Read Annabel's Starring Role for Free Online Page B

really fun, and they were overacting massively, so Annabel played up to them – it was so much easier when there was someone else to act with!
    â€œWhat did you think?” she asked Saima anxiously as soon as she came back into the main hall. “Was I OK? Tell me!”
    â€œDefinitely,” said Saima firmly. “You were fab. A lot better than Her Majesty over there, so don’t let her get to you, all right?”
    The rest of the rehearsal went really well, Annabel thought. Ms Loftus did look a bit panicked in some places, but she was still just about smiling by the time she called a halt. Annabel was feeling so upbeat by then that she went a bit overboard when Ms Loftus reminded them about volunteers for backstage crew and set and costumes.
    Saima watched in surprise as Annabel merrily added her entire family to the various lists – Katie to work backstage, Becky to paint the set, her mum to make costumes. Miss Davies looked over Annabel’s shoulder as she scrawled Mrs Ryan’s name on her list.
    â€œOh good. Is your mum good at sewing, Annabel? I was hoping someone would volunteer to make your ballgown – I’ve got an awful lot of costumes to make, and the dress pattern I’ve got isn’t difficult, but it’s going to take a bit of time, it’s quite fancy.”
    Quite fancy? Annabel shivered delightedly. She wanted it as fancy as possible. “I’m sure she could make it, Miss Davies. She likes sewing.”
    Miss Davies lost no time in loading Annabel down with the pattern and the fabric – gorgeous silvery-lilac stuff, with sparkly bits, which had Annabel looking like a Cheshire cat, and Saima just the teensiest bit jealous.
    Miss Davies caught the look, though, and grinned at her. “Don’t worry, Saima, you’ve got something along the same lines but in gold – you’ll look lovely.”
    Â 
    Saima and Annabel walked home in a blissful silence, imagining their beautiful dresses. Shortly before they got to the Ryans’ house, Saima woke up enough to say, “I didn’t know your mum liked sewing.”
    â€œOh, she does.” Annabel nodded happily. This was perfectly true, but when Annabel got home and broke the news of her mother’s new role, Mrs Ryan looked horrified.
    â€œOh, Annabel, why?” she wailed. “I’ve got loads of work on at the moment, you really should have asked me first.”
    Annabel looked hurt. “But you like sewing. I thought you’d want to make my ballgown.”
    Mrs Ryan looked at Annabel’s hurt face, all huge blue eyes, and backtracked. “Sweetheart, I do want to, it’s just that this looks like a really complicated dress to make. I don’t want to spoil it for you.” She sighed, took a big gulp of coffee, and looked back down at the pattern instructions. “Well, I can try, I suppose. These things always look worse than they really are. But honestly, what on earth’s that bit?” She stabbed a finger worriedly at a small piece that looked as though it really couldn’t fit anywhere on a dress.
    Katie and Becky, who’d been watching, peered over at the pattern.
    â€œTwenty-six – waistband reinforcement panel. It’s for when Annabel gets fat,” giggled Katie.
    Annabel looked speculatively at her. “You’re helping too, you know.”
    â€œWhat? I’m not making dresses, Bel, you know I’m no good at sewing.”
    â€œI put you down for helping backstage. I thought you’d like that. Lights and stuff – you know.” Annabel waved a hand airily.
    â€œOh, great! And what’s Becky? Your personal slave?”
    Annabel smiled at Becky. “I said you’d help paint scenery. That’s OK, isn’t it? You like art, and you like Mrs Cranmer – she’s organizing it.”
    Becky looked pleased – unlike Katie, she wasn’t bothered by Annabel arranging stuff for her, as