Singin' in the Drain by Steven Butler

Author:Steven Butler [Butler, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141342382
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2012-06-26T16:00:00+00:00

Tonight is the Night!

When they reached the theatre it was bustling with trolls preparing for the show. Rubella dumped Neville on the ground by the front door and stormed inside.

‘I’m goin’ to find Thicket,’ she barked over her shoulder. ‘Go and make yourself useful, worm.’

Neville wriggled to his feet and dusted himself off. He felt sick with nerves – and from being squeezed like a humansized accordion. What was he going to do? He closed his eyes and thought of Captain Brilliant.

‘Eww.’

Neville opened his eyes again with a start.

‘Eww, it’s you.’ Gruntilda came out through the front doors wearing an unfinished ballgown made from bed sheets. ‘I remember that ’orrible face. You’re the overling that lives with the … Bulches.’ She said ‘Bulches’ like it was a rude word.

‘I’m Neville,’ said Neville. He puffed up his chest and tried to look brave.

‘You’re so ugly,’ Gruntilda sneered, poking Neville with her skinny finger to check that he was real. ‘Even uglier than that sister of yours.’

‘No, I’m not … BUT YOU ARE!’ retorted Neville bravely.

‘I’M NOT! I CAN’T BE UGLY! I’M THE GRUMPTIOUS STEPSISTER!’ Gruntilda shouted. ‘YOU’RE A BULCH … DISGUSTIN’! YOU CAN’T BE IN MY MOOMA’S PAN-TROLL-MIME. YOU’LL RUIN IT!’

‘Pardon?’ Neville said. Had he heard correctly?

‘EVERYONE WILL BE BLURTY IF THEY WATCH YOU ONSTAGE. I’M GOIN’ TO TELL MY MOOMSIE AND SHE WON’T LET YOU BE IN THE PAN-TROLL-MIME.’

Neville almost burst out laughing with joy. He didn’t care if that stupid bundle of bones thought he was ugly.

‘Oh, please let me be in the show,’ Neville lied. He clasped his hands together to make it look really convincing. ‘I really want to be in it … I just have to be … it’ll make me SOOOOO happy. I’ll die if I don’t get to perform.’

‘NO!’ Gruntilda said with spiteful glee. ‘You’ll never be in it now.’

She grabbed hold of Neville’s hand and pulled him towards the doors of the theatre.

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