The Farm Beneath the Water Read Online Free PDF Page A

choice.”
    “So Priya’s the prince,” said Lottie. “And Katy Jones is Lady Capulet.”
    “Who’s Katy Jones?” asked Hannah.
    “In Year 9. You know, really tall, with long dark hair. Goes around with Marie.”
    “Who’s Marie?”
    “She’s playing Juliet’s nurse. Quite small, withfuzzy blonde hair. Really blonde.”
    “Oh, yes, I know who you mean.” Hannah looked at the board again. “So you’re Tybalt,” she said to Jonah.
    “I have totally got the best part,” said Jonah.
    Ben grinned at him. “But I get to kill you, remember?”
    “Hmm. We might have to change that bit of the script.”
    Miss Summers, who had been talking to a group of Kipling students, turned and smiled at them.
    “Good morning, miss,” Jack said, with suspicious politeness. “Could I have a word about this cast list?”
    Miss Summers looked wary. “You can have a word. But the list is final and I’m not going to discuss any casting decisions.”
    “No, of course not, miss,” said Jack. “I’m just a bit concerned, that’s all.”
    “Concerned?”
    “Yes. About how the casting blatantly contravenes equal opportunities legislation.”
    Hannah stared at Jack.
    Miss Summers raised her eyebrows. “I beg your pardon?”
    “I mean, this is meant to be a school, isn’t it? An educational establishment where all pupils are given equal opportunities. People with incontinent pigs and people without.”
    Hannah’s cheeks burned. Would people never stop going on about that pig?
    But Jack continued. “Just because a piglet happened to relieve itself on Roberts in the audition – which I agree was unfortunate – she’s been totally victimised. She doesn’t even get a speaking part. I call that blatant anti-piggist discrimination.”
    Miss Summers looked as though she was trying not to smile. Suddenly Hannah felt angry. It was unfair that the pig had messed up her audition. There was nothing remotely amusing about it.
    The bell rang for registration.
    “Off you go, all of you,” said Miss Summers. “And thank you for pointing that out to me, Jack. I’ll check the anti-discrimination laws.”
    Oh, ha ha, thought Hannah. Hilarious.
    Miss Summers walked off up the corridor. Hannah turned to Jack.
    “Will you ever stop going on about that pig?”
    “Hey, what are you getting at me for? I was sticking up for you. You wait. She’ll check those anti-piggist laws and then she’ll have to sack Miranda and make you Juliet.”
    Hannah rolled her eyes. “Let’s go, Lottie.”
    But Lottie had drifted back to the notice board.
    “I dunno, mate,” Jonah said to Jack. “It might all backfire. I reckon she’ll make the pig Juliet.”
    Hannah’s frustrations boiled over. She wheeled around and glared at the boys.
    “WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP ABOUT THAT BLASTED PIG!”
    The door of the Head’s office opened. Mr Collins appeared in the doorway. When he saw Hannah, hiseyebrows shot up.
    There was a long pause during which he kept his eyebrows raised and his eyes locked on Hannah.
    “Sorry, sir,” Hannah muttered eventually.
    Mr Collins raised his eyebrows even further. Then he turned round, walked back into his office and shut the door behind him.
    Hannah turned on Jonah and Jack.
    “Oh, thanks very much, you two. Thanks a whole bunch.”
    “What?” said Jack, with his most wide-eyed, innocent look. “It wasn’t us screaming abuse in the corridor.”
    “Look,” said Lottie, pointing to the small print at the bottom of the cast list. “There’s a meeting for the whole cast tomorrow lunchtime, plus anyone who wants to be involved backstage.”
    “That’s great,” said Hannah, trying to feel properly excited for her friend. “You’ll get to be costume designer for the whole show.”
    “If she lets me.”
    “Of course she’ll let you. You’re brilliant.”
    “So do we all have to go to this meeting tomorrow?” asked Jonah, as they wandered up the corridor to their form rooms.
    “Yes, you do,” said Miss Summers,