Dancer at Silver Spires by Ann Bryant

obvious.
    â€œIt’s not as simple as that, Ems!” said Bryony, rolling her eyes. “She might have got someone else.”
    â€œEef she has someone else, she can domp heem!” said Antonia.
    â€œ Dump! ” we all chorused, which set off another bout of hysterics.
    It was geography after break, with Mr. Pattle, who’s one of the strictest teachers in the school. We had a terrible time keeping our giggles inside, because we’d got ourselves in the mood for laughter and just didn’t seem able to stop.
    â€œBryony Price, can you tell us what’s amusing you this morning?” He raised his eyebrows. “I’m sure the whole class would like to know.”
    I was glad he’d asked Bryony. She’s the bravest and toughest of us all and I knew she’d be able to stand up to Mr. Pattle without losing face.
    â€œYes, certainly, Mr. Pattle. I’m very sorry if we were being disruptive,” she said. We all knew that she was being over-the-top polite on purpose to make fun of Mr. Pattle, which was a clever thing to do because he couldn’t tell her off for being too polite. “My friends and I were laughing at ourselves for our pathetic attempts at speaking Italian during break.” She smiled at him and shrugged her shoulders apologetically. “And you know what it’s like when you just can’t stop laughing?”
    Now she was really making fun of him, because I don’t suppose Mr. Pattle had any idea what that was like. I couldn’t imagine he ever laughed at anything.
    â€œYes, well…” He looked so uncomfortable standing there now. I couldn’t believe how flustered he was, and I almost felt sorry for him, except that what happened next killed every last trace of laughter that might have been lingering inside me.
    Miss Morgan had come into the room. “I’m sorry to interrupt, Mr. Pattle, but could I borrow Izzy Carter for a few minutes?”
    Mr. Pattle looked hugely relieved at the distraction and nodded at me to go. I saw Sasha’s hand fly to her mouth and I knew she was worried about how I’d react to the dance mistress wanting to speak to me. My legs shook as I got up and looked at Miss Morgan. Then as her eyes met mine, I realized that she didn’t have a clue who I was. She was just following up on what Mrs. Truman had told her.
    My heart thudded as we walked down the corridor together. And I felt as though my feet were thudding too, because Miss Morgan was so tiny and graceful, walking beside me in her pink footless tights and black swirly dance skirt and tight white top with a thin green wrap-over. On her feet she wore ballet-teaching shoes with the tiniest of heels on them. She reminded me of Miss Amelia, and I knew it was a massive coincidence but I thought that even her perfume was the same, because I was taken right back to Miss Amelia’s studio and all the classes I’d had there over the years.
    â€œI’m sorry I had to interrupt you in your lesson, Izzy, but this is the only time I have available today and Mrs. Truman felt that I really ought to be getting you to join the junior ballet club. Only, I understand you’re not very keen. Is that right?”
    I nodded and tried to speak. My words came out in a small thin voice. “I’ve given up ballet. I found…I wasn’t right for it…”
    Miss Morgan was nodding. “Right…” But she didn’t sound as though she believed me.
    â€œWh…where are we going?”
    â€œTo the studio. I’d just like to see what you can do. You know we’ve got the dance show coming up, and we’re a bit thin on the ground for juniors in general, but especially in ballet.”
    We came to the sports complex and my heart thudded as we walked past the sports hall and the small hall beside it and into the dance studio. Miss Morgan pressed four switches all at once, and the overhead lights flickered briefly,