Read Online Annabel's Starring Role by Holly Webb - Free Book Online Page B

about first, if you’ve got stuff it’s OK to play in.”
    Katie was into her bag and into the bathroom and out again changed in about thirty seconds. Mark looked a bit gobsmacked.
    â€œI’ll take that as a yes then. Come on.”
    When they returned a couple of hours later the others were looking triumphant. All the pattern pieces had been cut out on the fabric and marked up, and they’d started tacking the different parts of the dress together. Annabel was standing on the coffee table wearing it while Mum and Auntie Janet crawled round her with mouthfuls of pins.
    â€œIs it meant to look like that?” Katie asked doubtfully.
    The dress wasn’t immediately saying magical ballgown to her  –there were too many ends sticking out.
    Annabel rolled her eyes. “It’s inside out, dimwit.”
    â€œOh, OK. Well it’s very nice then.”
    The exercise (and the admiring comments from Mark’s mates about her ball skills) had left Katie feeling much more relaxed. She joined Becky on the sofa with a football magazine and a sandwich, and listened to Becky testing Annabel on her lines.
    â€œâ€˜Oh, Your Highness’ – that’s when we kiss, Auntie Jan! Josh is so good-looking, you wouldn’t believe. Will you come and see the play? Pleeeease?”
    â€œMmmmpf.” Auntie Jan couldn’t speak for pins, but she was nodding.
    â€œCool. It’s going to be really good, the whole thing. Katie and Becky are helping too, you know.”
    â€œLike we had a choice,” Katie muttered.
    By the time they had to head back to the station to go home the dress was nearly finished – it was just the final details like the hemming and adding some ribbon rosebuds that Annabel had bought the day before, dithering over shades of purple ribbon until Katie and Becky had seriously considered trying to set off the fire alarm in the fabric shop.
    â€œSee you in a few weeks!” Annabel said happily as the triplets hugged Auntie Jan goodbye on the doorstep.
    â€œDefinitely – after all my hard work I have to see you in that dress. Bye! See you soon!”
    Â 
    On Monday after school Annabel dragged Katie and Becky along to the meeting to find out what they could do to help with the play. Luckily for Annabel, Fran and Megan were keen to help too, so no one noticed that she’d volunteered them anyway. When David found out from Becky that they were all going to be helping, probably in lunch hours, he said he’d like to join in too, so it was a biggish group that trooped into the hall that afternoon.
    â€œOh look, Annabel’s brought her fan club!” Amy said snidely as they passed her.
    â€œLeast I’ve got one!” chirped Annabel cheerfully. She was looking forward to Ms Loftus seeing the workforce she’d found.
    The Drama teacher was gratifyingly pleased, and Annabel preened happily. Becky, David and Fran went off to the art studio with Mrs Cranmer to discuss the sets, and Katie and Megan reported rather nervously to Mr Hatton.
    Fortunately, he was in a good mood for once. “Any idea what you’d like to do? Lighting? Sound? Stagehands? We need a prompt, too.”
    All the others in the group were boys, and they seemed keen on the technical bits like lighting. Katie thought that would be quite fun, but when Mr Hatton mentioned prompting she jumped at the chance – she’d been enjoying testing Annabel on her words, and she liked the idea of being the one to rescue anybody who dried up onstage. After a whispered discussion with Megan, who thought it sounded OK, she volunteered them both.
    â€œExcellent. Assistant Stage Managers, both of you. That means prompting, cuing the stage effects, making sure the actors are in the right place, that kind of thing. We’ll get you some runners for the performance as well, so you can send them to chase the actors up.”
    â€œBecky and Fran and David might do that,”