“Well, Mum, you have just done the flowers for Sophia Malone’s wedding and made up with Crystal.”
I was so fed up with hiding things – I wasn’t about to pretend the big teary scene had never happened.
“Yes, and made up with Crystal,” said Mum, and she didn’t even seem cross that I’d brought it up. “I’m grateful, Sam; so grateful that I got the chance to say sorry. I should’ve listened to Crystal and to you.”
“Do you mean that?” I said, grinning in the dark.
Mum nodded. “You’re both clever and you’re both creative and just because Crystal hasn’t taken up her place at university doesn’t mean she won’t do well for herself.”
“So does that mean I don’t have to leave Star Makers?” I said, hardly able to believe what I was hearing. “Are you going to ring Mrs. Raja?”
“Hang on!” said Mum, shaking her head. “I’m not going to decide just like that. Mrs. Raja is a fantastic tutor, one of the best. We’ll talk about it in the morning when I’ve had a proper chance to think things through.”
I hardly slept all night. At some point I texted Ellie to say Wedding okay but crisis not over yet. I suppose I must’ve fallen asleep in the end, because I had a terrible nightmare that I was onstage acting my part in The Phantom Face when suddenly I realized I was stark naked in front of the entire audience and Adam. I woke up, my heart racing, and lay there in a state of terror until the morning.
Mum came in quite early. She drew my curtains and sat on my bed. She had such a serious look on her face I felt like crawling under the covers before she’d even said anything.
“I’ve had a long chat with Dad,” she said in the end. “You know, about everything…” I nodded, hardly able to breathe. “He thinks it’s very important that I let you follow your dreams and I think he’s probably right.”
“Does that mean…?” I started.
“It means I’m going to come and see you in your show and then afterwards I’ll have a proper chat with Mandy. If she thinks you’ve got real potential, we’ll leave the tutoring for a bit and let you concentrate on your acting.”
“Are you joking me, Mum?”
“No, Sam.” She ruffled my hair. “I’m not joking you. I know you’ve only got a small part, but I still want to see you do the best you can.”
It didn’t seem the right moment to tell her I actually had the biggest part in the show, so I threw my arms round her instead and gave her a massive hug.
“You won’t regret this,” I laughed, jumping out of bed. “You wait until Saturday. You won’t believe your eyes!”
I was desperate to speak to Ellie on Monday. “What happened?” she cried when she saw me. “In your first text you said it had all gone wrong and then later on you said it was kind of okay.”
“Well it did all go wrong to start with, but then Tyler sang this amazing song called ‘Precious Girl’, and then Mum and Crystal sort of made up, and then Mum decided that I could carry on at Star Makers, but only if I do a brilliant performance on Saturday.”
“No pressure then,” said Polly.
“But you will be brilliant,” said Phoebe. “You’re so good at acting and you’ve got such a good part and you never get nervous, do you, Sam?”
“Talking of good parts,” said Ellie, “does your mum know yet – about you being Laura?”
I shook my head. “She doesn’t know and I am nervous. More nervous than I’ve ever been in my life – especially after I was so rubbish at the dress rehearsal. If I mess up again, it’ll be goodbye Star Makers, hello Mrs. Raja!”
When we got to drama on Saturday, Sandeep was waiting for us by the door, looking frantic.
“You haven’t seen the CD, have you?” he said.
“Do you mean the eerie music CD?” said Polly.
He nodded. “I thought I left it in the CD player with all the other equipment, but it’s gone.”
“What did Mandy say?” said Ellie. “She always goes mad when I lose my script.”
“I haven’t told her. I don’t dare. Not after all the work Julian put into the sound effects. I mean the first show is in seven hours’ time and Julian is miles away on another job and I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
We got changed as fast as we could and ran back out to help. Phoebe and Polly kept Mandy distracted while the rest of us hunted around for the missing CD. Monty B arrived and made a big show of searching with his giant magnifying glass until Neesha got fed up and snatched it away.
“I’ll still find it,” said Monty B. “I am a trained detective after all.”
