Читать книгу: «Delphie and the Masked Ball»

Delphie Durand danced in the bright spotlight. Around her on stage, the other girls from her ballet school stood in darkness. Delphie was playing the main part in the show – the Bluebird who brought light back to the animals in the woods. She finished with one leg stretched out behind, her arms held out like wings, holding the pose perfectly without a single wobble. Slowly the lights began to come up on the stage, as if sunlight was gently returning. The other dancers looked around in wonder and then suddenly they all began to dance …

Delphie skimmed across the floor with tiny steps. It was wonderful being up there and it reminded her of the times she had been in another theatre – a secret, magical one. For Delphie owned a pair of special red ballet shoes and when they started sparkling they whisked her away to a theatre in the magical land of Enchantia. All the characters from the different ballets lived in Enchantia and Delphie had enjoyed some great adventures there.

As the music ended and everyone relaxed out of their final poses, Delphie heard the sound of her ballet teacher, Madame Za-Za, clapping from the hall.

“Well done, everyone,” Madame Za-Za called, smiling at them all. “That was a very good dress rehearsal. Go and get changed and then I will give you some notes so we can make the actual performance even better.”

Delphie stretched. Her muscles felt warm and tingly. Her two friends, Lola and Poppy, came running over to her.

“You were brilliant, Delphie!” Lola exclaimed.

“I wasn’t.” Delphie blushed modestly. “I got some things wrong.”

“I didn’t see you get anything wrong at all,” said Poppy loyally.

“Well, I did,” came a voice behind them.

Delphie looked round. Sukie Taylor, one of the other girls in their dancing class, was standing behind them in her rabbit costume.

“Don’t be so mean, Sukie!” Lola frowned.

“Ignore her,” Poppy muttered to Delphie. “She’s just jealous.”

Delphie had a feeling Poppy was right. Sukie had been hoping she would be the Bluebird and ever since Delphie had got the part Sukie had been really horrid to her in class.

Sukie scowled at Delphie. “Madame Za-Za should never have picked you to be the Bluebird. I’d have been much better!” And, tossing her head, she marched off.

Delphie felt the excitement and happiness fade away. But seeing Poppy looking cross, she forced herself to act like she didn’t care. She wouldn’t want her friends to be upset too. “Come on!” she said, trying to sound cheerful. “Let’s go and get changed.”

Delphie ran lightly off the stage with Poppy and Lola following. But as she reached the wings, someone came running towards her from the opposite direction. Delphie was taken by surprise and they collided heavily, with Delphie crashing to the floor. Looking up, she realised it was Sukie.

“Ow!” Sukie said, rubbing her elbow. “Watch where you’re going, Delphie!”

“You were the one who ran into me!” Delphie went to get up but pain stabbed through her left foot and she gasped. “Ow! My ankle!”

Poppy tried to help her, but when Delphie put her foot down it really hurt. “I can’t stand,” she said.

“I’ll go and get Madame Za-Za!” Poppy dashed off.

Lola swung round to Sukie. “You did that on purpose!”

Sukie scowled. “What do you mean?”

“I bet you tripped Delphie up because you wanted her to be hurt!” Lola said accusingly. “You’re her understudy so if she doesn’t dance the part of the Bluebird, you will!”

Delphie stared. Was Lola right? Had Sukie really run into her on purpose? Sukie turned red. “I … I didn’t!” she stammered. “I …” She broke off as the backstage door opened and Madame Za-Za came hurrying into the wings. “Delphie! What’s happened?”

Delphie blinked back the tears. “I’ve hurt my ankle.”

“But how?” Madame Za-Za asked.

Sukie sent Delphie an imploring look. For a moment it was on the tip of Delphie’s tongue to say that Sukie had run into her on purpose. But she didn’t know that for sure and anyway she hated it when people told tales and got others into trouble. “I … I tripped,” she said. “I was running off the stage and I just tripped over.”

Poppy and Lola stared at her.

“That isn’t what …” Lola began.

“It IS what happened,” Delphie interrupted. She saw a look of relief flash across Sukie’s face.

“Let me see.” Madame Za-Za gently unlaced Delphie’s ballet shoe and turned Delphie’s ankle this way and that. Delphie caught her breath. It really did hurt. “Can you move your toes?” Madame Za-Za asked.

Delphie nodded and wriggled them.

“It is probably just a sprain,” Madame Za-Za said, after examining it a moment longer. “But you’ll need to go to hospital to have it checked over. Hopefully it should be back to normal in a week or so.”

Poppy and Lola gasped.

“A week!” said Delphie in dismay. “But what about the show?”

Madame Za-Za looked at her sadly. “I’m afraid you’re not going to be better in time to dance in it, Delphie. Sukie will have to take the part of the Bluebird.”