Bryony Bell Tops the Bill (8 page)

For a moment everyone in the hall was still as Mrs Quigg's last note hung in the air, and then the whole hall exploded into tumultuous applause. People stood up and waved their programmes about, children stamped their feet, and everyone whooped and clapped and cried ‘Encore!' And when, just above the racket, Bryony heard Emmy-Lou say, ‘That's my big sister, so it is!', she thought her chest would burst with pride.

The frogs let Bryony down and she curtseyed gracefully, holding the white feathers carefully between the tips of her fingers. Then both Bryony and Abid linked arms and pointed to Mrs Quigg, who stood, faced the audience, and gave a stiff little bow.

Tears of emotion made little pale furrows in Clarissa's foundation cream. Mrs Ashraf dabbed her immaculate cheeks with a moist wipe and whispered ‘That's my boy' over and over again. And at each end of the front row the proud fathers blew their noses into their big handkerchiefs, and glowed and glowed with pride.

* * *

Over the hubbub, Jeremy had announced that tea and biscuits would be served in the staffroom, and when Abid and Bryony finally escaped Mrs Quigg's embraces and found their way there, Bryony had her heart in her mouth. The play, she knew, had been a tour de force if ever there was one, but what would Mum and the little ‘uns say about the Vipers?

‘How was it for you, Abid?' she asked as they fought their way through the audience, every one of whom wanted to congratulate them. To her relief, Abid beamed.

‘It was cool, Bryony,' he said. ‘I do love
singing, you know. Just not having people watch me sing.' He paused to sign his name on the back of a small boy's hand. ‘Maybe,' he said thoughtfully, ‘I could perform on the radio…'

The Bells and the Ashrafs were standing together in a huddle by the window. When she saw Bryony Clarissa ran towards her, big arms outstretched.

‘Oh Bryony, love,' she said, giving Bryony an almighty kiss on the cheek, then wiping off the lipstick mark, ‘you were splendid! Wasn't she?' She glanced over at the little ‘uns, who all nodded vehemently.

‘The best,' said Melody.

‘Professional to the last,' said Angelina, sincerely.

‘Unbelievable,' sighed Melissa.

And Emmy-Lou buried her face in the white feathers of Bryony's skirt, looked up at her, and said, ‘I wish you could skate with
The Singing Bells
, Bryony!'

‘Yeee-hah!' Big Bob called, slapping his thigh. ‘Champion idea, Emmy-Lou.' He looked over at Clarissa. ‘What d'you think, Clarissa?
The Singing, Skating Bells?
Something to think about for the future?'

Clarissa looked thoughtful. Then she nodded. ‘Could have legs,' she said.

‘Course,' continued Big Bob,' she'd have to
keep the Viper 3000s. Couldn't have her on TV with tatty old skates …'

Throughout all this, Bryony said nothing. She was so deliriously happy, it felt as though her brain had gone into overdrive.

And, as if all this wasn't enough, Mrs Ashraf was coming towards her with a shiny red parcel done up with a gold ribbon.

‘This is to thank you, Bryony, for everything you've done for Abid,' she said, laying it in Bryony's arms. ‘And to congratulate you on your wonderful performance.

‘I hope it's what you wanted.'

Bryony undid the wrapping and held the contents up.

It was the outfit of her dreams — a bright pink salwar kameez with little mirrors at the yoke, gold embroidery, and pleated kingfisher-blue inserts in the trousers. The top was pleated too, and you could just imagine how it would spread out when you spun. It was exactly, precisely, what Bryony had imagined.

‘Oh thank you, Mrs Ashraf,' she managed to say.

‘You'll be the belle of the ball tonight Bryony,' Big Bob whispered.

‘It's the most beautiful thing I ever saw,' breathed Angelina.

‘Oh my goodness,' said Clarissa, holding one
of the shiny pink sleeves out and talking very quickly, ‘isn't this exactly the sort of thing that'd get us noticed on TV? Imagine the
Devoted Sisters
song and dance! Pure theatre, it would be, in these!'

The little Bells all nodded and jumped up and down.

‘You couldn't run up another five before next week, Mrs Ashraf — could you?' Clarissa asked. ‘Oh no — of course you couldn't.'

Mrs Ashraf looked questioningly from Abid to Dr Ashraf. Dr Ashraf beamed and spoke for the first time that evening.

‘I think she could,' he told Clarissa. ‘Shabana can do anything if she turns her mind to it!'

Mrs Ashraf took the dress from Bryony and held it against Clarissa. She looked her up and down, one eye closed.

