Phoebe Finds Her Voice Read Online Free PDF

Barney’s ears. “You know Barney doesn’t like it.”
    Mum turned back to the sink, but not before I saw her eyes fill with tears. She did it every few weeks, laid the table for four instead of three. It was for Dad. She laid it for my dad. And every time she did, I felt as if someone had punched me really hard.
    The extra place wasn’t mentioned again, but Mum barely looked at me all through tea and I couldn’t wait to get back upstairs. I wasn’t sure about the Razzle Dazzle Smile – I didn’t really feel like smiling – but there was nothing to stop me practising Sabine’s song. I knew I couldn’t get Mum to be happy, or get my dad to be normal again, or get Polly Carter to leave me alone. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t get the part of Sabine.

I practised Sabine’s song every spare minute. I practised it in my room and in the bath and on the way to school in my head. I practised it so much I began to think I was Sabine, living in that dreary Dream Factory with her cruel parents. Ellie and Sam had practised loads as well and they both sounded brilliant, especially Sam.
    â€œI just really hope I’m brave enough to audition,” said Ellie at school on Wednesday. We were in the playground at lunchtime talking about Star Makers and the auditions and about how much all three of us were dying to be Sabine.
    â€œI don’t know what you’re so scared about, Ellie,” said Sam. “I can’t wait until Saturday. I could give you some tips if you like.” She jumped up in front of us. “First of all you have to stand with your legs apart and your shoulders back like this, and it’s really important that you don’t fidget.”
    â€œBut you know what I’m like,” moaned Ellie. “I can’t keep still for more than two seconds.”
    â€œWell, you’ll have to practise,” said Sam. “The other thing to remember is to make eye contact with Miss Howell and to show her that you really understand the meaning of the song. Like, it’s no use looking happy if the song is sad like Sabine’s song is.”
    I thought about Donny and his Razzle Dazzle Smile but I didn’t say anything.
    â€œOh yeah, and you have to open your mouth properly. That’s mega. If you don’t open your mouth really wide you won’t make a loud enough sound even if you’ve got a good voice.”
    Sam always had her mouth wide open, so I was sure that wouldn’t be too much of a problem for her.
    â€œBut listen, Ellie, if you’re too scared to try out for a main part,” she went on, “why don’t you audition to be one of the Sweet-Dreamers? You always have the weirdest dreams anyway, so that part would be perfect for you.”
    â€œI actually had the weirdest dream ever last night,” said Ellie. “I was standing on the stage about to audition for the show when this dinosaur burst in to the room and gobbled everyone up except for me and Miss Howell. It was a T. Rex, I think. The funny thing was, Miss Howell didn’t seem to be upset or shocked or anything. She just said, “Oh, well done, Ellie. I guess that means you’re going to be Sabine.”
    Sam snorted. “I’d carry on practising if I were you,” she said. “I don’t think there’s much chance of a dinosaur turning up on Saturday. How about you, Phoebe? Are you ready to audition?”
    â€œPhoebe’s got a brilliant voice,” said Ellie. “You should hear her, Sam.”
    But just then Sam went charging off across the playground after some Year Nine boy she fancies and I was left wondering if she ever would hear me sing – or if I’d be too scared when it got to Saturday.
    The next day, Dad and Sara came to pick me up from school. Mum had some bridesmaids’ dresses to finish, so we were going over to Dad’s for tea. They were waiting for me outside the gates,