Lucky Break #6 by Cindy Jefferies Page B

try. I will come to the next class.”

11. A Project for Marmalade
    Now that Marmalade had a reason for getting back into dance classes, he was beginning to feel a lot better. But he still had to find Danny to thank him for setting him straight.
    It was time for dinner, so Jack and Marmalade went over to the dining hall together. When he hobbled in with Jack by his side, all their friends looked up in surprise, but when they saw Marmalade’s old smile back on his face, they gave a ragged cheer. Pop pulled out a chair so Marmalade could sit down, and Jack hung Marmalade’s bag over the back of it.
    â€œAren’t you joining us, Jack?” asked Chloe.
    He shook his head. “Thanks, but Ravi is waiting for me,” he said. “I told him I’d have dinner with him.”
    â€œSee you later, then,” said Danny as Jack made his way over to Ravi’s table.
    â€œWell,” Tara said to Marmalade. “Why are you looking so pleased with yourself? I thought that silly grin had gone for good.”
    She sounded as grumpy as always, but Marmalade could tell that even Tara was pleased to see him looking more like his old self again.
    â€œIt’s all Danny’s fault,” said Marmalade, grinning at his friend. “He cheered me up. Thanks, man,” he added, really meaning it. “I will try not to be such a miserable idiot from now on.”
    â€œYou’ve had a hard time,” said Lolly sympathetically. “It’s no wonder you’ve been a little miserable.”
    â€œA little miserable?” said Tara. “He’s been terrible since his accident.”
    â€œSo what’s changed your mood?” asked Chloe. “After all, you still can’t . . . you know . . . dance.”
    â€œDon’t remind me!” said Marmalade. “No, it’s just that I’ve been giving Jack some tips for his dance routine, and I’m really enjoying doing it now that I don’t have one of my own to concentrate on. I’m going to go to his next dance class and see if I can help some more. At least I’ll be involved with dancing, even if I’m not doing it myself yet.”
    The very next afternoon, Marmalade was as good as his word and turned up for the dance class. And when he heard what Marmalade wanted to do, Mr. Penardos was very enthusiastic.
    â€œThis is splendid, Marmalade,” he said. “If you find you enjoy choreography or teaching, you will never be out of a job. You know we teach choreography when you get further up in the school? Why don’ you watch what everyone has been doing and see if you have any suggestions.”
    Marmalade sat at the side of the room and watched as the dancers limbered up and then went through their routines. He itched to join them on the specially sprung dance floor, but he did his best to forget about himself and concentrated on watching the other students.
    He came up with a few useful comments for Alice as well as Jack, and Mr. Penardos was full of praise. “Nice job, Marmalade,” he said. “Maybe you will be a famous choreographer one day!”
    Marmalade tried to feel excited about being a choreographer, but although he enjoyed working out steps for himself, he knew that actually dancing them would always be his greatest love.
    Near the end of the lesson, Marmalade suggested a sequence of steps to Jack, but when Jack tried them he couldn’t get them quite right. “No,” Marmalade told him, not sure if he had explained it well or if it was just that Jack couldn’t do the steps. He picked up his crutches and struggled to his feet. “I’ll show you,” he said.
    â€œBe careful,” Jack warned him anxiously.
    â€œI’m all right,” Marmalade replied. “Do it with me. I’ll try to explain again. You lead with the right foot, and bring the left one over like this.”
    It wasn’t easy on crutches, and he had to remember that he