"Yes, Madame?" I asked.
"Mademoiselle Romsey, please tell me," she said. "Is everything all right? I am worrying about you." She was looking deeply into my eyes.
For a moment, just for a moment, I considered telling her everything. I'm not sure what stopped me. I guess I wanted to be able to prove what I suspected before I brought her into it. "I - I'm fine," I said. "I know my dancing has not been perfect. I'm sorry." She smiled at me. "Even Anna Pavlova was not always perfect," she said.
Anna Pavlova is probably the most famous ballerina of all time. Every dancer wants to be "another Pavlova," including me. I smiled back at Mme Noelle. Then, suddenly, I realized that I'd better get going if I wanted to catch Hilary in the dressing room.
"May I go now?" I asked Mme Noelle.
She nodded. "But Jessica, if something is bothering you, please speak to me of it." "Thank you!" I said. She can be so nice sometimes, even though she is a tough teacher. I guess she just expects a lot of her students. I turned and ran off the stage.
When I reached the hallway, I paused to catch my breath. This was it! I was about to unmask the phantom. Could I do it? "Go for it, Jessi!" I said to myself. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door of the dressing room. I looked around. It was empty. I'd blown it.
Then I heard a cough. I spun around and saw Hilary by the mirror.
"Hilary!" I said. "I'm glad you're here!" She turned and looked at me curiously. "Why?" she asked.
I tried to sound like I was out of breath from running, which wasn't hard. My heart was pounding like crazy, just from nervousness. "It's - it's Mme Noelle," I said.
"What?" asked Hilary. "Is something wrong? Is she hurt?" This was not going in the right direction. "No, no," I said. "Nothing like that. It's just that she needs a sign." I paused. There was something I was forgetting. "And she wants you to make it," I added, breathlessly. This wasn't going as smoothly as I'd imagined.
Hilary gave me another funny look. Then she went over to her bag and started to rummage through it. "A sign, huh?" she asked. "Okay, no problem. What should it say?" I could have kicked myself. I'd forgotten an important part of my script! "The janitor spilled some cleaning stuff on the stairs," I said. "Mme Noelle is afraid someone will slip on it and hurt themselves before he has a chance to clean it up." Hilary waited silently.
"So," I finished, "I guess it should just say something like 'Danger! Slippery Steps!' " "That sounds simple enough," said Hilary.
"I'll make Mme Noelle the best sign she ever saw." I sighed with relief. Then I saw the pen she had pulled out of her bag. It wasn't red! It was just a regular blue ballpoint. "Don't forget," I said. "It has to be highly visible, so everyone can see it." Hilary glanced at the pen in her hand and shrugged. Then she threw it back into her bag and rummaged around some more. I almost sighed out loud. She certainly wasn't making this easy for me! Finally, she pulled out a red pen and started to write. From where I stood, I couldn't see what the writing looked like, so I just had to wait patiently. But my heart was racing.
"How does this look?" she asked, holding the sign up for me to see. I walked over and took it from her. One glance told me that the pen she was using was the same one she'd used to write those nasty notes.
"GOTCHA!" I cried.
"What?" she asked, turning white.
"This pen!" I said. "And this writing. You sent me all those notes! And now I've caught you." "What notes?" asked Hilary, narrowing her eyes. "I never sent you any notes. Just try convincing Mme Noelle that I did. It'll be your word against mine, and she'll never believe you. You can't prove anything." "Oh, yes I can," I said. "For one thing, I've kept every note you sent me. Anyone could see that the writing is the same as the writing on that sign." "So what?" she asked. "Why would I write you notes?" "Because you wanted me to get so scared that I'd drop the role of Princess Aurora," I said. "You thought you'd have a chance at it if you could audition again." "I wasn't the only one who wanted you to drop out," said Hilary.
"You're right," I said. "Katie Beth and Carrie would have liked to get that role, too. But Carrie was absent when I got a note one day, and Katie Beth saved me when you pushed that scenery onto me." "Scenery!" said Hilary. "I didn't do that! That thing fell by accident, I swear. I didn't want you to get hurt that badly." Then she put heir hand over her mouth. I could tell that she had realized she'd practically confessed to all her other "crimes." "Oh, please!" she begged. "Please don't tell Mme Noelle! I couldn't stand it if I got kicked out of dance school. And my mother would be furious." "That's why you did it in the first place, isn't it?" I asked. "Because of your mother." Hilary nodded. "It's so important to her for me to be a good dancer. I work really hard to live up to her expectations, but sometimes I just can't. You're a better dancer than me - that's why you got that role. But she doesn't understand." 1 looked closely at Hilary. I could tell that she was about to start crying.
