Mandy came onto the stage after we’d finished the encore and gave out presents to Ellie’s dad, my mum, Monty B’s nan, Tara’s mum, and a few other people who had helped out with bits and pieces, and then she turned to us.
“My biggest thanks, of course, go to this awesome bunch of children who have been a total pleasure to work with from beginning to end. I told them when they first joined Star Makers that we were starting out on an adventure, and I hope so much that this weekend is just the first of many more exciting times together. They’re all stars – every single one of them! Let’s show them again how much we enjoyed the performance.”
I could still hear the clapping and cheering as I got changed. And I could definitely hear Mum and Dad cheering louder than anyone else, just like when they came to see me in my school play all those years ago.
“Wasn’t that amazing!” said Monty B coming over to give me a hug. “And your solo was even more amazing – it was awesome!”
“That’s because I’m truly gifted,” I said, grinning. “By the way, did you see? My mum and dad are here together.”
“Yeah, I know, I saw when we came on at the end. What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure but I’m going out to see them now. I’ll talk to you later.”
“If you get the chance, Frankie, ask your dad if I can still borrow his guitar.”
I stopped dead by the door and turned back. “Please tell me you’re joking,” I said.
“Yes, Phoebe Franks, I’m joking. When are you going to get my sense of humour?”
“Erm…when you start being funny!” I said, and we looked at each other and burst out laughing.
The hall was packed with parents and grandparents milling around, waiting for their children to come out of the dressing room. Ellie and Sam were standing to the side with Adam and Neesha.
Ellie pulled me over and gave me a big hug. “You were wicked, Phoebe.”
“Oh my God,” said Neesha. “I swear I nearly cried when you sang your solo.”
“Yeah, Ellie was right,” said Sam. “You have got a brilliant voice.”
Adam winked at me. “But surely not as brilliant as yours, eh, Sam.”
I started to blush and giggle at the same time.
“There will be no giggling in my factory,” Adam called after me as I pushed my way through the crowds to the back of the hall where Mum and Dad were waiting.
“Look who’s here,” said Dad, as I reached them. He smiled – a proper smile that reached all the way up to his eyes. “The star of the show.”
Mum threw her arms round me. “You were fantastic, Phoebe, we were so proud of you we didn’t know what to do with ourselves.”
I could hardly recognize Mum. She was all dressed up in some new jeans, a lacy black top, and a pair of boots I’d never seen before. And she’d had her hair done.
“You look lovely, Mum,” I said, staring at her. I couldn’t remember the last time she’d made such an effort.
“Yes, you look lovely, Maxine,” said Dad. “Really lovely.”
I was lying on my bed later on reliving every detail of the whole evening. I smiled to myself thinking about how Monty B had sent me a text saying: What happened after the show? R u ok? Thought I might shave my head…what do u think? And about how I’d said goodbye to Mandy and then on the spur of the moment, without really thinking, I’d given her a quick hug and whispered, “Thank you for everything, Mandy. I love you.”
And most amazing of all, about how Polly Carter had come up to me just before we left and asked me to sign her programme. And then before I could lose my nerve or run away in the opposite direction I’d said, “Look, I know you said sorry that day at the hospital about hiding my script and everything, but I still don’t get why you did it. Or why you did all that other stuff.”
She just stood there for a second and I was sure she was going to walk off without answering, but then she looked right at me and said, “Remember the first day at Woodville, Phoebe?”
Of course I remembered. How could I forget? Mum and Dad had just split up but decided it would be nice if the whole family was there to wave me off on my first day and I was so nervous I was nearly sick and Sara was going on and on about how Barney’s paw was hurting and he really needed me to kiss it better.
“Anyway, I saw you standing there with your mum and dad and your sister,” said Polly. “And you were just like the perfect family.” She blushed a bit. “Your mum and dad looked so nice and your sister was standing there holding her teddy and I was there with my dad because, you know, my mum was in too much of a state to get out of bed that morning. And I was sure everyone knew my dad had moved in with our neighbour, Diane. And at that moment I just wished so much that I was you.” She looked down at the ground and scuffed her shoe. “It’s stupid, I know.”
