Free Olivia Plays Her Part by Holly Bell Page B

squeaky. ‘Lily will be great.’
    ‘What role did you get?’ asked Kate.

    The six girls scanned the list. Olivia’s tummy did a weird flopping thing. Her name wasn’t anywhere.
    ‘Here you are,’ said Abbey, finally.
    The girls looked to another list where Abbey was pointing, and there was Olivia’s name. But it wasn’t on the cast list. It was beside the title ‘Backstage Manager’ .
    ‘Backstage?’ Emma said, frowning.
    ‘That’s weird,’ said Matilda.
    Olivia couldn’t have agreed more. Why would Miss Hibbert give her that job? Olivia had never done backstage work, ever!
    It doesn’t make sense , Olivia thought.
    ‘I’m doing props,’ said Maddie, reading the list. ‘So we can hang out backstage together, Olivia.’
    ‘Cool,’ said Olivia, half-heartedly.
    ‘Maybe you should ask Miss Hibbert why she put you backstage?’ suggested Emma gently.
    ‘No,’ Olivia said quietly. ‘I don’t want to ask her.’
    ‘I’m really sorry, Olivia,’ said Abbey. ‘It’s not fair.’
    ‘It’s okay. I’m really happy for you, Abbey,’ Olivia said. ‘You’ll be an awesome Wicked Witch.’
    Abbey looked so sad that Olivia’s heart went out to her. She knew Abbey didn’t want to show how excited she was when Olivia was so upset.
    ‘I’d better go,’ Olivia said. ‘Mum’s picking me up for gymnastics.’
    She hurried away before her friends could see the tears in her eyes.

Gymnastics training nights were usually Olivia’s favourite times of the week, but she was finding it hard to concentrate. I don’t understand , she thought as she attempted a lunge cartwheel. Why would Miss Hibbert put me behind the stage instead of on it?
    ‘Hey, Olivia, are you okay?’

    Olivia’s teammate, Sasha, was standing with a concerned look on her face.
    ‘You seem worried,’ she said gently. ‘Is everything all right?’
    Just hearing the kindness in Sasha’s voice was almost enough to make Olivia burst into tears right there on the mat.
    ‘I’m fine,’ Olivia said as brightly as she could. ‘It’s just my concentrating face.’
    Olivia didn’t want Sasha to know that she was upset about being put backstage instead of playing the lead role. It might have sounded a bit whiny.
    ‘Oh, I do that,’ said Sasha with a grin. ‘My dad says it looks like I’m grumpy, but really I’m just going over a split jump in my head.’
    Olivia laughed and her spirits rose.
    ‘Should we practise our wolf kicks?’ Sasha said. ‘I need a bit of help with mine.’
    ‘Sure,’ said Olivia.
    Olivia got into position and began demonstrating her wolf kicks along the outer edge of the mat, with Sasha following behind her.
    ‘Fantastic, Olivia,’ Trish called out from the other side of the room. ‘Those kicks are perfect! Well done!’
    Olivia felt a warm, happy glow rush through her as she turned to smile at her coach. It felt so good to hear someone tell her she was doing something well, especially today.
    I’m going to forget all about the play and focus on my gymnastics , Olivia thought.

    But the next morning at breakfast Olivia found herself thinking again about being backstage instead of on it, and her spirits sank back down to the floor.
    ‘Are you going to the clubhouse this weekend?’ asked Alice as she slurped the last of her cereal. ‘Can I come? Pleeeease?’
    Alice was Olivia’s six-year-old sister and she desperately wanted to be part of the Forever Clover Club. Usually Olivia tried to be patient as she explained that the club was only for bigger girls, but she was in no mood to put up with her sister’s whining this morning.
    ‘No,’ Olivia said. ‘I’ve told you, Alice, little sisters aren’t allowed.’
    ‘You’re mean!’ Alice shouted.
    ‘Okay, Alice,’ Olivia’s mum said as she walked into the kitchen. ‘Go and brush your teeth please.’
    Alice stomped out of the room.
    ‘Is everything all right, Olivia?’ her mum asked. ‘You haven’t been yourself since you came home from