"1 promise I won't do anything else to you, Jessi!" she said. "No more notes, no more 'accidents.' I'll leave you alone. I'll pay you back for those leotards I ruined. Just please, don't tell Madame!" 1 didn't know what to do. I felt sorry for Hilary because of her mother, but I was still mad at her. I thought about it for a minute while she waited, tears in her eyes.
I was still worried that she'd try some nasty trick on me during rehearsals, or even during a performance. But since I had proof of her "crimes," she probably wouldn't. She knew she'd just be in even deeper trouble. And I realized that she had probably already suffered enough by having to deal with her awful mother.
"Okay," I said. "But don't forget that I have proof of what you did." I paused. "You'd better not try anything else, or you know what I'll do!" I tried to sound as threatening as I could, even though I didn't really know exactly what I would do to her.
Hilary was incredibly grateful. She even surrendered her calligraphy pen. "You can have this," she said. "I won't be needing it any more." Then she ran out to meet her mother.
I sat down on the dressing room bench, exhausted but happy. I'd caught the phantom! I just hoped I had done the right thing by letting her off. What if she decided to pull some last-minute trick on opening night? She might do it, just for the pleasure of seeing me look like a fool in front of the huge audience that would fill the civic center. I tried to put the thought out of my head as I went out to meet my father. I should have been feeling happy, not worried. After all, the mystery had finally been solved! Chapter 14.
Stacey was sitting for Charlotte Johannsen on the day of the pet show, so they arrived at Dawn and Mary Anne's early on that sunny afternoon, to help set up. Charlotte had brought Carrot with her. The little schnauzer was all spruced up. You could tell right away that he'd had a bath. And he was wearing a brand-new red collar. The leash that Charlotte was walking him on was also brand-new, and she looked pretty proud as she entered the yard.
The rest of us, except Kristy, who hadn't gotten there yet, were setting up tables for snacks and for the judges to sit at. Charlotte wanted to help, so Stacey tied Carrot to a tree.
"You be a good dog," said Charlotte. Carrot barked a few times and then curled up and went to sleep while we worked.
We set up a "ring" - a judging area in front of the judges' table - by making a circle of rocks we'd found in the driveway. Stacey surveyed it when it was done.
"It's not exactly round," she said, "but it'll have to do." Stacey was going to be one of the judges. We had decided that not every member of the club should be a judge - only those who could never be accused of being partial to one pet or another.
I couldn't be a judge because of Misty.
Karen set the cage on one of the tables. "What's on her head?" she asked, puzzled.
"Mickey Mouse ears!" said Karen proudly. "They're her costume!" Sure enough, Karen had cut out a tiny pair of black ears and stuck them on Emily Junior's head. Stacey stifled a laugh. "Very nice, Karen," she said. "And Andrew, this must be Midgie," she said, turning to look at him. "What a nice little dog." Andrew lo
oked proud. "He is nice," he said. "Even if he can't do any tricks. He's the nicest dog in the world!" Kristy got Shannon and David Michael settled and came over to talk to the rest of us. "Are you guys ready for this?" she asked, laughing. "You should have seen us on the way over here. The car was like a three-ring circus! First Emily Junior escaped from her cage. Then, just when we'd caught her and put her back, Shannon started trying to jump out of the car at every stoplight. What a mess!" Just then, another car pulled into the driveway. This time it was Mrs. Papadakis, who had brought Hannie and Linny with their pets, and also Scott and Timmy Hsu, who looked a little downcast.
Hannie was holding Pat the cat in her arms, and Linny was carrying Myrtle the turtle - whose shell had apparently been repainted Stacey smelted it, too. "It's like that perfume my mother sometimes wears - Paris Romance, I think it's called." She looked around. "But who would have that on in the middle of the day? My mom only wears it for special occasions." "It's Priscilla," said Amanda proudly. "Doesn't she smell lovely?" The cat must have been drenched in perfume. You couldn't get too close to her without feeling like you were going to keel over, just from the waves of fragrance that rose from her white fur.
