Let the Dance Begin

by Lynda Waterhouse

  ‘I will not have anyone saying that I can’t look after you.’ Euphorbia’s lips quivered as she spoke. ‘The side panel needs taking in a bit.’ She reached into her workbox, taking out a needle and thread, and instructed Cassie to stand still.

  Cassie wriggled. ‘There’s no need. It’s perfect already!’ she insisted.

  Euphorbia shook her head. ‘The more perfect the practice outfit, the more perfect the dance steps will be. You have to look the part to be the part.’

  ‘Then I shall be the most perfect dancer!’ Cassie twirled around the table. ‘One day, I might even be able to perform the most difficult dance step of all. The step that only the prima dune dancer can do – the Triple Silica Jump!’

  ‘The Triple Silica Jump is the hardest dance step that you’ll learn, but there is a simple secret to mastering it. You have to be fit and strong and flexible – that goes without saying – but once you are, it is simply a matter of taking three jumps, and making a turn of the hips as you take a very deep breath and believe!’

  Cassie was amazed to hear Euphorbia speak so knowledgeably about dancing. As far as she knew, Euphorbia had never danced in her life, but it was typical of her to have an opinion on it – Euphorbia considered herself to be an expert at most things. But Cassie did not want to hurt her feelings so she nodded and repeated, ‘Take three jumps, turn hips, deep breath, believe, and away I go!’

  For a split second Euphorbia smiled and her eyes shone, making her look young again. Cassie smiled back. ‘As soon as I’m strong enough I’ll try it.’

  Euphorbia finished the stitch and knotted the thread. ‘You will not be strong enough for years! It is not going to be easy for you at Sandringham.’ Euphorbia looked serious. ‘It will be twice as hard for you because of who you are. Some people will expect you to be a great dancer and some will bear you a grudge. I know it is mean and unreasonable, but some sand sprites are angry with your mother for leaving during the sandstorm and hold her responsible for upsetting Sandrine so much that she closed down the dance school’

  Cassie smiled. ‘I’ll be OK. I know it will be hard work, but I’ll have some friends.’

  Cassie desperately hoped that Lexie and Shell had also won places. She had been thinking about them a lot lately. She pictured Lexie talking with her mother about what the school was like before it closed. She imagined Shell serving sage tea to Sandrine every morning. Cassie wondered how Sandrine had reacted when she saw one of her servants at the auditions. Maybe Sandrine hadn’t even recognised her. But Cassie doubted that somehow, as there was a sparkle about Shell that was hard to ignore. She hoped that Lexie and Shell were at that very moment preparing to leave for Sandringham just like she was.

  All the successful candidates had to meet at the Southside Dune stop of Silica City tomorrow. They would all travel to Dreamy Dune and the dance school together. This meant that she would have to leave Mite Cove before the sun rose to get there in time. It would be a long journey, but Cassie could hardly wait.

  Euphorbia and Cassie sat by the fire until it was time to go to bed. Cassie knew she’d miss Euphorbia and she was certain her aunt would miss her – for all her severity she never doubted how much she cared for her. But still, she was longing to be on her way. Cassie was so excited and nervous about going to Sandringham that she found it hard to get to sleep. What had she got herself into? She tossed and turned over all kinds of restless thoughts and feelings, before she found herself reliving what had happened to her on the Night of the Great Sandstorm again, becoming once more that little frightened sand sprite.

  A rattling noise had woken her up. At first she thought it was her mother coming back. Before she had time to blink, the storm swirled around her. It felt as if the sand and wind were trying to break her down into small pieces so that she would end up no bigger than a grain of sand. She tried to shelter from it, but the force of the wind was too strong, and in the end she gave up.

  Someone lifted her on to a sand galleon. She was too tired to even speak and she found herself all alone inside Silica City.

  For days she wandered the pathways and the tunnels of the vast dune city calling out for her mother. Everyone was racing around trying to save their possessions or find their families or food. Cassie’s tummy groaned with hunger and she had to try and grab what food she could. She spotted a large basket of food and instinctively grabbed a slice of sea aubergine. She was about to take a bite when it was tugged out of her hands and her face was slapped so hard that for a second she was too shocked to feel hungry.

  She learned to wait until no one was looking and then grab the food and run away as quickly as she could, stuffing it into her mouth as she went.

