Polly Plays Her Part

  About this book

  Why has Polly’s mum left her to go and live in sunny Spain? When will her new stepmum stop trying to be so nice all the time? What happens when she ignores Dad and goes on the friend2friend website? And, most importantly, can she learn her lines in time for Star Makers’ fab new production?

  A warm, witty story about fun and friendship at the Star Makers Drama Club – a special place where everyone has their moment to shine!

  For Callum and Freddy — my two brilliant boys!

  Contents

  1 A New Show

  2 Mum’s News

  3 First Session Back

  4 Marc or Marcia?

  5 Beanie-bear, Boo, to the Rescue

  6 What Would Scooby Doo?

  7 And the Part of Marcia Goes to…

  8 Telling Mum

  9 My Perfect Friend

  10 First Proper Rehearsal

  11 The Emerald Room

  12 Waltzing with Monty B

  13 Mandy Calls Dad

  14 The Ballroom Dance

  15 Hit and Run

  16 Diane to the Rescue

  17 A Night Round at Phoebe’s

  18 Too Late

  19 The Final Step!

  20 Convincing Mandy

  21 Dad Finds Out

  22 Playing My Part At Last

  A note from the author, Anne-Marie

  More sparkly Star Makers Club stories

  More Usborne fiction

  “My name is Polly and I’m here today, to say my name in a rapping way!”

  That’s one of the games we play at Star Makers – the drama club I go to on Saturdays. It’s called the rapping name-game and it’s really cool, but if I was playing it right now I’d change the words and say:

  “My name is Polly and I’m here tonight, sleeping at my dad’s and ready for a fight!”

  I didn’t want to sleep at Dad’s. But I didn’t want to sleep at Mum’s either. Maybe I could sleep somewhere in the middle, like at number 19. I swear no one believes me when I tell them that my mum and dad live only seven houses away from each other – Dad and Diane at number 11 and Mum at number 25. Seven houses – or fifteen giant strides – or forty-eight pigeon steps (where you put one foot down exactly in front of the other, heel touching toe).

  So I was sleeping round at Dad’s. Or not sleeping as the case may be. It was impossible to get to sleep because the stupid baby was crying. Dad’s new baby. Except he wasn’t crying any more, he was screaming. It was so loud, Mum could probably hear him down the road at hers.

  “Diane! I can’t find his dummy!” Dad hissed from their bedroom. “You know I’ll never settle him without his dummy.”

  I heard Diane get up and shuffle around the bed to the cot.

  “Hang on a sec, Simon, I’ll find it.”

  The screaming got louder. I could imagine the baby’s face screwed up like an old tissue.

  “Here it is, Jakey-boy,” said Diane, in her soppy talking to the baby voice. And the screaming stopped.

  “It’s like magic, you know,” said Dad, yawning. “It’s just like waving a magic wand.”

  I lay in bed for a bit longer, as the house grew quiet again, thinking about the magic wand I’d like to wave – the one that would get rid of Diane and Jakey-boy for good. After a bit, when I was sure Dad and Diane were asleep, I got up and turned on my new laptop. Dad bought me the laptop when he moved in here. It was supposed to make everything okay – leaving Mum, moving in with Diane, having a new baby. Like getting a new computer could make up for all of that!

  The screen glowed in the dark as I pulled on an old sweatshirt and sat down ready to tap in my secret password. There were all sorts of sites Dad had forbidden me from going on, particularly social networking sites, but I wasn’t that bothered about chatting to a bunch of strangers anyway. I searched around for a bit until I found this game called THWACKERS, where you have to eliminate the bad guys before they eliminate you. I played for ages and by the time I logged off my score was so high I was third on the leader board.

  “WELL DONE,” the computer flashed. “YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ELIMINATED ALL YOUR ENEMIES!”

  Diane was making pancakes when I went down in the morning. Dad had told her once that I love pancakes and ever since then she makes them whenever I stay over.

  “Morning, Polly,” said Dad. “You look shattered. I hope Jakey didn’t wake you. He couldn’t find his dummy.”

