When Dad arrived home he marched straight up to my room and said we needed to have a chat. It was obvious Diane had told him about our row, but I sat with my mouth clamped shut and refused to say a word. I didn’t see why I should say sorry when it wasn’t me who’d done anything wrong in the first place. He kept asking me what had happened, pretending he was interested in hearing my side of the story, but I wasn’t going to fall for that.
“I’m with Diane now, Polly,” he said in the end. “I’m sorry if that’s difficult for you to accept, but she really cares about you. And you’ve got a little brother downstairs who adores you.”
I put my hands over my ears like Jake does. I knew I was being a baby, but the last thing I wanted was to hear about how grateful I was supposed to be.
“It’s about time you started to appreciate them instead of doing your utmost to push them away.”
He stood at the door for ages and I nearly gave in and said I was sorry. I hate it when he’s cross, but it was Diane who needed to apologize not me.
The rest of the week was a nightmare. Diane moped about the house with puffy eyes, her face all red and blotchy, trying her best to make me feel guilty. Jake was grizzly and unsettled, as if he could sense what was going on, and Dad was so frosty he was practically frozen. Cosmo hardly came in at all. I missed him like mad but instead of going down to see him I spent every spare moment on the computer.
Skye and I were both so close to reaching our 1000-point target that it was impossible to tear myself away. None of the people we chatted to in the Emerald room had ever actually been into the Diamond Den themselves, but they all said it was supposed to be incredible.
I didn’t want to go to drama on Saturday but Dad more or less forced me. He said I had a responsibility to the group and that if I didn’t go I’d be letting everyone down, but I still hadn’t learned my lines properly so I knew it was going to be a disaster.
I tried to bluff my way through but Mandy realized straight away that I didn’t have a clue. She prompted me a few times and then in the break she took me outside the hall for a chat. It seemed like everyone wanted to have a chat but no one understood how I was actually feeling. I stood there looking down at the floor, shifting from one foot to the other.
“I’m really sorry, Polly, I hate to have to say this, but I’m going to ask Sam to learn your part.”
My head snapped up. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not going to give her the part – not yet. But I am going to ask her to learn it – just in case.”
I tried to explain what was going on but the lump in my throat was so big I couldn’t get the words out. What would I say anyway? That I was missing my mum? It sounded so stupid.
“I will learn my part,” I whispered in the end. “I keep trying but…”
“Look, Polly, love, I’m not cross and I can see you’re upset but you haven’t really left me with any other choice. Do you understand?”
I nodded miserably.
“I’m sure it won’t come to this, but next week we’re going to run the whole of Act One without scripts and if you don’t know your lines back to front and inside out I’ll have to ask Sam to take over.”
I trailed back into the hall and went to sit by myself by the piano. Mandy took Sam to one side and I knew exactly what she was saying. I could almost imagine Sam punching the air. Phoebe and Monty B did their best to cheer me up, but I said I had to learn my lines and buried my head in my script. I couldn’t bear the thought of Sam taking over my part and I knew it wouldn’t be long before she blabbed the news to everyone in the group.
Break seemed to last an age and finally, when everyone had finished eating and cleared away their rubbish, Mandy explained that we were going to spend the rest of the session setting the finale. In the last scene, Marcia and Tarn crack the secret code just in time, and as they’re transported back through their computer screens, Phoebe comes on and sings her solo. Then, at the end of her song, we all come back onstage and do this amazing dance to the biggest number in the show, “CRASH!”
It was the hardest dance we’d ever done – a sort of mix between hip-hop and street – and I was concentrating so hard I actually forgot about how upset I was for a bit.
“It’s way too difficult, Mandy!” wailed Tara at one point. “I can’t even do easy dances!”
“I’ll never be able to do it either,” said Rachel, collapsing on the floor in a heap.
“Come on, guys,” said Mandy. “I know it’s hard but it’s going to look amazing.” She went over and over each little segment until everyone knew what they were doing.
