just a girl.”
“Tha can say that. Tha is a girl…”
“I know that I’m a girl, thank you.”
“Aye, let’s not get carried away…tha’s nearly a girl.”
Suddenly I felt like I had grown into my knees. I said straight to his face, his black hateful face, “Do you know what, Cain Hinchcliff, I hate you. It’s quite a pleasant feeling.”
He looked at me and said, “No, you dunt really. Tha just don’t know what to mek of me. I make you feel funny.”
I turned and stormed out of the barn.
CHAPTER 19
Withering Tights
Wearing the golden slippers of applause
We are all in the dressing room, getting ready for the show. Oh, I was so nervous. I hope I didn’t have to go to the loo again, it took ages to get out of my breeches.
Ms Fox gave us her pep talk before we took to the stage. It was: “Right girls, this is it. Now then, remember what counts is this – it’s not the preparation, it’s not the costumes, it’s not even how tall you are…the main thing is…go out there and…BE GOOD!”
And that was it. Be good.
I’ve peeked through the curtains – the whole of Dother Hall is here to watch and some friends of Sidone’s. And the headmaster of Woolfe Academy. I said to Jo, “That bloke with one leg must be the headmaster, Charlie told me about him.”
Jo had a look. “Oooh, yes. Phil has given me a special friendship band to wear. We’re going to write, and I hope that I’ll see him, if, you know, I come back.”
I said to her, “Of course you’ll come back.”
And I am sure she will. I am pretty sure all of them will. Even though they all do look very odd indeed.
I know I am a bloke in this, but Jo has devised her own costume for being thunder. It is some black trousers that are tight from the ankles to the knees and then really baggy round the bottom area, like she has pooed herself. She has big black headphones on and a dustbin lid attached to her chest which she is going to bang.
And she is loving every moment of it.
She gave me a big hug and said, “This is going to be great. You are going to be great.”
Flossie and Honey are tuning up for the wind-singing. Honey is covered in veils and Flossie has a yashmak and harem pants on.
We’ve also made the set, which is Grimbottom with blasted oaks and painted waterfalls, and boulders made out of chicken wire and papier mâché. It looks very atmospheric.
Monty came backstage to wish us luck. Monty has got Biffo and Sprogsy with him, and I think they might have had a sherry because Monty is wearing a kilt and sporran. He says it is the de Courcy clan tartan and then giggled a lot.
Just about ready to go on. Bob is cranking up the opening music. I am wearing breeches, a white shirt and riding boots. I have got my hair scraped back into a ponytail and my eyebrows have got some eyebrow pencil on them.
Flossie said, “You don’t need much.”
She’s right, my eyebrows are dark enough. In fact, with my hair back, I do look like Cain. Especially if I scowl.
Vaisey is wearing a dark wig and pale make-up. It’s so odd not seeing her red hair bouncing around and glossy like she’d eaten a tin of dog food. She is ‘getting into character’.
I don’t need to get into character, I feel so mixed up and cross anyway. Seeing Cain really upset me. And I have just banged my head on the prop-cupboard door. I was looking for some more fake grass for one of the villagers to throw about.
The curtains went up and I took a big breath.
The performance started with Cathy and Heathcliff as children, playing on the moors.
I walked out first on to the stage and strutted about, kicking stuff and finding my inner wildness. Then I yelled, “Dog, dog, where the bloody hell art thee?”
And Matilda came on!!
She was my special surprise idea. I had worked out with Ruby that if I carried her squeaky bone, she would follow me around. Also, every time I say ‘Hooray’ she lies on her back and puts her legs in the air because of her dog obedience classes. If I want her to go off, I just chuck her squeaky bone into the wings and she scampers off after it. Milly and Tilly feed her doggie treats until