  Jake was propped up in his highchair. As soon as he saw me he started to bang his plastic spoon on the tray and then he flung it on the floor and reached his arms out. He does that whenever anyone walks in, so it’s not as if he was especially happy to see me or anything.

  “I’m going home to Mum’s straight after breakfast,” I said, sitting as far away from Jake and his sloppy breakfast as I could get. “She’s taking me out to get new school shoes.”

  Dad glanced at Diane. “She didn’t say anything about that,” he said, frowning. “We were going to go down to the park later. Jakey’s really looking forward to it, aren’t you, Jakey?” He put his face right into Jake’s and gave him a big slobbery kiss. Jake squealed in delight and banged his spoon even harder.

  “He’s only eight months old, Dad. I don’t think he understands stuff like, looking forward to things. And anyway, I’m too old to play in the park.”

  “He looks forward to seeing you, Polly,” said Diane, handing me a plate piled high with pancakes. “His eyes light up every time you walk in the room. You must’ve noticed. We all look forward to it,” she added. “Don’t we, Simon?” Dad nodded but he didn’t take his eyes off Jake, not for a second.

  Diane’s always saying nice things like that to try and get me to like her. Honestly, it’s desperate. She goes on and on about my green eyes as if they’re really special – and she says other stupid stuff like, “You’re lucky being so slim, Polly,” and, “Oh, I’d love to have black hair like yours, it’s so dramatic!” She’s really young – years younger than Mum – and she’s got this crazy idea that we’re going to end up best friends or something.

  “I don’t actually like pancakes any more,” I said, pushing my plate away. “Can I have some cereal?”

  Diane sighed and passed my pancakes across to Dad. I knew I was being stroppy but I didn’t care. I’m always stroppy round at Dad and Diane’s; looking for a fight, Dad says – but it’s not like I started it!

  I walked back home very slowly. Pigeon steps – heel to toe, heel to toe. I passed number 13, then 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23. All the odd numbers. Maybe if we lived on the other side of the road where all the numbers were even my life might be a bit more even. I mean, everyone knows how totally odd it is to fall in love with someone who lives in the same street as you.

  “Have you heard about Polly Carter’s dad?” all the neighbours were saying when it happened. “He’s only gone and moved in with Diane at number 11!”

  I hung about outside Mum’s for as long as I could. We weren’t really going to get new school shoes – I just couldn’t face spending the day with Dad and Diane. And I’m not too old to go to the park either; I’m only in Year Seven. It’s just that whenever we go anywhere together, me, Dad, Diane and the baby, I know people are staring at us and whispering behind their hands.

  “Poor Polly,” they’re probably saying. “Pushed aside to make way for The Great Baby Jake.”

  Suddenly the front door flew open and Mum came charging down the path.

  “Hey, watch it!” I yelled, jumping out of the way just in time.

  “Polly! What on earth are you doing here? You scared me half to death.”

  She was dressed up really smart in a dark-grey suit and high heels and she’d blow-dried her hair.

  “Yo
u’re supposed to be over at your dad’s, aren’t you? Oh never mind – listen, I can’t stop. Make yourself something for lunch and I’ll see you later.”

  She swept past me, her hair flying out behind her. I watched her all the way to the top of the road to see if she’d look back and wave or something, but she shot round the corner and disappeared. It was totally weird to see her all glammed up and rushing off so early in the morning. She’s hardly been out since Dad left. She spends most of the time cleaning the house; scrubbing away for hours on end. And I spend most of the time tiptoeing around her as quietly as I can – doing my best to keep out the way.

  It was almost the end of the Easter holidays and I felt as if I’d spent the whole break going up and down the road from Mum’s to Dad’s and back again. I let myself in and a massive ball of brown fur came hurtling down the stairs to greet me.

  “Hello, Cosmo,” I said, picking up my long-haired tabby cat. “At least you’re pleased to see me.” Cosmo snuggled into my arms and we walked down the hall towards the kitchen.