There was a short instrumental section in the middle where Monty B and I had to dance by ourselves. Mandy sent the others off to practise the first bit so she could teach us our bit separately.
“Do you think I should learn this as well?” said Sam. “You know, just in case...” She trailed off, but it was obvious she was going to say, Just in case I end up being Marcia! She was like a vulture, itching to swoop down and snatch my part at the first opportunity.
“Watch from the front for now, Sam,” said Mandy. “Polly’s doing very well at the moment.”
I was determined not to let her down. And determined to keep Sam Lester as far away from my part as I possibly could.
“Wow! That was incredible!” said Monty B when we’d finished. “You’re a fantastic dancer, Polly – as long as I’m leading, of course. The cameras should’ve been here to film that!”
I still couldn’t believe Monty B was being so nice. It wasn’t that long ago I thought he’d never forgive me for the way I treated Phoebe last term – but maybe Phoebe was right and we could all be friends together.
“Oh, by the way, guys,” said Mandy, “that reminds me. According to Arthur we actually raised over £300 for the old people’s home last week. So well done, everyone.”
We all cheered and then, just as we were packing up to go home, Arthur came in himself and announced that the dance contest was going to be shown on the early evening local news the following Monday at six.
“And I just want to say to all of you, especially you, Mandy, that I owe you a huge debt of gratitude. So if there’s anything I can do to help with the production, anything at all, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“The pleasure was all ours, Arthur,” said Mandy, smiling brightly, but there was no way she’d ever ask Arthur for help – not unless she was totally desperate!
“Why don’t you all come and watch the news over at mine?” said Phoebe. “We could have a Star Makers party. I’m sure my mum wouldn’t mind.”
“That sounds brilliant!” said Monty B. “And if you want, me and Polly could do a live performance of our winning dance right there in your living room.”
Neesha rolled her eyes. “Oh my God, yeah, even if Phoebe lived in a mansion there’s no way you’d ever be able to fit your head through the door. I swear it’s so huge you’re in danger of toppling over at any moment.”
Monty B made a big show of toppling over at Neesha’s feet and then before he could get up again Adam sat on him.
“I’ll just try to squash his ego a bit,” said Adam, squishing Monty B until he begged for mercy.
I left drama feeling happier than I had all week and determined to learn my lines. Even if Mum wasn’t there to watch me, I still wanted to be in the show more than anything. I got off the bus and started to walk towards home as fast as I could. Great big giant steps. I was Marcia – not Sam – and I was going to prove to Mandy and everyone else just how good I could be.
I’d just got to the top of our road when I heard a terrible screech of brakes. I saw a man jump out of an old, red van, look into the road and then leap back in his van and drive on. I stood there for a second, telling myself that the road was empty, that he’d driven away because there was nothing there. But there was something there. I could see it as clear as anything.
I started to run towards number 25, my heart practically coming out of my chest.
I knew what it was but I couldn’t bear it. “Don’t let it be him. Don’t let it be him,” I said over and over again, as I tore down the road faster than I’d ever run in my life.
But it was him.
It was my beautiful Cosmo.
Lying in the middle of the road completely still and covered in blood.
“COSMO!!!”
I stumbled over to him and knelt down. His fur was damp and, very close up, I could see that he was panting.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. “I’m so, so sorry for not coming to see you all week.” I didn’t know what to do or how to get help. I looked around but the street was completely empty. I ran and banged on Mrs. Bay’s door.
“Mrs. Bay! Help! Help me!”
I started to cry, I was so frightened. I didn’t want him to die. Mrs. Bay wasn’t there. I banged a few more times and then I ran back to Cosmo and cradled him in my arms. He was panting more heavily now – he looked like he was dying. I was sure he was going to stop breathing at any second. I had to do something but I didn’t know if I was strong enough to carry him all the way up the road.
I slipped my arms under his body. He was hot and there seemed to be more blood; it was warm and sticky and I could feel it seeping onto my hands. Somehow, I’m not sure how, I managed to lift him. I had no idea if it was the right thing to do, but I couldn’t just leave him there. He let out a small groan; a sort of low throaty growl.