Neesha snorted. “Oh my God, yeah, if you find it I swear I’ll kiss your feet.”
Luckily for her, right at that second Mrs. Beagle came in carrying the CD.
“Does this belong to you?” she said. “I found it in my office and I’m quite certain it’s not mine.” I thought Sandeep was going to kiss her feet for a minute, but he just kissed the CD, thanked her about a million times and then collapsed down on a chair in relief.
“What are you sitting down for?” said Mandy, coming over. “Don’t you realize how much there is left to do?”
The rest of the day flew by. We practised a few bits that needed the most work and then spent quite a bit of time helping Mandy with the set. Julian usually does it, but since he wasn’t around we all pitched in to get it sorted in time. We had to make the stage look very old-fashioned. Mandy had brought these heavy velvet curtains to hang, and a fake log-fire. It took ages to get the curtains right, and then we had to set out the chairs in the hall and sort out all the sound equipment.
By the time we finished there was only twenty minutes or so until the audience were due to arrive. We were just about to go backstage when Arthur walked in.
“Hello, fellow actors,” he boomed. My mouth dropped open and Ellie burst out laughing, trying to hide behind me so he wouldn’t see.
“What’s happened to your hair, Arthur?” said Mandy, her eyes so big they practically filled her entire face.
“I’ve had some of those hair extensions,” he said. “They’re all the rage, you know! That’s what I’ve been trying to talk to you about. I wanted your advice, you see, about the best place to have them done, but luckily one of my parishioners at the church pointed me in the right direction.”
I looked round at Ellie, who was still trying to hide behind me. All those times Arthur had come in looking for Mandy and all he’d wanted was advice about her hair extensions!
“Oh,” said Mandy. She bit her lip. “They’re very…um…long.”
“Thank you, my dear, and I just wanted to wish you well for your performance.”
He strode out and Mandy literally collapsed laughing. “I am so sorry,” she gasped, clutching her stomach. “I know I shouldn’t laugh but that’s just the funniest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I mean, Arthur with hair extensions.” She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath, but then she started laughing all over again. “Come on, guys,” she managed in the end. “It’s time to get ready. I want you to wait backstage now until I give you the signal to come on.”
We all trooped into the room behind the stage, laughing and talking about Arthur.
“I am so nervous,” I said to Ellie. “I mean what if my mum thinks I’m just okay?”
“She won’t. You’ll be so good you’ll probably win an Oscar,” she said, grinning. “Good luck with the lights and sound by the way,” she called out to Sandeep as he walked past us. “Break a leg!”
“What!” said Sandeep.
Ellie started laughing. “It’s just an old saying…” she tried to say, but she was laughing so hard she couldn’t get the words out. It was so funny it set me off – and then Phoebe – and before long we were all on the floor in hysterics.
“The hall’s packed!” said Mandy, coming in. She stopped dead, looking at us. “For goodness’ sake! Not you lot as well! Come on, get up…it’s time to go on.”
We squashed into the wings, waiting for the lights
to go down. I took the deepest breath I could manage and focused all my energy on giving the best performance of my life. Maybe one day I would win an Oscar, but right now the only thing that mattered was convincing Mum that I was deadly serious about being an actress.
The second I walked onstage I stopped being Sam and as if by magic I became Laura: a young, curious girl staying at an ancient castle with her family. The show begins with all of us onstage with the image of the phantom girl projected onto the screen behind us. The eerie music plays out for a minute or so and then Mandy plays the introduction and we sing the opening number.
Sandeep managed to get the image up with no problems at all, but then, as we were standing there waiting for Julian’s music to start, something else began to play out of the speakers.
It wasn’t the eerie music at all.
It was Arthur – declaring his undying love for Mrs. Beagle.