  I stopped dead in the doorway, staring. The kitchen was a total mess. I’d only been gone for one night but it looked as if Mum hadn’t cleared up for a year. There were plates piled up everywhere with bits of dried food and empty wine glasses all over the place. There was even a half-full bottle of champagne. I didn’t remember her saying anything about a party, but it looked as if she’d had loads of people round. I’d never seen the kitchen in such a state.

  I set about clearing up. Mum would only have a go if I left it. I spent ages sorting out the glasses and stacking all the dishes in the sink. I was just about to start washing up when the doorbell rang. I thought it might be Mum for a minute – that maybe she’d forgotten her keys – but it was the postman.

  “Hello, love. Sign for this would you, pet?”

  He thrust an important-looking letter at me addressed to Mum. I scribbled my name where he pointed and went back inside. I had a quick look through the rest of the mail and saw there was one letter for me – the letter I’d been waiting for all holiday! I left Mum’s post by the front door and sat down with Cosmo at the bottom of the stairs to open mine.

  It was from Mandy Howell, my Year Seven form teacher, who runs Star Makers. She’d promised she was going to write to us while we were off school, but the days had trickled by with no sign of a letter. It was such a relief to see her funky handwriting on the envelope, full of twirls and curls. There were two sheets of paper inside; one addressed to Mum with all the boring details and one addressed to me. I read my one out loud to Cosmo.

  Star Makers Drama Club

  Dear Polly,

  I hope you’re having a fab holiday eating your way through a huge pile of Easter eggs! We’ve got a really exciting term coming up at Star Makers because it’s time for a brand-new show!

  Ever wondered what it would be like to be trapped inside your own computer with only a bunch of nasty viruses for company? Well you’re about to find out when we start our new musical, CRASH!

  There are loads of great parts, brilliant songs and dances, and we’ll also be making some fantastic costumes and props.

  Term starts next Saturday, 15th April. Same time – same place.

  Look forward to seeing you there!

  Mandy xxx

  “You’d never get trapped inside a computer, would you?” I said to Cosmo, smiling for the first time in days. “You wouldn’t fit for a start.” I couldn’t wait to get back to Star Makers. Something to look forward to at last!

  Cosmo leaped off my lap suddenly as my phone began to vibrate in my jeans pocket. It was my new friend, Phoebe. I say new friend because Phoebe and I didn’t get on at all when we first joined Star Makers. I was really jealous of her for some reason and it made me act like a total idiot. We kind of sorted things out at the end of last term and since then we’ve chatted on the phone a few times.

  “Hi, Polly. Have you had your Star Makers’ letter yet?”

  “It’s literally arrived this minute. I can’t wait to get started.”

  “Me neither. It sounds brilliant, doesn’t it? Hey, I wonder what colour Mandy’s hair will be?”

  “Well last time we saw her it was bright purple, wasn’t it?”

  “With yellow tips, don’t forget,” said Phoebe. “Listen, do you want to meet up later? My little sister’s trying to compose a song on her recorder and if I don’t get out soon I’ll end up strangling her or something!”

  “I’m sure it’s not as bad as all that,” I said, giggling. I couldn’t believe she was being so friendly and that she actually wanted to see me.

  We arranged to meet up after lunch and I carried on clearing up the kitchen, thinking about the new show and how great it was that Phoebe had rung and how I couldn’t wait for next Saturday.

  I’d just about finished when I heard Mum come in.

  “We’re starting a new show at drama,” I called out, rushing from the kitchen to meet her at the door. “Look! I’ve had a letter from Mandy and it sounds brilliant; it’s all about computers and…”

  The second I saw Mum’s face I stopped. She was flushed and she looked weird, like she was excited about something but it was too secret to tell. She was holding the letter I’d signed for; clutching it to her chest like it was incredibly precious.

  “What’s the matter, Mum? Where have you been?”

  She stared at me for the longest time. “Come and sit down, Polly,” she said, finally. “I’ve got something to tell you.”