“I’m sorry,” I kept saying. “I’m so sorry.” The tears were streaming down my face. I couldn’t go very fast in case I hurt him more, and it seemed to take for ever to get to number 11. I staggered up the front path and very carefully released one hand to bang on the door.
“Diane, help me! Please, Diane, help me! Please!” I started to wail. I didn’t want to lose Cosmo.
Diane opened the door and I sank down to my knees.
“Diane, oh Diane, quick!” I sobbed. “Cosmo’s going to die! Help me, Diane. Please. What are we going to do?”
Everything happened very quickly after that. Diane dashed back inside to get Jake. She strapped him in the car and then she grabbed her bag and a big fluffy towel. She put the towel on the seat next to Jake and then very, very gently she lifted Cosmo out of my arms and placed him on the towel. I squashed in next to him and we set off for the vet’s.
“It’s going to be okay, Polly,” she kept saying all the way there. “It’s going to be okay, you’ll see.”
The second we arrived Diane leaped out of the car and flew inside to get Mr. Adesina, the vet. He came running out after her and carefully carried Cosmo into the surgery. I was shaking by then. I wanted to go in with him but we had to wait in the reception area.
Mr. Adesina was amazing. He held up all his other appointments while he tried to save Cosmo. There were lots of other people waiting but they seemed to realize that it was an emergency and no one complained.
“He’s in good hands now,” said Diane. She wiped my face and stroked back my hair. “You were very brave, Polly,” she said. “Carrying him all the way up the road like that. You probably saved his life.”
We waited and waited. Jake got very excited crawling around the floor, playing with this noisy dog ball that had a bell inside. The receptionist didn’t even get cross. She knelt down and started playing with him, rolling the ball from one end of the reception area to the next.
A few minutes later Dad came bursting through the doors. Diane had called him to come and meet us. Luckily he’d been finishing off a job close by. As soon as I saw him I started to cry all over again and when he asked me what had happened I could barely get the story out. We squashed up together on the hard, plastic seats and waited for Mr. Adesina to come out. After a bit Jake got bored and grizzly.
“Come on, you,” said Diane, scooping him up off the floor and giving him a big kiss. “I’ll have to take him home, Polly, but keep me posted. Let me know the second you have some news.”
“It’s all my fault,” I said to Dad, when they’d gone. “I’ll never forgive myself if he dies.”
“What are you talking about, sweetheart? Of course it’s not your fault.”
“It is,” I insisted. “It’s all my fault because I didn’t go and see him this week. I was so busy playing on my computer I didn’t bother to go and see him and that’s why he was in the middle of the road. He was waiting for me. I bet he thought I’d forgotten all about him.” I start to cry again. I felt so guilty.
Dad turned me to face him. “No, Polly, love. He was probably chasing another cat or something. He probably saw something on the other side of the road and dashed across just as the van was coming.”
I was about to say that Cosmo had never chased another cat in his life, when the surgery door opened and Mr. Adesina came out, wiping his hands on a wet cloth.
“I’ve patched him up a bit, Polly,” he said, kneeling down by my chair. “But we’re going to have to operate pretty quickly.”
“He’s got to have an operation?” I gasped.
Mr. Adesina nodded. His big, kind face was right up close to mine. “He’s had a really nasty knock and he’s bleeding inside. Unless I operate I won’t know where that bleeding is coming from. Now, I want you to go home with your dad and I’ll let you know as soon as he wakes up. I promise you I’ll call however late it is, okay?”
Dad led me out to the van. I was still trembling and my clothes were stained with dried blood. Back at home, I had a steaming hot bath and then we sat in the kitchen waiting for the phone to ring. I kept thinking about how frightened Cosmo would be, waking up in a strange place, but Diane reassured me that Mr. Adesina was so kind and gentle he’d make sure Cosmo was okay when he came round from the anaesthetic.
