Free On Pointe by Sheryl Berk Page A

forget?”
    â€œI didn’t forget,” Marcus replied. “You were spectacular. And I was your Snow King.”
    Gracie tapped Toni on the arm. “You said there are no small parts, only small dancers,” she reminded her.
    â€œYou’re right,” she said. “I wouldn’t want any of my team to think I go back on my word.”
    Liberty stuck her head out of the dressing room to see what all the commotion was about. She was dressed in a white lace-trimmed nightgown and her hair was styled in long, flowing ringlets tied back with a white bow.
    â€œHey! You look like Clara!” Gracie said, spying her. “Where did you get that costume?”
    Liberty was utterly stunned to see Gracie—and the rest of the Divas—filing into the theater. “What are you doing here?” she gasped.
    â€œUm, we’re here to put on a ballet,” Rochelle replied. “Disappointed?”
    Miss Toni gave Liberty a stern look. “You canchange out of that costume this instant,” she said. “There’s no need for a Clara understudy. Gracie is here.”
    â€œThere’s a big, bad gingerbread costume with your name on it,” Rochelle taunted her. “Better go get ready, Lib!”
    Liberty fumed. “It’s not fair! Why does Gracie get to play Clara?”
    Mr. Minnelli held up his hand. “There will be no tantrums, no hard feelings, no diva behavior.” He turned to Toni. “Apologies of course to Dance Divas—but you know what I mean.”
    Toni nodded. “More than ever, we need everyone to pitch in tonight. You’ll have to double up on roles and help each other out.”
    Gracie tapped Mr. Minnelli and whispered something in his ear. “Are you sure?” he asked. “Well, all right.”
    He faced Liberty. “Gracie suggested that you play a snowflake in addition to a gingerbread.”
    Liberty’s face lit up. “Really? I get to wear one of those beautiful silvery white tutus and arhinestone tiara? That is so much better than a giant cookie! Thank you, thank you!”
    â€œThank Gracie,” Toni reminded her. “It was her idea.”
    â€œThanks,” Liberty said softly. “I’m sorry. I guess I wasn’t being a great friend to you.”
    â€œYou were—in the beginning,” Gracie pointed out. “I liked being your friend.”
    Liberty smiled. “I liked being your friend, too. It’s not easy to find someone who loves pink sequins as much as I do. Sorry again for trying to steal Clara away from you.”
    Marcus glanced at the clock on the back wall of the theater. “I don’t want to alarm anyone, but our curtain goes up in less than two hours and no one is in hair, makeup, or costume yet.” Everyone stood frozen, not knowing where to run first.
    Toni clapped her hands together. “Get moving!” she commanded. Like magic, all the dancers disappeared into their dressing rooms.
    â€œAnd that,” she told Marcus and Mr. Minnelli, “is how it’s done.”

Chapter 15
Curtains Up

    The Paramus Playhouse was only about a quarter full—there had been so many cancellations because of the snow. But Gracie was excited to see her mom and the other Diva parents all seated in the front row. Justine was there as well, studying the program and the list of understudies Mr. Minnelli had printed out for the evening.
    â€œI wish we had a full house for opening night,” Anya said, peeking through the curtain. “It’s like a ghost town out there.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter,” Scarlett assured her. “We’re performing for anyone who’s watching us—andwe have to do the best performance we can.” She looked at Gracie and Olivier, who were gearing up to go onstage.
    â€œWe’re right behind you,” she assured them.
    â€œI know,” Gracie said. “I’m not scared. I figure if Clara could