Rhythm and Blues Read Online Free PDF Page A

me more crosses than ticks.
    I loaded the special Silver Shoes paper into the printer, taking great care to make sure they were all lined up exactly.
    Then, while I waited for the next exam sheet to print, I carefully arranged and clipped everything together, taking note of the exam groups while I did so.
    Exams were ordered alphabetically, with four people to a group. Because Ellie’s last name is Irvin and Ashley’s is Jenkyns, they were in the same group for all the classes they were in together. I knew they would be happy about that – it’s always nice to know you’ve got a friend with you.
    In my exams – ballet, jazz and lyrical – I was with Paige, because our last names, Montreal and Nason, were close together. Usually I like being with Paige because she gets so nervous and I think having me there is comforting to her. But I knew I would be frazzled this time around, and I didn’t want to let her down. I couldn’t be strong for others if I couldn’t even be strong for myself.
    I felt very official walking out of the office with the papers stacked under my arm. After I dropped off the extra copies to reception, I headed down to technique class, which was just starting.
    â€˜Here you are, Miss Caroline,’ I whispered to her.
    She looked down at me and stopped the girls in the middle of their tendu practice. ‘Thank you very much,’ she said to me before turning to the class. ‘Girls, for the next couple of weeks Riley is going to be my personal assistant.’
    I held my head high and tried to stand very straight, which was a bit difficult while leaning on a crutch.
    â€˜I’m sure you’ll all agree that there couldn’t be a better person for the job. And I know you won’t slack off with her either, or she’ll pass that information straight on to me, won’t you, Riley?’
    â€˜Yes, I will,’ I said very seriously, as I looked out at the girls who were to be my sort-of students for the next few weeks.
    Most of them seemed pretty unconcerned about it. A few even looked happy, like Paige, who gave me a big grin, and Ashley, who flashed me the thumbs-up.
    Some looked unimpressed, though.
    â€˜I’m not learning exams under some peg-legged pirate,’ I heard Jasmine whisper to Tove.
    I gave her my coolest look. My new-found role was very important to me. If any girls thought they could make trouble, they’d better watch out.

Chapter Ten
    â€˜The next four are Jessica front right, Paige front left, Serah back right, and Riley – uh, me – behind Paige.’ I paused. ‘Well, imaginary Riley. Let’s go.’
    I sat in a high-backed chair to the side of the studio, pleased with how strong and authoritative my voice sounded. Miss Caroline had decided we’d spend the last half of technical class going over whatever exams we wanted.
    If you do jazz or lyrical or ballet, you have to take a technical class to work on – you guessed it – technique. Mostly everyone was in jazz and lyrical, so we’d already practised jazz, where I’d begun to find my feet as Miss Caroline’s personal assistant. Now I was really in the swing of things. We were onto lyrical, taking turns to do a mock exam in our groups of four. Those who weren’t doing the mock exam were meant to be off at the sides, practising other exams, or stretching.
    Twice I’d had to tell off Violet for tapping too loud, even in bare feet. Now there was a stink of irritation floating towards me from her general direction. I ignored it. I was just doing my job, after all.
    Lyrical jazz is also known as neo-classical – it’s a very soft, storytelling fusion of jazz, ballet and contemporary dance. It can get quite technical, but really it’s about telling a storywith your body, through the song. You have to sell the emotion.
    So, like I said, lyrical was the exam I was most worried about.