‘I'd advise a sari for you, dear,' she said at last. ‘Same materials, same embroidery, but the cut is so much more flattering to the fuller figure.' Then she beamed at Clarissa and Big Bob. ‘Would I get a mention in the credits, do you think?'

‘I'm sure it could be arranged,' Big Bob said confidently. ‘How about ‘Costumes by Shabana Ashraf, Designer to the Stars'?'

‘Consider it done,' said Abid's mother, without a moment's hesitation. She reached
inside her handbag for a measuring tape and a notepad and pencil, which she handed to Abid. ‘It'll be my gateway to a stage career,' she said excitedly, running the tape up and down each little Bell in turn.

‘So we'll think of it as a publicity exercise,' she went on. ‘And I'll just charge you for the material.'

The Bells looked at Mrs Ashraf. They gazed, unbelieving, at one another.

‘So…' Clarissa said slowly, ‘It wouldn't cost the Earth?'

‘Hardly anything at all, dear,' Mrs Ashraf said. ‘Are you getting this down, Abid?'

Abid went on scribbling into the notepad. Every single Bell eye fell on Bryony's feet and the Viper 3000s.

‘You thinking what I'm thinking?' Big Bob said to Clarissa.

Clarissa smiled a huge red smile.

‘I am,' she said. ‘And I'm thinking the same. Those skates ain't going anywhere but our Bryony's feet!'

Speechless, Bryony hugged her salwar kameez. Its pinkness made her face glow, and tiny rainbows of light reflected onto her chin from its mirrors. Happiness spread from her silver tiara to the tips of her Viper-clad toes. She put her arm round Big Bob's shoulders and gave
him a squeeze.

‘You said I'd get the Vipers one day, or your name's not Bob Bell,' she said.

‘Sure did, princess,' Big Bob said, beaming admiringly up at her.

‘And I'll tell you another thing, Bryony,' he added softly. ‘You'll always be top of my bill!'

Franzeska G Ewart was born in Stranraer — a small town by the sea in Galloway. She spent her childhood in the countryside and down on the seashore and she still likes to go there and to wander about in the woods and along riverbanks.

She then went on to study Zoology at Glasgow University, before deciding that she wanted to teach and going on to study for her Primary Teaching Certificate.

Franzeska lives in Glasgow — full-time with her cat Lily, and part-time with her partner Adam. She loves gardening, painting, writing, music, frogs and cats — though probably in reverse order.

For many years Franzeska used shadow theatre to help people express themselves. These days, she still works part-time in Glendale Primary School teaching English as an Additional Language. The children and staff
there often appear in her books!

Franzeska has had over a dozen books for children published. These include
Speak Up Spike, Shadowflight
and
The Pen-pal from Outer Space
which were all named
Guardian
Book of the Week.

About Bryony Bell Tops the Bill:

My inspiration for Bryony was a girl who came to one of my author talks. She had very bubbly blonde hair in two bunches, held in place with terrribly fancy flowers, and she was really COOL. I just liked her style, and I thought she'd be really assertive and capable and extrovert but would also love frills and flounces and sparkles. Just like Bryony!

FRANZESKA G. EWART

Bryony dreams of being a top-notch skater. However she has to send back her new, state-of-the-art skates to pay for her sisters' costumes for
TV Family Star Turns
. Poor Bryony. It's not much fun at school, either. In the end of term play, she's cast as the Ugly Ducking. Can the family's fortunes — and Bryony's — turn in time to give her the chance to strut her stuff?

Another fantastic Black Cat
…

Six brilliantly-crafted short stories from a master of the form.

Discover how the tooth fairy turned one boy into a millionaire; how a reflection in a department store mirror unlocked a family's dark secret, and find out how a misunderstood message transforms two boys' journey on the London Underground into a comedy-adventure.

These stories deserve, and will reward, a wide readership
. Lindsey Fraser
The Guardian

Another fantastic Black Cat
…

Jess longs to train to become a proper witch, but her family can't afford the tuition fees, and so she's stuck being an apprentice to Agnes Moonthistle, whose services as a witch aren't at all in demand — because she's not very good. However, when the TV programme, Changing Brooms, offers the chance to use magic to win ten thousand pounds, Jess may have found her escape route …

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The Ramsbottom Rumble • Georgia Byng

Calamity Kate • Terry Deary

The Custard Kid • Terry Deary

Footsteps in the Fog • Terry Deary

The Ghosts of Batwing Castle • Terry Deary

Ghost Town • Terry Deary

Into the Lion's Den • Terry Deary