Olivia Plays Her Part

by Holly Bell

  Contents

  Title Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Copyright Page

  ‘Give me back my shoe, you horrible witch!’ Olivia cried.

  ‘Never!’ Abbey shouted.

  Olivia pretended to throw a bucket of Chapter Two water over her and Abbey sank to the stone floor of the clubhouse.

  ‘I’m melting!’ Abbey shrieked.

  Maddie, Emma, Kate and Matilda burst into applause, cheering loudly. Olivia and Abbey took a bow.

  ‘That was great, guys!’ Maddie said.

  ‘You’re both going to ace that audition,’ Kate said.

  Olivia hoped Kate was right. She was so excited about the school’s production of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and auditions were the next day! The girls had been helping her learn her lines and Olivia was ready.

  Olivia flopped down into a beanbag, pulled her jacket around her and shivered.

  It was a chilly Sunday afternoon and the friends were trying to keep warm in their clubhouse. Emma and Matilda were snuggled under a blanket, and Maddie and Kate were curled up on the other beanbag. Abbey nestled into her dog, Moby. An icy wind blew through the quarry outside.

  The quarry was an old stone mine that had been abandoned a long time ago. Its huge walls were now surrounded by wild flowers, trees and lots of clover. One hot day, Olivia and her friends had found a four-leaf clover at the quarry. A clover with four leaves is rare, and finding one made the girls feel lucky. The friends decided to wear a four-leaf clover charm as a symbol of their friendship. After all, best friends are like a four-leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have.

  The girls often joked about who saw the four-leaf clover first but Olivia was sure it had been her.

  Soon after, the girls had found an old miners’ shed hidden in the quarry. Olivia, Maddie, Kate, Emma, Abbey and Matilda were the only people who knew it was there. It became their secret clubhouse.

  ‘Did you put your name down for backstage, Maddie?’ Abbey asked.

  Maddie nodded. ‘I couldn’t imagine going on stage in front of hundreds of people and saying all those lines!’ she said with a shudder.

  Olivia and the other girls laughed. Olivia couldn’t believe how different she and her best friend were. Maddie could play soccer on a huge sports field, but the thought of being on stage made her shake at the knees. Olivia loved performing in front of a crowd at her gymnastics competitions.

  ‘Olivia would make the perfect Dorothy,’ Maddie said proudly.

  ‘Yeah, Olivia!’ Abbey said. ‘You’re so graceful. I feel like a total klutz beside you!’

  ‘You didn’t look klutzy,’ said Matilda. ‘Your Wicked Witch is great!’

  ‘Thanks,’ Abbey said. ‘I hope I get it.’

  Olivia agreed that Abbey would make a great Wicked Witch, even though she had never done any performing before. She just hoped her friend wouldn’t be too upset if they picked someone else.

  ‘I’ve got to go,’ Matilda announced. ‘Mum’s making spag bol tonight and I’m going to help.’

  Maddie turned to Olivia and Abbey. ‘And you two should chill out before your big auditions tomorrow,’ she said.

  ‘Chill out?’ Abbey cried. ‘No way! Moby and I are going to play outside with his new ball, aren’t we, boy?’

  ‘You’re going outside in this weather?’ Kate said. ‘I’ll be curled up on the couch with my new science magazine.’

  ‘I’m going to do fifteen somersaults on the trampoline and then finish the book club list for Mrs Mitchell,’ Olivia said. ‘I said I’d help organise it this term.’

  ‘Ugh,’ said Abbey. ‘That sounds like extra homework to me!’

  ‘Oh no, it’s fun, actually,’ Olivia said. ‘First I put them into categories depending on what sort of books they are, and then the authors go in alphabetical order, and …’

  ‘Okay, okay,’ Maddie said with a grin. ‘We get it!’

  ‘You want to come over and help me, Abbey?’ Olivia asked slyly.

  ‘No way!’ Abbey said, shaking her head. ‘I’d rather read Kate’s science magazine!’

  Olivia laughed along with the others as they all got up to head for home.

  The next morning Olivia sat in class without hearing much of what her teacher was saying. She couldn’t stop thinking about the audition. Finally it was almost eleven o’clock. Time to go!