  One morning she was hanging around the makeshift market that had sprung up in the main city centre. She was hiding round a corner and watching a stall selling seaweed bread. As the line of customers grew even longer and the seller was distracted, Cassie ran and grabbed a slice and took off down a narrow track. As she raced along, she tripped on a stone on the track. She was stunned, but all she could think about was saving the piece of bread that had fallen from her mouth. She did not register the huge dune bug racing towards her. When she did notice, fear froze her legs, she closed her eyes and swallowed the slice. She did not want to die hungry.

  The next sensation that she felt was a sharp claw-like object gripping the back of her neck and slowly lifting her up off the ground. Then a strong arm grabbed her and shook the dust off her as if she were an old dusty carpet. A damp handkerchief licked her face and a firm voice asked, ‘Cassie! Is that you?’

  Cassie blinked. She had been starting to forget who she was. The woman leaned on the walking stick that had dragged her to safety, peered into her face and exclaimed, ‘Cassie, it is you!’

  Cassie looked up at the face. It was just like her mother’s – only much older and without the sparkle. It was her Aunt Euphorbia.

  I have been looking every where for you.’

  Cassie was speechless. She started choking on the slice of seaweed bread. Once again Euphorbia shook her hard until the crumb was dislodged.

  Euphorbia took Cassie to live at Mite Cove.

  *

  Cassie sat up straight in bed.

  ‘I will never forget who I am!’ she told herself before settling down once more and falling into a deep and peaceful sleep.

  Cassie scanned the crowd of excited young sand sprites gathered at the dune bug stop the next morning where the dune bugs were slowly being loaded with baggage and eager young sprites. Eventually she spotted Lexie and felt hugely relieved. When Lexie looked up and saw Cassie she waved.

  Euphorbia turned to Cassie and said in a sharp voice, ‘I must be going or I will be late for my shift at the sand factory. Work hard.’ She turned to go, then changed her mind and kissed a startled Cassie on the cheek, whispering, ‘Don’t forget: three jumps, turn of hips, deep breath and believe with all your heart that you can do it!’ Cassie felt tears welling up in her eyes as she said farewell to her aunt, and went over to Lexie.

  Lexie was also crying. She blew her nose hard. ‘I feel so silly because I’m sad to leave, but I’m also crying because I’m so happy that I’m going.’

  Cassie rolled her eyes and wished that Shell were there to make some funny comment about it all.

  ‘Stop crying.’ Cassie nudged her friend.

  Lexie blew her nose. ‘I’ll try. How did your aunt hurt her leg?’

  ‘I don’t know. She’s always walked with a cane,’ Cassie replied.

  ‘And you have never asked her about it?’

  ‘My Aunt Euphorbia is not the sort of sprite you can just ask questions. She is too busy telling you things!’

  ‘She does look a bit scary’ Lexie said, nodding. ‘I think it’s those dark eyebrows.’

  ‘Let’s hang on and keep an eye out for Shell,’ Cassie suggested.

  ‘It would be fun to have her company on the journey’ Lexie agreed.

  ‘How did your audition go?’ Ca
ssie asked.

  ‘I was so nervous, and Sandrine seemed tired and grumpy, but Madame Rosa told me that I had a good line, was graceful and had definite potential. I’m going to work so hard at Sandringham to prove her right. My mother says she is the wisest, most intuitive dancer in the western hemisphere.’

  ‘Cassandra Marramgrass! Message for Cassandra Marramgrass!’ A male voice cut across the chatter.

  There was silence at the bug stop. Someone whispered, A Marramgrass? I hope not. They’re nothing but trouble!’

  Someone else laughed.

  The voice continued calling out, ‘Cassandra Marramgrass. Message for Cassandra Marramgrass!’

  Cassie went cold on the inside as her face burned. She took a deep breath and walked up to the owner of the familiar voice.

  Rubus smiled. ‘I thought I’d better show up in case you wobbled like a jellyfish and changed your mind!’ He bowed. ‘Why do you look so embarrassed? I knew you wouldn’t want to be seen talking to a surf boy, so I thought I’d make it look like I was delivering a message.’

