Broken Shoes

Chapter 2

Broken Shoes

 

Chapter 2

I stood in the studio with the other girls feeling stupid, knowing that there was no way that I was going to be able to dance or get the job, not with this ankle.

“Girls, a quick message from the client: They would like you all to know that you were great, and if they could, they would have you all as their background dancers.” Baldie was standing with Mrs McGreggor at the front of the room holding a sheet of paper. All eyes were glued on him, he had the power to change the lives of five of us. “Right, to the names!” My stomach clenched and the butterflies I’d had earlier turned into flamingos, making me feel rather ill. “Robin Jennings.” Baldie looked up expecting some big scream, but Mrs McGreggor had told us that if our name was called we were only to smile, and a small one at that. Robin was grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Hannah Small.” Hannah looked up beaming. “Remember girls, this in in no order of preference.” He paused for emphasis “Emma Hughes.” That only left one other girl could be chosen. A long silence followed and I rung my hands together. “Madison Pritchard.” It took a moment for it to sink in, I wasn’t chosen. I was going home, back to the people who knew everything about me, back to the place where people hated me. A tear slid down my cheek, I wiped it away before anyone could see it. I sniffed and looked down at the floor trying to hide the moisture in my eyes. I hadn’t realised but Baldie was still talking.

“-disappointment is a horrible thing, but the client would like me to stress to you that they thought you were all really good and not to give up dancing.” Well Mr Client, some of us have to give up dancing as our scholarships run out this term, I thought bitterly, stuff him and his client! I was ready to go home and start packing right now, but of course Baldie hadn’t finished talking, does he ever shut his mouth?!

 “Oh, and would um…” he was squinting at the paper in his hand “Would Gwen Lloyd please stay behind.” My head snapped up, what had I done? Was my dance really that bad? Was it so  bad that they felt they had to tell me? The other girls were dismissed and after they had left I hobbled over to the front of the room.

“Are you Gwen Lloyd?” I was tempted to answer no, but a stern look from Mrs McGreggor had me nodding my head. “Well Miss Lloyd, you have made a great impression on my client and they would like me to express their concern as to your welfare after your ah, fall. I trust you are not too seriously injured?” his eyes flicked down towards my leg. Gosh, what an idiot, I had crutches for goodness sake!

“I’ve only broken my ankle.”

“Right, good.” He handed me a small piece of paper with a mobile number scribbled on it. “Ring this number before ten pm tonight. When the phone is answered say: Hello this is Miss Lloyd calling, Mr Gibson asked me to ring you. Ok?” I nodded “Right, good. That’s all.” I smiled and made my way slowly out of the room and back to my flat.

            I stared at the clock on my bedside table, 9:45pm it read. I had done everything I could think of to put off calling the number. Heck I’d even painted my nails, and that never ever happens!