  Maddie gave Olivia the thumbs up. ‘You’ll be awesome!’ she whispered.

  ‘Thanks,’ Olivia said.

  The rest of the girls whispered good luck as Olivia excused herself and rushed out of the classroom.

  Miss Hibbert, Olivia’s drama teacher, was waiting in the school hall. Miss Hibbert was one of Olivia’s favourite teachers and always wore jangly earrings and pretty necklaces. Olivia was surprised to see three other teachers sitting at the table, too. She hadn’t expected anyone else to be there. Butterflies fluttered about in Olivia’s belly. She hoped she wouldn’t be too nervous to sing!

  ‘Olivia,’ Miss Hibbert said with a kind smile. ‘Right on time. Who are you auditioning for today?’

  ‘Dorothy,’ said Olivia.

  ‘Wonderful!’ said Mrs Mitchell. ‘You can start whenever you’re ready.’

  Olivia discreetly kissed the purple lucky clover charm around her neck before moving to stand in front of them. She stuck her left leg out a bit and pointed her toes, the way she did when she was about to begin a gymnastics routine. It made her feel graceful and helped put her into performance mode.

  She plastered a big smile on her face, the way she did at competitions, took a deep breath and began.

  Olivia felt on top of the world when she left the hall five minutes later. The audition had been scarier than she had imagined, but it had gone well. She had looked graceful and hadn’t mucked up any of her moves, and her voice hadn’t been too wobbly when she sang.

  It was recess so Olivia grabbed her snack and met the girls at the monkey bars.

  ‘How did it go?’ Maddie asked.

  ‘Did Miss Hibbert give you the part on the spot?’ said Emma.

  Olivia laughed. ‘It was great,’ she said. ‘But I have to wait until Thursday afternoon to find out, just like everyone else.’

  ‘I bet you get it,’ said Kate. ‘And Abbey will do a brilliant audition this afternoon and she’ll get in too!’

  ‘I put my name down to help out with the costumes,’ Emma said. ‘I’d love to make those sparkly green dresses for the Emerald City.’

  ‘Miss Hibbert said that maybe I could help look after Toto backstage,’ Matilda said. ‘He’s Rhea’s dog and he’s so cute!’

  Olivia felt happy and relieved as her friends kept chatting. Happy that she had done well, and relieved that the waiting would soon be over!

  It was the end of the school day on Thursday and Olivia was sitting in the classroom, counting down the seconds until the bell.

  Ding! Ding! Ding!

  Finally!

  She jumped out of her seat and raced out the door along with the rest of her class. By the time she reached the bulletin board, a small crowd had already gathered around it.

  ‘Abbey, you’re the Wicked Witch!’ Matilda squealed from the front of the crowd.

  ‘Really?’ Abbey cried.

  Matilda flung her arms around Abbey and they began jumping up and down. Olivia tried to look over people’s heads but she still couldn’t see the board.

  ‘Emma and I are Emerald City ladies!’ she heard Matilda shout. ‘I’ll get to wear green and you’ll get to wear those pretty dresses, Em
ma!’

  ‘Kate, you’re a munchkin!’ cried Emma.

  ‘What about Olivia?’ Maddie called from behind Olivia. ‘Is her name next to Dorothy?’

  ‘Hang on,’ said Emma, ‘I’m looking.’

  The students were starting to walk away from the board and Olivia moved forward to look at the list.

  There, next to the word ‘Dorothy’ was a name. But it wasn’t hers.

  ‘Lily Ellis?’ said Maddie, looking stunned.

  ‘Lily from Miss Jacobs’ class is Dorothy?’ said Matilda.

  Olivia’s face flushed hot and she felt a twinge in her chest.

  ‘I’m sorry, Olivia,’ said Emma. ‘You practised so hard.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter,’ said Olivia, but her voice sounded squeaky. ‘Lily will be great.’

  ‘What role did you get?’ asked Kate.

  The six girls scanned the list. Olivia’s tummy did a weird flopping thing. Her name wasn’t anywhere.

  ‘Here you are,’ said Abbey, finally.

  The girls looked to another list where Abbey was pointing, and there was Olivia’s name. But it wasn’t on the cast list. It was beside the title ‘Backstage Manager’.

  ‘Backstage?’ Emma said, frowning.