  “I’m just doing the dishes,” I muttered, scooting back into the kitchen. I had no idea what Mum was going to say, but I could tell it was serious. “I’ve tidied up for you, look,” I called out behind me.

  Mum followed me in and pulled me away from the sink. “Never mind about that now, silly,” she said. “I’ve got something really important to tell you. Come on, sit down here.” She practically pushed me into a chair and sat down opposite. “I’m sorry about this morning, rushing off like that. I know I left the kitchen in a state but—”

  “No, it’s fine,” I said, quickly. “It’s great to see you all dressed up and busy and I’ve tidied everything away so don’t worry. I was just going to tell you about drama and—”

  “Polly, stop interrupting and just listen for a minute, will you?” Mum took my hands across the table and held them tight. “Now I know this is totally out of the blue, but the thing is, Pol…” She took a deep breath. “I’ve been offered a job.”

  “Well that’s good, isn’t it?” I said, even though I could tell it wasn’t just by the way she was looking at me.

  “Well, yes it is good, sweetheart. But you see it’s not exactly a local job.” She sort of laughed and then stopped suddenly.

  “What do you mean? Where is it then?”

  “Look, I don’t want you getting yourself all upset, but the problem is it’s not actually in England. It’s…erm…quite far away you see…in Spain.” Then she carried on, speaking really fast. “But it’s only for a year, and it’ll go in a flash. A year really isn’t even that long when you think about it. I mean it’s only twelve months. I actually found out yesterday when you were at your dad’s – that’s why the kitchen was in such a state, because Tracy and some of the girls came round to celebrate and…”

  She went on and on about how she was going to be selling holiday homes to British tourists, and how she’d been on a course run by the company, and about how it was such a fantastic opportunity, but I stopped listening. I just sat there and watched her mouth move. Spain! My mum was taking me to Spain; taking me away from all my friends and from school and from drama. Drama! What about the new show? I was supposed to be meeting up with Phoebe. I was…

  I pulled my hands away from her. “I’m not going!” I shouted. “I don’t care what you say, you can’t make me. It’s not fair, I don’t want to go to Spain. You can’t just come home and say, We’re going to Spain.” The last thing I wanted was to start over somewhere new where I didn’t know anyone and
I didn’t even speak the stupid language.

  “Calm down, Polly! You’re not going to Spain, silly. You’re not going anywhere, not really. Look, I haven’t discussed it with your dad yet, but you know how I feel. I can’t stay here right now, not with Diane parading the baby about every five minutes. You do understand, don’t you, love?”

  She pulled a tissue out of her pocket and started to dab at her eyes. I knew it had been awful for Mum since Dad left to live with Diane. How embarrassed she was about it all happening on the street, played out like some dreadful soap opera for all the neighbours to gawp at. But I still didn’t get what she meant about me not going to Spain, about me not going anywhere really…and then I caught on.

  “You think I’m going to live with Dad and Diane, don’t you?” I leaped up. “You think you’re going to swan off to Spain for a year and dump me with Dad and Diane and the baby. You don’t care about me at all!”

  I tore out the room and up the stairs.

  “No one cares about me!” I screamed down to her, and then I burst out crying.

  Mum came running after me and we sat on my bed talking for ages. She tried to explain how the break would be good for all of us, but I just didn’t get it. If the choice was between going to Spain with Mum or moving in with Dad and Diane I know what I’d choose every time.

  “But, Polly, you’re always saying you want to see your dad more,” Mum said, stroking my hair and trying not to cry. “I know you didn’t mean you wanted to move in there exactly, but it will be great for you to spend some proper time with him – and with your new baby brother. And what about drama and all your friends? You love going to Star Makers. You look forward to it all week.”

  I tried to take in what she was saying. Okay, maybe it would be good for her to get away – but not from me. And maybe it would be good to spend more time with Dad – but definitely not with Diane and Jake.

  We were still going round in circles when Phoebe called back to say she couldn’t come over after all. Her mum had popped out somewhere and she had to stay in with her little sister, Sara. She couldn’t believe it when I told her what was going on.