Davina Dupree Predicts a Plot Read Free Page B

stopping to pick her nose every now and again. I didn’t see Mrs Blinkham look at Polly ONCE the whole time we were in the Grand Hall, she seemed too busy worrying about getting Clarice a one way ticket to Hollywood. Honestly, that little girl could run out of the hall and her mother wouldn’t even notice.
    When Melody had finished her turn, Cleo climbed up onto the stage and read her script very quietly, mumbling into her sleeve.
    ‘Not such a big shot now, is she?’ Arabella whispered with glee.
    Then it was Clarice’s turn, her mother fussing over her all the way to the stage. Even though Arabella would never admit it, Clarice was actually quite good. She was playing the part of Helena, who was apparently in love with someone called Demetrius. She read the words confidently and even got carried away and did some actions. When she’d finished to ecstatic applause from her mother, Alfie called out,
    ‘Who’s next?’ I was nearly sick, thinking it might be me, but then…
    ‘Oh me, me, me!’ Arabella ran to the stage and jumped up. She then COMPLETELY astonished me by putting on the most marvellous acting performance I’ve ever seen. Honestly, she was no longer Arabella, but BECAME someone called Hermia, who was apparently in love with a bloke called Lysander. It seemed like Hermia’s dad wanted her to marry Demetrius not Lysander, but I could tell from Arabella’s acting that Hermia REALLY didn’t want to.
    By the time she’d finished, Stephania was on her feet clapping, and even Alfie had a half smile on his face. Cleo, Clarice and Mrs Blinkham, however, had twisted up faces like they’d been sucking on a batch of very strong lemons.
    ‘You were much better than her, darling,’ Mrs Blinkham said loudly to Clarice. Yeah right, I thought. Not likely. I walked up to the stage, plucking up my courage, because I’d just had an idea.
    ‘Wasn’t Arabella amazing?’ I said to Alfie, who just stared back, giving nothing away. ‘Look, I was going to audition, but to be honest I really don’t want to as I’d much rather be a stage hand, and help paint the scenery and things. And anyway, I wouldn’t want to be the next to audition after Arabella’s performance.’
    Arabella looked at me crossly for a moment, then her freckly face broke into a grin. She nodded in agreement.
    ‘What’s your name, kid?’ Alfie said, reaching down for a clipboard and pen. He wrote my name under “Stage hands”, then Arabella and I raced back up to our dorm while one of the twins, Moira, climbed on to the stage to say her piece.
    After dancing round the room all evening yesterday, Arabella had a total mood crash this morning and is now lying under her duvet with her face in the pillow, really worried that she messed up her audition. NOTHING I say seems to make her feel better, not even the offer of one of my dark, cherry chocolates that Carrie sent. Oh I DO hope she gets a good part. Stephania said the character list should be going up later today. SO nerve wracking.com …
Friday 5 th November
    A bitter-sweet success, Diary.
    Well, there’s good news and bad news. The good news, well fabulous news, is that Arabella has been given one of the main parts – hurrah! The bad news is that she has to act opposite Clarice, who’s also been given a main part. And guess what – they have to act being in love with each other! It would almost be funny if Arabella wasn’t so utterly MAD about it. Arabella is going to play Hermia and Clarice is going to play the boy’s role of Lysander, because we don’t have any boys at our school to take those parts. Another bit of good news is that I’ve been made the head stage hand, which I’m really very pleased about because I can concentrate on painting the backdrops without worrying about lots of people staring at me on opening night, which would be TOO freaky for words.com .
    Melody, the twins and Hannah all have main parts too. Lottie is a stage hand, and Erica didn’t bother