  ‘That’s weird,’ said Matilda.

  Olivia couldn’t have agreed more. Why would Miss Hibbert give her that job? Olivia had never done backstage work, ever!

  It doesn’t make sense, Olivia thought.

  ‘I’m doing props,’ said Maddie, reading the list. ‘So we can hang out backstage together, Olivia.’

  ‘Cool,’ said Olivia, half-heartedly.

  ‘Maybe you should ask Miss Hibbert why she put you backstage?’ suggested Emma gently.

  ‘No,’ Olivia said quietly. ‘I don’t want to ask her.’

  ‘I’m really sorry, Olivia,’ said Abbey. ‘It’s not fair.’

  ‘It’s okay. I’m really happy for you, Abbey,’ Olivia said. ‘You’ll be an awesome Wicked Witch.’

  Abbey looked so sad that Olivia’s heart went out to her. She knew Abbey didn’t want to show how excited she was when Olivia was so upset.

  ‘I’d better go,’ Olivia said. ‘Mum’s picking me up for gymnastics.’

  She hurried away before her friends could see the tears in her eyes.

  Gymnastics training nights were usually Olivia’s favourite times of the week, but she was finding it hard to concentrate. I don’t understand, she thought as she attempted a lunge cartwheel. Why would Miss Hibbert put me behind the stage instead of on it?

  ‘Hey, Olivia, are you okay?’

  Olivia’s teammate, Sasha, was standing with a concerned look on her face.

  ‘You seem worried,’ she said gently. ‘Is everything all right?’

  Just hearing the kindness in Sasha’s voice was almost enough to make Olivia burst into tears right there on the mat.

  ‘I’m fine,’ Olivia said as brightly as she could. ‘It’s just my concentrating face.’

  Olivia didn’t want Sasha to know that she was upset about being put backstage instead of playing the lead role. It might have sounded a bit whiny.

  ‘Oh, I do that,’ said Sasha with a grin. ‘My dad says it looks like I’m grumpy, but really I’m just going over a split jump in my head.’

  Olivia laughed and her spirits rose.

  ‘Should we practise our wolf kicks?’ Sasha said. ‘I need a bit of help with mine.’

  ‘Sure,’ said Olivia.

  Olivia got into position and began demonstrating her wolf kicks along the outer edge of the mat, with Sasha following behind her.

  ‘Fantastic, Olivia,’ Trish called out from the other side of the room. ‘Those kicks are perfect! Well done!’

  Olivia felt a warm, happy glow rush through her as she turned to smile at her coach. It felt so good to hear someone tell her she was doing something well, especially today.

  I’m going to forget all about the play and focus on my gymnastics, Olivia thought.

  But the next morning at breakfast Olivia found herself thinking again about being backstage instead of on it, and her spirits sank back down to the floor.

  ‘Are you going to the clubhouse this weekend?’ asked Alice as she slurped the last of her cereal. ‘Can I come? Pleeeease?’

  Alice was Olivia’s six-year-old sister and she desperately wanted to be part of the Forever Clover Club. Usually Olivia tried to be patient as she explained that the club was only for bigger girls, but she was in no mood to put up with her sister’s whining this morning.

  ‘No,’ Olivia said. ‘I’ve told you, Alice, little sisters aren’t allowed.’

  ‘You’re mean!’ Alice shouted.

  ‘Okay, Alice,’ Olivia’s mum said as she walked into the kitchen. ‘Go and brush your teeth please.’

  Alice stomped out of the room.

  ‘Is everything all right, Olivia?’ her mum asked. ‘You haven’t been yourself since you came home from gymnastics last night.’

  It wasn’t long before Olivia was telling her mum everything.

  ‘I don’t know anything about being backstage, but I’ve done lots of performing in competitions,’ Olivia said. ‘I just don’t understand why Miss Hibbert would give me a job like that.’

  ‘There must be a reason,’ said her mum.

  ‘I don’t think I want to be part of the show anymore,’ Olivia said. ‘I’m going to quit.’

  ‘Olivia,’ her mum said, ‘promise me you won’t quit until I’ve shown you something at the café this afternoon?’

  ‘Can’t you show me now?’ asked Olivia.

