Read Online Lucky Break #6 by Cindy Jefferies - Free Book Online Page B

music. So why not a few minutes of dance? If Mr. Penardos thought it was interesting enough, Marmalade was sure he’d put it forward for consideration.
    There were two more principal’s assemblies before the end of the semester. If he could come up with a really good theme for Jack’s dance, maybe they would have a chance of Jack performing for the whole school. Marmalade pulled his crutches toward him and got up. He was too excited to sit still any longer. A germ of an idea had occurred to him. It would take a lot of work, and there wasn’t much time, but Marmalade was sure they could do it.
    He headed back to the main dorm as quickly as he could. With luck, everyone would be having dinner by now. The gravel crunched under his crutches as Marmalade swung along, eager to find Jack and tell him about his plan. He negotiated the couple of steps up into the main dorm, and made his way down the hallway to the dining hall. Just then, Jack and Ravi came out and headed off toward their dorm. They must have finished dinner already. Marmalade leaned heavily on his crutches to get his breath back.
    â€œJack!” he yelled. “Wait!”
    The two boys stopped, turned around, and waited while Marmalade hurried toward them.
    â€œWhat’s up?” asked Jack when Marmalade joined them.
    â€œNothing,” Marmalade told him with a grin. “I’ve just had an awesome idea for your dance routine. I think you’ll like it, and if you do, I know it could be more than simply an exercise for you to dance in class.”
    â€œCould it?” Jack said. “How? What’s your idea?”
    Marmalade tapped his nose. “For your ears only,” he said mysteriously. “I’ll tell you after I’ve had my dinner.”

13. A Dance for Jack
    It was two weeks before the end of the semester, and the whole school was gathered in the theater for the principal’s assembly. The oldest students had already taken their final exams and would be leaving today. Some were hoping to go on to music college or a university, while others already had jobs lined up in the music industry.
    Younger students like Marmalade and Danny, sitting together near the front, were already looking forward to the long summer vacation as a time to relax for a while. But before that, there were still two weeks of school to get through. Each student chosen to perform at the Rising Stars Concert would need every day of those two weeks to prepare. Everyone was in a fever to know who the students were going to be and today was the day they’d find out!
    First, everyone had to sit through lots of tedious but important announcements. At last Mrs. Sharkey, the principal, came to the most eagerly awaited moment of the assembly.
    â€œAnd so to the Rising Stars Concert,” said Mrs. Sharkey, knowing full well how impatient everyone was to know who had been chosen. “The staff has looked carefully at everyone’s progress throughout the year, during class work as well as performances at the school concerts. We try to have as wide a range of acts and ages as possible, but because the concert is only a half-hour program, the numbers are very restricted. This means that the majority of students chosen are bound to be seniors.” She paused, and every single student waited, breathless with excitement and anticipation. Then she started reading out the names of those chosen, and at each announcement knots of students here and there clapped for their friends. After reading out five or six names, Mrs. Sharkey paused.
    â€œWe also have a few outstanding younger students,” she said. “And some of them have also earned themselves places in the concert. Rosie Masters will play her latest piece on piano.” Her friends cheered, and Rosie beamed. “George Guinness will play guitar.” A roar went up from another part of the theater. “Danny James has been chosen to play drums and Chloe Tompkins will