And All That Jazz Read Online Free PDF Page B

it is, I keep all my costumes shoved to one side of my wardrobe and Mum always complains that there’s not enough room for my school blazers. Priorities, Mum.
    We were all piled around the costume room on Thursday, waiting for our turn to be fitted. I poked my head inside and there were measuring tapes and sequins and hair ribbons flying everywhere. Paige’s mum was in there with pins in her mouth. She looked extremely happy – Paige is lucky, Mrs Montreal really loves helping out at Silver Shoes.
    â€˜Looks pretty crazy in there,’ said Ashley, peering around me.
    â€˜Yep,’ I said.
    â€˜So different from Dance Art,’ she said. ‘We used to have set appointments where we would come in and get fitted.’
    â€˜Well, why don’t you go back there if you miss it so much,’ I said.
    â€˜I didn’t say I liked it,’ said Ashley. She stepped back and tightened the ribbon in her hair. ‘It’s nice here. I’m really enjoying the classes.’
    â€˜Your turn, Ellie,’ said Mrs Montreal.
    â€˜That’s nice,’ I said to Ashley. I left her standing at the door. I felt a bit bad, but her new best friend Riley would probably come along soon.
    â€˜I don’t want purple,’ Jasmine was saying to her mum, who was also in charge of making the group costumes for our age group. Mrs de Lacy was holding a purple dress with the most fantastic layers of creamy tulle.
    â€˜But it goes with your royal personality,’ I said to Jasmine. Royally snobby , I added to myself.
    â€˜You’ve got pink, Ellie,’ said Mrs Montreal, wrapping the measuring tape around my waist.
    â€˜My favourite!’ I exclaimed. ‘Thank you!’
    Pink is my favourite colour. I saw Jasmine eyeing off my dress and knew what was coming.
    â€˜Can I have the pink this time?’ Jasmine asked. ‘Ellie always gets pink.’
    â€˜That’s a good idea,’ said Mrs de Lacy.
    â€˜Oh no, it’s already done now,’ said Mrs Montreal. ‘Stand up straight, Elle-belle, so I can see where to take it in.’
    â€˜It would be a nice change,’ said Mrs de Lacy. ‘Eleanor does always get to wear pink. Wouldn’t you like to be different for once, Eleanor?’
    â€˜I like pink,’ I said. ‘It makes me dance better.’
    â€˜Nonsense,’ said Mrs de Lacy.
    â€˜Oh, let Ellie have the pink dress,’ Mrs Montreal said. ‘It isn’t hurting anyone.’
    â€˜I don’t want purple!’ Jasmine whined. ‘It makes me look like a grape!’
    The two mothers stood at either end of the costume room, tulle in their hands. It was like the great dressing room showdown. And there was no way I was going to give up that pink.
    â€˜Mum’s already made pink hair accessories,’ I said, ‘so I have to wear the pink or it won’t match.’ Mum hadn’t done any such thing.
    â€˜There are hundreds of purple hair accessories around here,’ said Jasmine, pointing to the overstuffed boxes. ‘I’m sure you could find something if we swapped.’
    â€˜I don’t want to swap,’ I said. ‘Mum’s already made stuff. It would be rude if I didn’t use it.’ I was getting upset. The past few weeks had been hard and I didn’t need Jasmine being sulky about what colour dress she got to wear. Besides, everyone knows I always wear pink. It’s my thing.
    Luckily Ashley walked in then. ‘I’ll wear the purple dress if you like,’ she told Jasmine.‘My dress is blue. I heard you say that was your favourite colour the other week. I don’t mind swapping.’
    Jasmine stared at Ashley. Jasmine’s mum stared at Ashley. Ashley grinned at me. I flashed her a small smile but then I quickly looked away.
    â€˜This dress was too big for me anyway,’ Ashley said, holding out the blue dress. ‘But it would look great on you, Jasmine, because