  ‘Sorry, love, but it’s time for school,’ her mum said. ‘Now get a wriggle on.’

  Olivia got up to rinse out her bowl in the sink. She wished she didn’t have to wait the whole day to find out what her mum wanted to show her. I just need to know, she thought, why Miss Hibbert would give me a job I know nothing about.

  ‘Maybe it was a mistake,’ said Maddie. ‘Oliver Hall helped out backstage last year. Maybe Miss Hibbert accidentally wrote Olivia instead of Oliver?’

  ‘It couldn’t be that,’ said Olivia. ‘I saw Oliver’s name on the Munchkin list.’

  Olivia and Maddie sat at their table in the classroom and got out their exercise books. Maddie leaned over to Olivia.

  ‘I know you’re really upset about not getting Dorothy,’ she said softly. ‘But I think you’ll be an awesome Backstage Manager.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Olivia said, ‘but I’m just not sure I’m the right person for the job.’

  For the rest of the morning, Maddie, Kate, Emma, Matilda and Abbey tried hard to distract Olivia from thinking about the show. Abbey kept everyone entertained during recess with a funny story about her little brother, Archie, and Emma described the new bracelets she was making with a brand new packet of beads. Unfortunately, Olivia’s friends couldn’t do anything to stop the announcement that was made at the end of recess.

  Could all cast members for The Wonderful Wizard of Oz please go to the hall at lunchtime for a rehearsal meeting?

  The announcement blared through the speakers in the playground. Olivia’s tummy began to churn. That’s not me, she thought. I’m not a cast member.

  Emma leaned over and squeezed Olivia’s hand. ‘Hey, will you help me with my beading at lunchtime, Olivia?’ she asked.

  ‘I’d love to,’ said Olivia.

  ‘And I’ll come and help when I finish soccer,’ said Maddie.

  Olivia knew her friends were trying their hardest to make her feel better and she was grateful to them.

  Olivia’s brain was working overtime as she walked towards her class after lunch. She knew she needed to stop being upset about not getting into the show, but it was hard, especially because she was so competitive. Years of doing gymnastics had made her very determined and used to winning.

  I have to be happy for Abbey and the others, she thought. Even if I do feel like I’ve let myself down.

  Olivia was so lost in her thoughts that she
bumped into someone coming around the corner.

  ‘Oh, sorry, I…’ Olivia froze when she realised that it was Miss Hibbert.

  ‘Hello, Olivia,’ Miss Hibbert said. ‘You’re in a hurry!’

  ‘Um … yes, I …’ Olivia suddenly felt tongue-tied. Part of her wanted to ask Miss Hibbert straight out why she put her backstage and the other part was too nervous to hear her answer.

  ‘I was just coming to pop these in the classrooms,’ Miss Hibbert said, handing Olivia a sheet of paper. ‘It’s a list of jobs for the backstage crew, including your duties as manager. Just come to me if you have any questions.’

  Miss Hibbert hurried off down the corridor before Olivia could say anything. Olivia glanced down at the paper in her hand and saw the words, Backstage Manager: Duties and Responsibilities. Under this was a very long list that included things like, Prop Checklist and Blocking Notes.

  Olivia felt a wave of panic begin to rise up inside her. She had no idea what a blocking note was!

  There’s no way I can be in charge of this job all on my own, Olivia thought. This is totally out of my comfort zone.

  Olivia wanted to run after Miss Hibbert and tell her that she had decided to quit, but then she remembered her promise to her mum.

  I don’t know what Mum wants to show me, she thought, but I can’t see how anything is going to change my mind.

  Davey’s Bay Café was unusually quiet when Olivia and Maddie arrived later that afternoon. Olivia’s mum was sitting to the side of the counter doing some work while two of her staff cleared tables. Olivia loved her mum’s café, especially because she and her friends got to eat all the yummy food on the menu.

  ‘Where’s Alice?’ asked Olivia.

  ‘Ella’s taken her to the park,’ her mum said. ‘I wanted to talk to you without any interruptions.’

  Olivia nodded. Alice could be distracting so it was good that Olivia’s older sister, Ella, had taken her out.

  ‘Your mum was in here earlier, Maddie,’ Olivia’s mum said. ‘She’s coming back to pick you up in half an hour.’