Success at Silver Spires Read Free

it actually was? Izzy felt the same, thank goodness, and we would keep turning to each other during the school day – like in the dinner queue, in the middle of a lesson, walking out of assembly, or while we were cleaning our teeth – and saying, “What if we’re useless at it?” and “What if we hate it?”
    But then we always finished up reminding ourselves that Holly had talked about scull doubles, and that as long as we were together in a boat for two people, surely it would be good fun.
    Then Saturday afternoon finally arrived, and I was more nervous than ever in the swimming pool changing room, with Izzy and the rest of the fifteen Year Sevens and Eights who’d signed up for sculling. Mrs. Truman had told us to put our costumes on underneath cycling shorts and a T-shirt. Someone had already asked her why we had to wear cycling shorts rather than any old shorts, and she’d said it was so they wouldn’t get caught on any parts of the boat. That was the moment when it had all started to sound very real to me.
    â€œYou’re going to get a bit of a shock when you see what’s in the pool,” she said, wearing a kind of secretive smile. “Come on, girls, quick as you can.”
    We knew there would be some kind of a boat in the pool because Mrs. Truman had already mentioned that, but when we walked through from the changing room, every single one of us gasped. There, floating in the middle of the pool, was a long, very, very slim, gleaming white boat. It looked as though the slightest breath of wind would tip it over.
    Instantly I knew there was no way I was ever going to be able to manage this sport. I must have been mad even to consider it.

Chapter Two

    â€œDon’t look so terrified!” came a man’s voice. “Gather round, girls!”
    It was hard dragging my eyes from the beautiful but scary-looking boat to the man who seemed to be in charge. He was wearing a dark blue polo shirt and a pair of combats that went down to just below the knee and his feet were bare. He seemed very young to be a teacher but I’m not very good at ages. Straight away he told us that his name was Ryan. That’s all he told us, though, before he suddenly fell into the pool.
    Another huge gasp filled the pool area and I snatched a glance at Mrs. Truman and the other two ladies who I noticed were also standing on the side. Not one of them moved at all – not even a twitch – which made me think that Ryan must have fallen in on purpose. But I could see quite a few girls who were still looking shocked and others who were laughing.
    A moment later he heaved himself out of the pool, dripping wet but smiling all over his face. “There you are, girls. Falling in is nothing to worry about. That’s the first lesson. So what if you’ve got all your clothes on? Yes, it might be a bit cold, but there’s no need to dwell on that – you just need to think safety . So, let’s get started. My name’s Ryan, as I said, and I’m from the Pollington Water Sports Club. Here’s our logo!” He tapped the red and pale blue picture on his shirt. It seemed to be of two trees growing towards each other on an island in the middle of a lake. But when I looked closely I saw that the trees were actually a pair of oars with a sail in the middle. “This is Celia, and this is Penny,” he went on, introducing the two ladies, who were also wearing dark blue polo shirts with the same logo, only they had shorts on rather than combats.
    â€œHi!” they said, giving us a little wave.
    I thought they looked really nice and friendly, and a little of my nervousness dissolved – but only a little. We’d not started the session yet and I had no idea how on earth anyone was expected to balance in such a narrow boat that didn’t even have a flat bottom. And worse, it looked like you had to sit on it, not in it.
    â€œRight we’re here today