Dancing Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

Author:Noel Streatfeild [Streatfeild, Noel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0679854282
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 1984-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

“Two children have tied for the top place. Number fifty-one, Dulcie Wintle, aged ten, who danced the can-can number, and number forty-seven, Hilary Lennox, who danced that amusing little skit. She also is ten. I have asked the judges if they will see these two little girls dance again, and perhaps slightly revise their marks so that one is first and the other is second.“

“It’s nonsense,” said the man pair dancer. “The little can-can has it. She’s a real dancer, and I ought to know.”

The panel game player was bored with being a judge, but he was not putting up with being told anything by a dancer.

“Nonsense. The little fair thing wins hands down. She has personality, and that is something I know about.” He turned to the starlet. “Isn’t that true, my dear?”

The starlet hoped he was talking about her.

“Thanks ever so.”

Dulcie was furious at being tied for first place with Hilary. She thought it was a ridiculous result, and she was extra angry because it had happened in front of the Wonders.

“I don’t think I’ll bother to dance again,” she told the Wonders’ head matron, who was looking after her. “Let Hilary take the prize if she’s so keen.”

“I think I’d dance again if I were you, dear,” the matron answered gently. “The people in the audience will be upset if you don’t, and your mother wouldn’t like that.”

Sulkily Dulcie agreed. But feeling cross and sulky is not the best mood in which to dance a can-can, so it happened that though her footwork was just as good, something that had been there the first time was missing when Dulcie danced again.

Hilary, on the other hand, was overjoyed at having tied with Dulcie, and charmed to dance again.

“I’ve still got a chance for that watch,” she told the woman who had fetched her from the dressing room. “Please hold your thumbs for me.”

Because Hilary was in such wild spirits her dance was even better the second time than it had been the first. Neither the professional dancers nor the panel game man changed their marks, nor did the starlet, but the professional singer did, giving more marks to Hilary.

The manager took Dulcie by one hand and Hilary by the other, and led them forward.

“Well, you all want to get off to your suppers, so I won’t keep you. This little lady comes first,” he looked at Hilary, “so this little lady is second,” and he beamed at Dulcie. Then he nodded to the starlet. “So if you please, my dear, would you hand the first prize to Hilary Lennox, and the second to Dulcie Wintle, daughter I may say of the famous Mrs. Wintle, whose Wonders have been such a success here this summer. I think we can all agree little Dulcie is a chip off the old block.”

Mrs. Wintle, beaming as if the result delighted her, left the theater holding Dulcie by one hand and Hilary by the other. Graciously she accepted congratulations for both.

“It’s all in the family really.

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