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numbers of the girls who are getting a call back. Scout’s number doesn’t get called and she looks heartbroken. She must have tried so hard.
    I have to speak to Miss Raine about Scout and chase after her when she leaves the studio. ‘Scout’s a natural,’ I tell her.
    ‘Scout?’ Miss Raine asks. They’re all just numbers to her.
    ‘Fourteen.’
    Miss Raine checks her list. ‘Right. She’s flexible but there are physical limitations.’
    ‘She just hasn’t been properly trained.’
    Miss Raine gives me one of her looks. ‘She also has a very bad attitude. That is something that can’t be fixed, as we both know.’
    Ouch.
    I have to do something about this. I may not be sure about wanting to be at the Academy, but the look on Scout’s face told me she really wants it.
    The next day I head down to the community centre to see if I can find Scout. Sure enough she’sthere practising the sequence of steps Miss Raine made them do in the audition. There’s no mirror and with no
barre
she’s using the side of a foosball table. That’s determination.
    ‘I could never get my leg that high at your age,’ I say.
    She stops for a moment and then continues, trying to ignore me.
    ‘Look, Scout. I know I really screwed up with those tickets and I’m sorry.’
    ‘It happens,’ she says without stopping.
    ‘You were as good as the girls that got a call back,’ I tell her.
    ‘Then why didn’t I get one?’
    ‘Well … you aren’t a prissy little Betty Bunhead stapled into her ballet shoes.’
    ‘I know I had the wrong clothes.’
    ‘You had a personality, that’s why,’ I say and finally get a bit of a smile from her.
    ‘I knew I wouldn’t get in,’ she says, turning around and trying another
grand battement.
‘I just wanted to see what it looked like inside.’
    She stands still, holding onto the side of the foosball table with both hands. I can tell she’s really upset about not getting in.
    ‘
Grand battements
have to look like you’re not even aware your leg’s up near your ear. And quiet, no banging down,’ I tell her.
    Scout shrugs her shoulders as if there’s no point any more.
    ‘You know what would really help?’ I say. ‘Practising in front of a mirror. In a proper studio.’
    ‘What’s the point?’
    ‘What if I got you another audition?’
    Scout looks at me and I know exactly what she’s thinking.
    ‘I won’t flake out on you again,’ I promise. ‘Come back to the Academy with me.’
    The studio’s empty so we go in to practise in front of the mirror.
    ‘See the line your foot is making,’ I say. ‘Watch in the mirror.’
    She scowls at me. ‘I am!’
    My heart jumps, I’m having a nanosecond of sympathy for Miss Raine and all the scowls she’s had from me. Scary. Suddenly Scout’s face lights up but it’s not for me. Christian has just walked in.
    ‘Have you come to help?’ I ask him.
    He pulls me away from Scout and asks what I’m doing.
    ‘She’s good,’ I say. ‘She deserves a second chance.’
    ‘And you’re the feral godmother who’s gonna give it to her?’
    ‘What’s your problem?’ I ask.
    Christian’s angry. ‘I’ve been the project, okay. I know what it’s like for people to come in and “help”. But what happens to that kid when you get bored?’
    He looks at me as if he knows exactly how I let down Scout and the other kids before. Then just as I’m thinking that we shouldn’t be building her hopes up, Scout thanks Christian for the soft ballet shoes she’s wearing. Turns out he found an old pair for her to use in her audition.
    ‘You were saying?’ I ask.
    We both decide to coach Scout through her
grand battements
and help her get the positions right. It’s hard work but she’s determined, flexible and a fast learner. She’s impressive. All we have to do now is get her into the call backs for the junior summer program.
    First off I realise she needs to look the part. I doubt anyone ever got into the summer program wearing a