"Lovely," said Stacey, wrinkling her nose.
By then, Dawn and Mary Anne's backyard was really filling up. A lot of barking and meowing was going on as the pets got to know each other. Stacey looked around for Charlotte and saw her standing near the tree where Carrot had been tied up. Carrot was nowhere in sight, and Charlotte looked like she was about to cry.
Stacey ran over to her. "Don't worry, Char," she said. "We'll find him." They began to walk around the yard, calling for Carrot. He wasn't near the judging circle, or by the snack table. He wasn't playing with Shannon and Midgie. "Carrot!" called Charlotte, in a teary voice.
"There he is!" said Stacey suddenly. She saw Carrot standing next to Matt and Haley Braddock, whom she hadn't seen arriving.
Matt was holding his leash. Charlotte and Stacey ran to him, and when they got closer they saw the sign that Haley was holding.
OFFICIAL HANDLERS, it Said. WE'LL WATCH YOUR PET WHEN YOU NEED SOME TIME OFP.
"That's a good idea, guys," said Stacey. "But you better get permission from the owners before you start holding their pets. You had Charlotte kind of worried!" "I'm sorry," said Haley, after signing to Matt to tell him to hand over Carrot. "We were just trying to help. Carrot looked so lonely, tied up to that tree." Stacey smiled. "1 know, but he was fine. Anyway, I'm glad you thought of a way to be part of the show. Let's go see if anyone can use your services." As she was walking with Charlotte and the Braddocks, Stacey saw the Pikes arrive. The triplets were struggling with a large, mysterious bundle. "What's that?" she asked.
"Nothing," said Adam and Byron together.
"We were just going to put it over there," said Jordan, pointing to a large bush by the side of the house.
Stacey shrugged. "Okay," she said. "Hey, what have you got there?" she asked, turning to Nicky. He and Mar go and Claire stood huddled together over a small box. Vanessa stood off to the side, looking like she wanted nothing to do with her younger brothers and sisters.
"It's Frodo," said Nicky.
"And wait till you see what they did to him," added Vanessa. "Show Stacey," she said to Nicky.
Nicky opened the lid of the box. Stacey peered in, then jumped back. "What was that green thing?" she asked.
"That's Frodo," said Nicky proudly.
"They got into the dyes my mom uses for cake frostings," said Vanessa, rolling her eyes. "Can you believe it?" Stacey looked again and laughed. "He looks pretty funny," she said. "But it is different, I have to say that!" "It is different," said Becca, who had just appeared next to Nicky. She was looking enviously at Frodo's bright green fur. "I wish I'd thought of that." She held up Misty, who looked like a regular hamster - one who had had her hair combed neatly.
"Misty looks nice," said Stacey. Then trying to change the subject, she said, "Look, here come the Barretts, with Pow." Sure enough, there were Suzy and Buddy, walking Pow, who was covered with pink ribbons. He looked a little silly, but Suzy and Buddy seemed proud.
Stacey barely had a chance to say hello to them before Kristy and Dawn ran up to her, out of breath. "Have you seen Myrtle?" Kristy asked. "He ran off, and Linny is so upset7' A search party was organized. Matt and Haley were given dogs to hold while their owners ran around the yard, looking for the turtle. Linny looked like he was about to cry as he crawled under some bushes. "Myrtle!" he called. "Where are you?" Just then there was a shout. Timmy Hsu held up Myrtle as he yelled, "I found her! I found her!" Myrtle had been sitting among the rocks in the judging circle, her painted shell blending with the dandelions that spotted the lawn.
"Thanks, Timmy," said Linny. "Listen, you can be Myrtle's part owner, just for today, okay?" Timmy nodded happily, but his smile faded as he glanced at Scott, who was standing to one side, looking sad. Then Hannie spoke up. "Scott, since you're my husband, I guess you can be part owner of Pat the cat." By that time, it looked like just about everybody had arrived. Gabbie and Myriah were the last to come. They had spent their morning running after Chewy, who had, as usual, pulled his leash right out of their hands.
"I think we're ready to begin the judging," said Kristy loudly. Her voice was barely audible over the noise that all those kids and their pets were making.
