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asked everyone to put their bedding in piles to help the housekeeping staff. “I’ll do yours as well, if you want,” she offered to Tara.
    â€œThanks!” said Tara, looking very surprised. “That would be great.”
    Chloe was glad to have something to do. It was horrible watching everyone get ready for the concert. She couldn’t stop herself from being jealous, however hard she tried, so helping out was a way of making herself feel less guilty.
    She had asked her parents to come after the concert was over. It was going to be hard enough sitting in the audience watching all her friends perform, without her parents feeling sorry for her as well. The last thing she wanted was to cry, and she was afraid she might if they were with her.
    Chloe took her recent recording out of a drawer and put it on top of her bag so she could show her parents when they arrived. That was one really good thing that had happened. She would be able to say that she had achieved something even if it had nothing to do with her singing.
    Just then, Pop and Lolly burst into the room.
    â€œGuess what? Mrs. Pinto wants to take a photo of us all outside Paddock House. We’re going to put our dresses on!” Pop whizzed to her closet and pulled out her stunning dress.
    â€œYou too, Chloe,” urged Lolly, slipping her dress over her head. “This is a house photo. You’re just as important as anyone.”
    â€œWhat should I wear?” Chloe asked.
    â€œIt doesn’t matter,” Pop assured her.
    â€œNo, really. It doesn’t,” said Tara disagreeably, leaning against the doorway.
    â€œAre you coming in or are you just going to stand there, being horrible?” demanded Pop.
    â€œActually,” Tara replied, “I came to give Chloe a message.”
    â€œOh!” Chloe remembered. “I’m supposed to be on parking-lot duty.”
    â€œIt’s not about that,” Tara said. “The message is from Danny. I saw him just now in the main hall. He said he’d seen your little brother wandering around outside on his own.” Chloe jumped to her feet.
    â€œBen? What’s he doing here? Mom and Dad aren’t coming until after the concert. I told them not to.”
    Pop and Lolly exchanged glances. “Danny knows your little brother, though, doesn’t he, Chloe? Surely he wouldn’t make a mistake?” said Pop.
    â€œPerhaps your parents got here early,” Lolly suggested.
    â€œBut I was sure Mom knew I didn’t want them to come early! Where is Ben?” Chloe asked Tara. “Did Danny grab him?”
    Tara shook her head. “I don’t know. I didn’t see any annoying toddlers,” she said. “There were too many cars and people around. It’s crazy down there at the moment.”
    â€œOh no! Ben’s terrible about running off,” said Chloe anxiously. “He could get lost, or hurt.” A vision of Ben being knocked down and injured flashed through her mind. It was too horrible to contemplate. She had to go and find him.
    â€œWe’ll help!” said Pop. But Chloe had already gone. She pushed past Tara and raced down the hallway. Mom and Dad wouldn’t have let Ben wander off on his own. But sometimes he could be so difficult to hang on to. He could have wriggled through the crowd of parents and be anywhere.
    Chloe hurried over to the main house. The large hall was full of students and parents, all chattering excitedly. There were so many people that lunch was going to be in three sittings. The first group, seniors and their families, were already going in. Chloe couldn’t see Ben, Danny, or her mom and dad anywhere. She pushed her way against the tide of people and out of the front door. Cars were all over the place. Some were parked, and others were arriving. People were everywhere, but there was still no sign of her little brother.
    â€œChloe!” It was Marmalade. She grabbed his