  Cassie scowled. ‘Who said I was embarrassed? It’s other people who have a problem with Marramgrasses.’ Cassie pulled a face and said loudly. ‘I AM CASSANDRA MARRAMGRASS!’ Then her face softened as she shrugged her shoulders. ‘I suppose you’ve done me a favour. No need to introduce myself as everyone now knows who I am! I was hoping to let the other sprites get to know me a little first, rather than avoiding me from the start because of what they’ve heard about my mother.’

  ‘Oh, sorry,’ Rubus said. He scanned the crowd. ‘They do look like a stuck-up bunch!’ He started to do his sand dancers’ pose.

  ‘DON’T do that here!’ She pulled his arm down.

  ‘You haven’t even got there and you’ve already started to change!’ Rubus shook his head sadly.

  ‘I have not – but I don’t want to get thrown out before I even get there and before I can find anything out about my mother.’

  Rubus looked sheepish. ‘Sorry Cassie. You’d better get a seat on a bug. They are filling up fast.’

  ‘I’ll wait a bit longer to see if Shell turns up. I met her at the auditions – she’s definitely not stuck-up.’ Cassie scanned the crowd again.

  Lexie came up to Cassie and Rubus winked at her. ‘Is that a sea cake I see?’ he asked, giving Lexie a bright smile as he bowed to her.

  Lexie offered him one, saying, ‘My mother makes them.’ She looked down and shrieked. ‘Is that your sand board?’

  Rubus kneeled down and stroked the smooth piece of driftwood. ‘This is my basic sand board and that is my sand surfer.’ He pointed out a larger board with a sail that was lashed to a bush at the opposite end of the bug stop.

  ‘That’s so amazing,’ Lexie gushed.

  ‘With the right wind behind me I can really cover some ground. Ask Cassie. She has been on it.’

  ‘You’ve been on a sand surfer?!’ Lexie gasped.

  ‘It’s not that hard,’ Cassie said. ‘I’m sure we could make our own sand surfer if we wanted to.’ She turned to Rubus and added, ‘We’d probably beat you in a race too!’

  Rubus grinned at her. ‘One day, when the time is right and the winds are strong, we’ll have to find out.’

  Lexie added, ‘And when we do, Cassie and I will tan your hide!’

  Rubus smiled. We’ll see! Now, I must be going. Good luck, Cassie!’ Rubus strapped the sand board to his back and walked towards his sand surfer.

  Cassie watched him leave before turning to Lexie. Where did “tan your hide” come from?’

  Lexie blushed. ‘I didn’t want him to think he could beat us without a fight.’

  They laughed and, linking arms, ran back towards the bugs.

  ‘Shell must have taken an earlier bug,’ Lexie said, looking round at the few sprites left climbing aboard the dune bugs. ‘She’s probably there already, getting herself the best kutch.’

  Cassie nodded. Neither of them wanted to believe that she had failed the audition.

  As they went to climb aboard the nearest bug, the sand dancer in charge of inspecting the permission slips looked them up and down. By the sour look on her face she didn’t like what she saw. ‘I am Calluna, senior sand dancer. I must say,’ she turned to Cassie, ‘I found your behaviour just now disgraceful! I suppose it is what we must expect from a Marramgrass. They seem to think they can come and go as they please.’

  Cassie’s toes began to itch with rage.

  ‘Calluna’s right!’ another voice piped up, and others nodded in agreement.

  ‘She was only receiving a message. It would have been rude to ignore him,’ Lexie said, speaking up for her friend. Cassie smiled at her.

  ‘It is far more important to maintain the honour and dignity of Sandringham,’ Calluna said in a cutting voice. ‘Madame Rosa shall hear of this.’ She turned to Lexie and gave her a withering look. ‘And that scruffy cloak you are wearing is a disgrace.’

  The group of sand dancers onboard the bug giggled.

  Lexie blushed. ‘It’s the only one I’ve got. My mother made it.’

  ‘At least Lexie can wipe the dust from her cloak, but you are stuck with that nasty tongue!’ Cassie stomped her foot.

  There was a shocked silence. Calluna stood still, her eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared – like a sea anemone about to trap its prey.

  ‘Come on, let’s go and get another bug. Perhaps the company will be better!’ Cassie took Lexie by the arm and they marched quickly away from stony-faced Calluna.

  They had the last bug to Dreamy Dune to themselves. It was old and tired and seemed to take the longest way round to the school at the slowest pace.

