt one hundred times more confident when they were around.
    The stage manager called out that they were ready to begin the auditions, and for everyone to make their way to the stage.
    â€˜Here we go,’ sang Cadence, with a dazzly little tap step that my eyes couldn’t even keep up with, much less my feet. ‘Good luck!’
    â€˜Thanks,’ I said, following after her swinging ponytail. ‘You too.’
    But I wasn’t sure if I meant it.

Chapter Seven
    Snakes, spiders, sand in your bathers, being dobbed on for something that wasn’t your fault, maths tests, jelly snakes not coming in pink. All these things are horrible, but none give me the