I couldn’t believe it. After everything I’d been through, Arthur was going to spoil my big moment. Arthur and his stupid crush on Mrs. Beagle was going to ruin my one chance of staying at Star Makers. No one knew what to do. Sandeep was frantically pressing every button in front of him, while Mandy sat rigid on the piano stool with her eyes closed tight. A couple of people in the audience began to titter and laugh as Arthur’s voice droned on and on. He’d obviously used Julian’s CD to record a message to Mrs. Beagle and then left it on her desk.
“My dearest June,” he was saying. “My feelings for you grow stronger by the day. Please, my love, if you feel as strongly for me as I do for you, you must find some way of showing me…”
We all stood there like lemons. The message seemed to go on for ever – it was June this, and June that. I couldn’t actually see my mum – the lights were way too bright – but I knew she was out there, watching everything go wrong. I half-felt like running straight off the stage and hiding away, but I knew that if I did she’d never take me seriously.
My heart started to bang inside my chest. I had to do something – anything – to put things right. Somehow I had to get the audience to think that June was the name of the missing girl, instead of April.
The second the recording ended I walked forward, alone, right to the front of the stage. The audience fell silent and all eyes were on me. It was just like the dream I had the other night, but a million times worse. I said a silent prayer and opened my mouth to speak.
“This is the story of a young girl named June and the two men who fell in love with her.” My voice was shaking but I carried on. “One would win her love; one would be accused of her murder. A story where nothing is quite what it seems and no one can be trusted. Ladies and gentlemen…welcome to…THE PHANTOM FACE!”
There was a massive cheer from the audience and Mandy began to play the introduction to the opening number.
The rest of Act One went so well I could hardly believe it. There were no sound effects, obviously, but it just seemed to have an amazing energy, as if everyone was making up for the terrible beginning. Monty B was hilarious and Neesha was fantastic as the butler. Even Sara was good, in an irritating younger sister sort of way.
Mandy came rushing backstage in the interval and grabbed hold of me.
“Sam Lester!” she cried, her eyes shining. “You were a-mazing. The way you did that, it was as if we’d rehearsed it for weeks. It was perfect. I could kill Arthur, I really could! I’d like to get hold of his blooming hair extensions and string him up! But I’ll never forget you walking forward like that. Honestly, Sam. It was so brave and so clever.”
“Yes, and weren’t we all clever to keep the June thing going,” said Sara. “Well, except for Monty B, who kept calling her April.”
“I know,” said Mandy, “but even that was funny because Detective Biscuit is supposed to get everything wrong.”
Monty B grinned. “It’s amazing how clever I can be when I’m not even trying. It’s a real gift.”
“She said funny, not clever,” said Adam. “But seriously, Sam, you really did save the day.”
“Oh, it was no big deal,” I said, grinning like an idiot. But of course it was a big deal – the biggest!
Act Two was even better than Act One, and when I came on for my bow I swear I got the biggest cheer. It was the most incredible feeling – I could’ve easily stood there all night. I’d done the performance of my life and Mum had been there to see it.
“I’m so pleased we get to do it all again tomorrow night,” I said when we finally got backstage. “I could perform it a million times and I’d never get bored.”
“Yeah, me too,” said Sandeep, “except next time I’m going to check the CDs before I play them. I don’t think I could take another shock like that. You were really amazing, Sam. How did you know what to say?”
I shrugged, grinning. “I don’t know really, it just came out of my mouth.”
“Ellie was right,” said Phoebe. “You really do deserve an Oscar.”
I looked over at Ellie. She was staring off into the distance with a weird expression on her face.
“What’s the matter?” I said. “You look as if you’ve seen a ghost!”
Ellie sighed. “It wasn’t a ghost. It was just that boy in the second row. Did you see him? He was so cute. His name’s Ollie, apparently, and he’s a friend of Neesha.”
I rolled my eyes. “Maybe I should warn him not to lend you any clothes!”
“I’m not going to make a habit of freezing my boyfriend’s sweatshirts, you know.”
“Yeah, well, just so long as you remember, it’s Friends First.”
“Always!” said Ellie. “And that goes for you too!”
I glanced across at Adam. I still fancied him and I still thought he was drop-dead gorgeous, but my friendship with Ellie was way more important.
