Guardian Angel

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

 

      Many days passed since the trip to the play, and the audition time is drawing nearer. I am literally dying with nerves, it’s terrifying. This is what I’ve been dreaming of since I was a little girl.

      I never thought I’d actually be doing this; it was like yesterday that I saw my first ballet show…

      When I was four years old I had never actually thought of doing ballet, if I’m honest I actually wanted to be a horse at four years old. I had a rather…strange imagination back then.

      My Dad was still living with us back then, and we were living in a small town in Oxfordshire. Jess and I had just been told that we were moving to Birmingham because Dad was being relocated for his job.

      I remember crying a lot, not wanting to leave the house…but that’s not important. It was only a few weeks later that we had found a lovely house in Birmingham and lucky for us a retired couple bought our house from us so we were able to move straight away.

      Arriving at the house was a bit of a blur, all I really remember is lots of crying from Jess and I because we missed all our friends. Then our Dad wrapped us both in a warm and loving hug, I can remember his soft and gentle voice telling us not to worry, and that he had a surprise for us both.

      Next thing I knew he had us all in the car and was driving, we had no idea where we were going, but where ever it was it was crowded.

      Dad drove into a car park filled with so many other cars, it was next to this giant building that I now know is called the Birmingham Hippodrome. He held three tickets in his hand for the ballet performance of Romeo and Juliet.

      Taking us by the hand we walked into the hall, and I remember completely our reaction. The hall was huge; gorgeous red fabrics covered the seats and the stage at the front was so marvellous that it sparkled.

      We took our seats but I sat on my Dad’s lap because I couldn’t see. Then the lights went down, and the audience clapped, I didn’t understand then that it was to welcome the conductor.

      As the music began to play I became immediately drawn to the dancers on stage. It was if I was entranced with the dancing, my eyes watched their every move. My Dad chuckled slightly noticing how I was paying close attention while Jess was falling asleep.

      When the performance ended the audience burst into applause, and I clapped with them, standing slightly on my Dad’s lap to watch the dancers bow one after another.

      After the show Dad took us to a little gift shop area, I was dancing around mimicking some of the dancing that I saw on stage. A large crowd came into the shop place and I got lost in it.

      Walking around the place I started to cry because I couldn’t see Dad or Jess anywhere. That’s when she found me. It was Juliet, well not the actual Juliet, but the one in the show. She came up to me and took me in her arms, cooing me slightly to stop the tears from falling.

      She looked very young, maybe in her early twenties or even in her late teens, but she seemed strong an independent enough to be my own Mum.

      She took me to her dressing room, telling one of the stage men to let everyone know they’ve found a lost child. Her dressing room was full of different costumes, and makeup supplies everywhere. She sat me down in a chair, and spoke to me.