Wings Read Free Page A

relative. Most of the girls trying out were older than Tamisin. Juniors and seniors seemed to think of it as their organization, although there wasn’t any rule about it. Four seniors already in the group were seated on a row of chairs at the side of the stage beside Miss Rigby when Tamisin walked through the door. All four looked bored, as if they were already certain that she was about to waste their time. Although she hadn’t been nervous before she walked on stage, her hands began to shake and her stomach felt odd. It helped that Miss Rigby gave Tamisin an encouraging smile when she told them her name and handed them her CD.
    The music was simple, but it was one of Tamisin’s favorite pieces and she danced to it often. She didn’t dance the way she did under a full moon, but some of the steps were the same, and her movements were fluid and graceful, even though she felt odd performing in front of people she didn’t really know.
    When the music stopped and she saw how the seniors beamed at her, Tamisin could feel the heat of a fierce blush creep up her neck and turn her cheeks pink. Smiling until her face hurt, Tamisin nodded at the judges and left the stage. She’d kept telling herself that she didn’t really care if she got into the group; she danced for herself, not for others, and could do it in the basement as easily as anywhere else, but of course she really wanted to get in.
    She was waiting for Heather to finish her audition when Tamisin’s least-favorite classmates, Kendra and Tiffany, walked by.
    “Have you seen the new boy?” asked Kendra. “He is so hot!”
    “His name is Jak,” said Tiffany. “I saw it on his notebook when he was at his locker. He spells it J-A-K.”
    “Where is he from?” Kendra asked, ignoring Tamisin, who had to step aside to get out of her way.
    “I don’t know, but I hear he has loads of money.” Heather came out of the door to the auditorium. “Well, so much for that.”
    “How did it go?” Tamisin asked.
    Heather sighed and ran her fingers through her short brown hair. “As well as could be expected, considering. I was so nervous that I bumped into the door on the way in. Those girls laughed at me before I’d even started and then I couldn’t get my feet to match the music. I know I blew it, but that’s okay. I’m thinking of trying out for girls’ basketball and a lot of the practices would be at the same time.”
    “But you’re shorter than I am,” Tamisin said, laughing. “Do you think the basketball coach would take you?”
    Heather shrugged. “I’m small, but I’m fast. My father says I have a mean hook shot. It’s going to be interesting to see who gets in the dance group though. They take only the very best, and that, Tamisin, is you!”

    The next morning Tamisin pretended that she wasn’t interested in the results, but Heather insisted that they find out right away. While Tamisin waited by the drinking fountain, Heather joined the group of girls examining the list next to the office door. Voices rose and fell as girls pushed their way to the front, then retreated, a few of them smiling, but most looking disappointed.
    “Did you make it?” asked Tamisin when Heather came back a few minutes later.
    “Of course not,” said Heather. “But you did! You’re the first name on the list!”
    “You’re kidding me!”
    “I told you that you would. We should do something to celebrate.”
    The bell rang in the hall; they had five minutes to get to first-period class and their classrooms were at the other end of the building.
    “Race you there!” said Tamisin.
    Laughing, the two girls clutched their backpacks to their chests and dashed down the hall. A computerscience teacher stuck his head out of his doorway and called after them, “No running, girls!”
    “We’re not,” Tamisin called back. “We’re celebrating!”
    At the next hallway, Heather waved good-bye as Tamisin turned the corner. Tamisin was still waving to her friend when she