I nearly burst out laughing. I couldn’t believe it. Polly Carter jealous of me!
“It is stupid,” I said. “Us the perfect family – that’s the biggest joke ever. My mum and dad had just split up as well – my dad had gone totally loop-de-loop – and Sara was driving me nuts.”
“I am sorry, you know,” she said. “It’s just that everything was such a mess and I guess I took it out on the wrong person.”
And then before I could say anything else she leaned over and gave me a hug. Polly Carter gave me a hug. I nearly pinched myself to see if I was awake. After I’d recovered from the shock I signed her programme, C U at the next show, love Phoebe x. And she signed mine, U were gr8t, love Polly xx.
“I’m so proud of you, Phoebe,” Mum said, coming in and sitting on my bed. “You were fantastic, and I don’t just mean in the show.”
But I knew what she meant. She was talking about the other day. I still don’t know what happened exactly, when Mum and Dad went off up the road – but whatever it was it had brought my family back together, for now at least. Like I said, they don’t call me Phoebe Franks Super-Sorter for nothing.
“What’s the next production going to be? Has Mandy told you yet?”
“I’m not sure, Mum. She did say something about it but I was so excited I wasn’t really listening properly.”
“You do want to carry on at Star Makers, don’t you? It’s done you the world of good. It really has.”
I glanced up at my poster of Donny I couldn’t stop smiling: a great big sparkly Razzle Dazzle Smile. Of course I was going to carry on. Joining Star Makers Drama Club was the best thing I’d ever done. And Mystic Sara was right after all; something did happen to me that day – and it did change my life.
For ever.
Hi guys,
I grew up dreaming about being on the stage. I joined a drama club and spent every spare moment singing and dancing – convinced I was going to be a star.
But at secondary school I began to feel shy about performing. I lost a lot of confidence and for the first time I wasn’t sure if my dream to be on stage would come true.
Years later I started up my own drama club, Full Circle. I guess it was a way of keeping my dream alive. I found that running a drama club was as brilliant as performing myself – all the same nerves and excitement!
One day I started to scribble down some ideas for a book about a group of characters who join a drama club. I called it Star Makers. There was Phoebe who was very shy but could sing like an angel and Polly who just wanted everything to stay the same, Sam the big show-off who was desperate to be a serious actress, and Monty B who liked to clown around. I’d created a special place where everyone is different but everyone has their moment to shine.
This is Polly’s story and it’s for everyone going through a change – new school, new friendships, new home. Changes are tough and scary, but it’s Polly’s friends at Star Makers who help her to see that they can be so exciting too.
I still have BIG dreams – but these days they’re much more about writing than about singing and dancing.
Dreams are so important…I hope all of yours come true!
Anne
-Marie x
www.annemarieconway.com
Look out for more sparkly stories from the Star Makers Club
Why has Polly’s mum left her to go and live in Spain? When will her new stepmum stop trying to be so nice all the time? What happens when she ignores Dad and goes on the friend2friend website? And, most importantly, can she learn her lines in time for Star Makers’ fab new production?
ePub ISBN 9781409532002
Why has Sam’s sister fallen out with their mum? Will Dad ever reveal his secret from the past? How can Sam get her family back on track? And, most importantly, will she hold it all together on the night of Star Makers’ fab new musical?
ePub ISBN 9781409537496
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This ebook edition first published in 2010 by Usborne Publishing Ltd., Usborne House, 83-85 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8RT, England. www.usborne.com
Copyright © Anne-Marie Conway, 2010
The right of Anne-Marie Conway to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
Illustration copyright © Usborne Publishing Ltd., 2010
The name Usborne and the devices are Trade Marks of Usborne Publishing Ltd.
All rights reserved. This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or used in any way except as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or loaned or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ePub ISBN 9781409531975
Batch no. 00453-05
Anne-Marie Conway, Phoebe Finds Her Voice
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