  ‘It helps if you put your feet in here.’ Lexie pointed to the worn grooves in the bug’s shell-like back as she stroked it. ‘It’s better for him. You know, I can’t believe I’ve spoken to a surf boy. He was nothing like I imagined. He seemed to know you well.’

  ‘Pretty much all my life,’ Cassie replied.

  ‘He has such green eyes, and what fun to go where you want and do exactly as you please. I would love to go sand surfing.’ Lexie sighed.

  ‘I can teach you. It’s quite easy once you get going.’

  ‘Oh, Cassie, that would be wonderful! And thank you again for sticking up for me. The way you answered Calluna back was amazing. She is the most important student in the school – my mother told me. The senior sand dancer is like a head girl. She is given a lot of extra duties and responsibilities. She usually either becomes the prima dune dancer or a famous dance teacher.’

  ‘Perhaps I should have shown a bit more respect – but so should she,’ said Cassie frowning. ‘She had no right to speak to us like that.’ She looked fierce, then she sighed. ‘I haven’t even arrived at Sandringham and I’m making powerful enemies. Being a Marramgrass doesn’t help. I suppose things could be worse. I could be Anagallis! No one has a good word to say about her either!’

  ‘It doesn’t matter to me who your family are. You are my friend. We swore an oath. I will always stick by you,’ Lexie insisted.

  ‘Thank you, Lexie. That means a lot to me.’ Cassie felt a lump in her throat.

  ‘As a Marramgrass you must know lots about dancing. Your family always produced the prima dune dancers,’ Lexie continued.

  ‘Not really. I live with my aunt and she has no time for dancing. Besides, I am nothing like my mother.’

  ‘You are courageous and kind. My mother says that Marina Marramgrass was like that. She was always coming to the school to help train the sand dancers or to attend endless meetings in Madame Rosa’s study. No one was allowed to disturb them, and they often went on talking late into the night.’

  Cassie glowed. This was the first time she’d really heard anyone other than her aunt speak about her mother in a positive way. ‘Did your mother go to any of these meetings?’ she asked.

  Lexie shook her head. ‘No, she was only a student, and it was only the teachers who went, and Marina and sometimes Sandrine.’

>   Cassie begged Lexie for more details, but she couldn’t tell her much more.

  One day I will have to explore that study, Cassie thought to herself.

  Then, changing the subject, she asked, ‘I wonder how we’ll spend each day at Sandringham?’

  ‘Well, if it’s anything like it was in my mum’s day we’ll have to wake at first light to dress and do our hair. Braids must be tied tightly and then pinned up. Then down for breakfast, followed by either a free interpretation class with shell music with Madame Rosa or a technique class with Mrs Sandskrit – apparently she is really strict. Then there are classes in etiquette and the Rules in The Sands of Time from Miss Youngsand Snr as well as sewing, mathematics, aerodynamics and geography with Miss Youngsand Jnr.’

  ‘It sounds exhausting, but fun,’ Cassie laughed. ‘And did I hear right – there are two Miss Youngsands?’

  ‘They are twins. Miss Youngsand Snr is the smallest but she likes everyone to know that she is the oldest so she insists on the senior and junior titles.’

  All of a sudden the bug froze, then jolted them as it turned in another direction and began to make a low whining sound. Lexie and Cassie clung on tightly.

  ‘It’s calling out to another beetle,’ said Lexie, shading her eyes with her hand and pointing to a silver speck on the horizon. The beetle began rumbling slowly in its direction.

  Cassie spotted an arm waving and heard a voice calling out. ‘YOOHOO!’

  Chapter Seven

  ‘Always believe the best of your friends

  – especially during hard times.’

  The Sands of Time

  Shell was sitting beside a shiny silver beetle with a load of luggage strapped to its back. She screamed in delight when she saw them. ‘I overloaded the poor bug,’ she explained. ‘These silver bugs are meant for speed and not haulage.’

  Lexie gave the beetle a drink from her water bottle.

  ‘All these bags have the palace mark on them,’ Cassie noted as she helped Shell take off the luggage.

  Shell laughed. ‘These are the old bags that nobody uses any more. I’ll just grab a few things and then can I hitch a lift with you? But before we do anything else – let’s squeeze!’ Shell opened her arms and they all stood in a circle and renewed the Friendship Promise.