“Always!” I said, and gave her the biggest hug.
When I went back out to the hall, Dad and Aunty Mags were waiting for me with Crystal. I looked around for Mum and saw she was over by the piano, talking to Mandy.
“Here she comes,” said Crystal. “The star of the show! How did I ever end up with such a talented little sister?”
“Takes after me of course,” joked Dad. “But seriously, Sam, you were fantastic – especially right at the beginning when that recording was playing out.” He raised his eyebrow, smiling. He’d obviously twigged it was a mistake.
“Long story!” I said, laughing. “But I’m not going into it now. I’ve got to go over and see what Mum and Mandy are talking about.”
They stopped talking as soon as they saw me coming towards them. It was impossible to tell from Mum’s face what she was thinking, but Mandy was grinning from ear to ear.
“I’ve just been telling your mum how proud she should be,” said Mandy. “I still can’t get over what you did. You’d maybe expect an experienced actress to react so quickly in a situation like that, but not a twelve year old.”
“Almost thirteen,” I said, thrilled that Mandy had said something so nice – and in front of Mum.
“Yes, well, twelve or thirteen, it was extraordinary.”
“I’ll tell you what else is extraordinary,” said Mum, with a twinkle in her eye. “The fact that you had so many lines. That has to be the biggest small part in the history of the theatre. Anyway, Mandy’s just been telling me all about her plans for next term’s show.”
“Does that mean you’re going to let me carry on?” I squealed.
“Of course I am,” said Mum. “How could I stop you after that performance? Honestly, it was so good I’ve told Dad we’re coming to watch you again tomorrow night.”
I literally threw my arms round her neck, saying “Thank you” over and over. “I’ll work so hard, you won’t believe it. I’ll get As in all my subjects. I’ll be top at everything!”
“And modest too,” said Mandy, laughing.
The next day, Crystal, Tyler, Aunty Mags and Riley all came round to ours for Sunday lunch. Dad opened a bottle of champagne and Mum made Crystal’s favouri
te meal. It was a bit weird and awkward to start with; Tyler looked horribly uncomfortable, and Crystal was still a bit funny around Mum. But then, after lunch, Dad got his Stevie and the Stingrays scrapbooks out and he went through all his cuttings with Tyler. He told Tyler loads of great stories about when he first started out with the band and they even arranged to have some sort of jamming session with their guitars.
Mum and Crystal sat in the kitchen and they talked and talked. About Crystal’s Crystals and Sophia Malone’s wedding and how weird it was that they’d both ended up there – like it was fate or something. They’ve always been like that – either the best of friends or at each other’s throats, arguing.
I escaped into the garden with Aunty Mags and Riley. She showed me all the tricks he’d learned at his first obedience classes. He could sit and lie and walk right next to your heels.
“Isn’t he good?” said Aunty Mags. “Except he’s still a terrible chewer.”
“Don’t remind me!” I laughed, thinking about Adam and my ruined bra and that day at drama. “I certainly won’t be leaving my underwear on the floor when he’s around.”
Just before Crystal and Tyler had to go, Crystal said she had an important announcement to make. I saw Mum give Dad a quick look. She probably thought Crystal was going to say she was having a baby or something.
“Tyler and I have decided to wait for a year before we get married – and it’s not just because the band’s doing so well,” she went on before Mum could say anything. “It’s also because I’m going to be far too busy over the next few months myself.”
“Far too busy doing what exactly?” said Mum, frowning.
“Erm…working with you, of course!” She stopped for a second, grinning. “I mean, now that we’re going to be business partners.”
“Business partners?” said Mum weakly. “Me and you?”
“Come on, Mum, you said yourself that you’d like to sell some of my candleholders in the shop. Well, just think how much we could achieve if we worked together. Crystal’s Crystals and Everything’s Rosy. How could it fail?”
Mum went rosy then. I don’t know if it was the champagne or the fact that Crystal was back and they were friends again. But whatever the reason, it was brilliant.