In the end he didn’t call until after ten. He said he’d finished the operation but he wouldn’t know for a few more days whether or not Cosmo was going to make it.
“I’ve done everything I can to help him, but he’s very weak and he’s lost a lot of blood. I’ll ring you tomorrow and tell you how he’s doing and maybe later on in the day, after school, your mum could bring you in to see him.”
I was just about to tell him that Diane wasn’t my mum, but I didn’t. I don’t really know why. I suppose I was too tired and too worried. After that Mr. Adesina had a long chat with Diane and they made arrangements for me to come in and see Cosmo the next day straight after school – if he’d recovered enough.
It was awful at school, I couldn’t concentrate at all and I kept getting into trouble. I tried to look like I was paying attention, because I was scared I’d get a detention, but it was impossible. I’d called Phoebe at home the night before to tell her what had happened and she kept giving me lots of hugs and asking if I was okay. She even told Mrs. Bliss, the science teacher, that I was in a bit of a state because my cat was recovering from an emergency operation. Mrs. Bliss didn’t look particularly impressed but she did stop picking on me.
At lunchtime Sam and Ellie were going on about watching the dance contest on the news and how they couldn’t wait to go over to Phoebe’s the following week.
“Not that the result was fair,” said Sam. “I mean it’s obvious you and Monty B only won because of your baby brother, Polly.”
“You mean it’s obvious you’re just a jealous pig!” I snapped, and stormed off to the other side of the playground. Phoebe came running after me and tried to pull me back.
“Don’t be like that, Polly! She didn’t mean it. I know Sam’s a show-off and everything but she’s okay when you get to know her. And anyway, why didn’t you tell them about Cosmo?”
I shrugged. “I don’t want anyone else to know. It’s private.”
Phoebe sighed and gave me a look. “What did your mum say about you and Monty B winning the dance contest?” she asked, changing the subject. “I bet she was sorry she missed it.”
“I haven’t really got round to telling her,” I mumbled. “I haven’t been able to think about anything except Cosmo. I can’t stop picturing him lying t
here like that in the middle of the road, covered in blood.”
Phoebe shuddered. “Well at least you’ll be able to see him later today.”
But when I got home from school Diane said Mr. Adesina had called to say that Cosmo wasn’t doing very well – and it was probably best if I didn’t come in.
“It’s going to be okay,” said Diane. “He just needs to make sure Cosmo’s strong enough for visitors.” But I didn’t believe her and I started to feel sick.
“Can’t we just go and see him, please. What if he dies and I haven’t said goodbye? Please, Diane.”
Diane put her arms round me and held me close. It felt weird but I didn’t try to pull away. “Listen, Polly,” she said, “we have to trust the vet. He really does know what he’s doing.”
But Mr. Adesina put us off the next day and the day after. It was awful. I couldn’t do anything. I spent all my time moping around, waiting for the phone to ring, convinced that Cosmo was going to die at any second. I knew I was driving Diane mad, but I couldn’t help it. I just missed Cosmo so much and I was sure he wouldn’t understand why I wasn’t there to look after him.
Diane didn’t complain at all. She made me one cup of tea after another and asked me heaps of questions about Cosmo when he was a kitten. I loved talking about him, it was really comforting. It almost made me feel as if he was there. I told her all about the day I got him. How Mum had picked me up from school and told me there was a little surprise waiting for me at home. And then when we got back she’d covered my eyes and led me into the kitchen. “You can look now,” she’d said, and there he was; a tiny ball of fluff lying in this big furry basket. He was so small he could practically fit into my cupped hands. It was the most exciting day of my life – I’d wanted a kitten for so long.
Of course I never touched my script all week. I didn’t even think about it. Diane asked me a few times if I was learning my lines and she offered to help but I couldn’t concentrate on anything while I was waiting for news. Phoebe was great. She really did her best to cheer me up, but I spent most of the time moping about, willing the phone to ring. I didn’t even log on to talk to Skye.