The rest of us helped to round up the kids and get them into line for the parade past the judges. After the parade, each pet would be shown briefly in the judging circle. Then the judges would consult with each other and the prizes would be announced.
Everybody got quiet as they led their pets past the judges' table. The tension increased as each pet had its time in the ring. Some pets, like Carrot, did tricks for the judges. Others just sat there, looking - or in Priscilla's case, smelling - pretty.
We'd all forgotten about the triplets' mystery pet until Adam ran to the judges to tell them that there was a late entry. Then he ran back to the bush where the bundle had been left and reappeared, leading - a pony! Jordan and Byron were dressed up as the front and back of a horse, and Adam led them proudly past the judges' table. The pony pranced and bucked and kicked until the kids and the judges were nearly hysterical.
After the judging, Kristy led the pet owners to the snack table while the judges conferred. I saw Becca looking nervous as she ate a cookie and waited for the results. But she had nothing to be nervous about. Guess why. Because of my idea. Here's what it was: Every pet in the show would get a prize - not first prize or second prize, just a prize that said something about why that pet was special.
The idea was a total success. I saw a lot of happy faces when the judges announced the prizes, starting with "Most Unusually Colored Pet," for Frodo, and going on through "Best-Smelling" (guess which white cat won that) and "Smartest." (Carrot won that one.) "Funniest Pet" went to the triplets, while "Largest Pet" was awarded to Shannon. "Nicest Pet" went to Midgie, and Myrtle won "Prettiest Shell." Karen was thrilled when Emily Junior won "Best Costume," and Scott and Hannie looked proud when Pat the cat won "Cutest." Pow won "Shortest Legs." Gabby and Myriah laughed when Chewy was named "Strongest Pet," and even Matt and Haley got a prize for being "Best Pet Handlers." Boo-Boo won for "Best Personality." (That was a surprise!) And what did Becca win? Well, I predict that Misty's ribbon will be hanging in Becca's room for a long, long time. Here's what it says: "Best Ail-Around Pet." Chapter 15.
Opening Night. I think that those two words may be the most exciting in the English language. I get a chill just hearing them. And now it was finally here. Opening Night.
We'd had a pretty good dress rehearsal earlier in the week. A few small problems were ironed out that night. For example, my tutu. I think someone mixed up my measurements with the ones belonging to Jumbo the circus elephant. But that's what dress rehearsal is for. And Aunt Cecelia had no trouble taking it in for me. By opening night, my tutu fit perfectly.
"Try it on for me one more time!" be
gged Becca. She loves to see me all dressed up like a "real" ballerina.
"There's no time," I said. "You'll see me in it when I come onstage. But remember, you have to be quiet while I'm dancing." Once, when Becca was younger and I was dancing in The Nutcracker, she'd yelled, "Hi, Jessi!" when I made my entrance. Everybody in the audience laughed, and I almost died of embarrassment.
"I won't," she promised. "Don't forget that you promised to give me your toe shoes after the show." I was going to autograph them and give them to her for a souvenir. That's what the really famous ballerinas do for their fans. Toe shoes usually can't be worn for more than one or two performances - they just don't last under that kind of use.
"Ready, Jessi?" my mom called up the stairs. "I think your friends are here." I looked out the window and saw Charlie's car parked in the street. He was going to drive my friends to the performance. But why were they here? I was going to be driving with my parents.
I ran downstairs and out the door. My friends had gotten really dressed up for the occasion. "Wow, you guys look great!" I said.
"So do you," said Kristy. I was wearing my black velvet dress. I wanted to have something nice to change into after the performance.
Claudia looked extremely cool and exotic, as usual. Her hair was braided with silver ribbons, and she wore a shimmery dark blue minidress. On her feet were silver sandals, with laces up the calves - kind of like toe shoes.
Stacey had on a tuxedo! That's right, a tuxedo, just like one a boy would wear. But it was made to fit her perfectly, and she looked great. She must have gotten it in New York.
Kristy had put on a dress, for once, and it was strange to see her in something other than a turtleneck and jeans. She looked really pretty. And Mallory, standing next to her in her best skirt and blouse, looked great, too. Dawn and Mary Anne must have traded clothes - they do that a lot - because I recognized Mary Anne's new Laura Ashley dress on Dawn, and Dawn's pink jumpsuit on Mary Anne.
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