Perfect on Paper by Gillian Harvey (top 20 books to read txt) 📕

‘As we rehearsed. One … two … three.’

Clare turned her back on the troupe – who after all would be dancing behind her at their audition – and began to mouth the words from the paper. She began to see how she could shape them and gradually raised her voice, so she could be heard, just slightly, above the backing track.

‘Right,’ Dan said, when they’d run through a couple of times like that. ‘Do you want to go for it, for real?’ He handed her a wireless mic. ‘The kids need to be able to hear you properly.’

It was now or never.

Part of her would have preferred never. But then she thought back to how she’d been feeling recently. Feeling as if nothing in her life was ever going to change and that things were going to be miserably predictable and disappointing for ever.

And here she was. She wasn’t sure exactly what she was doing, but at least it was an adventure.

‘OK,’ she said, hearing her voice amplified alarmingly in the little space. ‘Let’s do this.’

Chapter Sixteen

‘Hello,’ Steph said, three hours later, standing on the doorstep with Wilbur under one arm and an enormous playseat under the other. ‘Is the lady of the house in?’

‘No, she’s bloody not. It’s me or no one,’ giggled Clare.

‘What a disappointment. I suppose you’ll have to do.’

‘Do you want some help? That looks enormous.’

‘Thanks.’ Steph shoved Wilbur into Clare’s arms and he clung to her, his breath hot and quick against her neck.

‘I actually meant the playseat, but I suppose I’ll have to carry the kid instead,’ joked Clare.

‘Honestly, it’s just nice to have something in my arms that will survive if I drop it – I am so knackered.’

‘Oh, Steph, I should have come to yours.’

‘No, honestly, I had to get out of the house. I’d forget how to drive if I didn’t get out sometimes. Plus you have the fancier coffee maker.’

‘Well, that’s true.’

‘Anyway,’ Steph said, once Wilbur had been placed safely in his seat and was playing with what looked like an enormous walrus on a string. ‘You wanted my advice on something. What’s Toby done now?’

Clare had called Steph on her way back from the church hall and asked if she could pop in. Steph had suggested she came over instead. ‘I’ll bring cake,’ she said. ‘And I promise to change Wilbur’s nappy first.’

‘You’re on.’

Now, with crumb-covered plates between them, and nursing their half-drunk coffees, it was time to get the advice of one of the people she trusted most in the world. Alfie was out playing football; Toby was cleaning his shoes in the utility room; Katie was in her room.

‘I … well, I don’t know how to start really,’ Clare said, realising she was blushing. She shifted in her chair slightly, feeling her legs ache from yesterday’s unaccustomed dancing.

‘Toby? Don’t tell me, he’s run off with his secretary,’ Steph laughed.

Clare smiled, but found it hard to join in. Once that would have seemed like a ridiculous joke. These days, she wasn’t sure exactly where she and Toby were. She’d noticed how often he’d drop Hayley’s name into conversations. ‘Hayley says orange is the new magenta.’ Or ‘Hayley says these are bang on trend.’ She pushed the thoughts away.

‘Actually, it’s me,’ she said.

‘You?’

‘Yeah. I’ve got myself in a bit of a weird situation, let’s say.’

‘Why doesn’t that surprise me?’

The sisters smiled at each other. Then Clare took a deep breath.

‘The other day,’ she said, ‘I took a day off work …’

‘Wow. Wonders will never cease. Did you cope OK away from the daily grind?’

‘Ha, ha. Look, I know it sounds weird, but I auditioned for “You’ve Got Talent”!’

‘What?’ Steph put her coffee down on the table, slopping a little onto the wood.

‘Hey, don’t be so surprised. I’ve got some talent you know.’

‘Yes, but yours is more of the … well, paperwork variety.’

‘Thanks a lot.’

‘No, no, it’s a good thing. Much more lucrative than my rusty tap-dancing skills.’ Steph had been mad on tap dancing when they were kids, taking exams – even performing in a show or two. Clare, who had two left feet, had taken piano lessons for a while, then simply dropped out and concentrated on her homework.

‘Maybe,’ Clare continued.

‘Anyway, seriously – this happened?’

‘Yes.’

‘You’re going to have to take me back a step.’

Clare explained about Mr Flasher. About her overwhelming desire to make a difference to her day, to her life. ‘I was just so fed up,’ she said. ‘I wanted to do something different. Then suddenly I thought, why not? I had my little book of scribbles with me. I just wanted to make myself feel alive, shake things up a bit.’

‘You realise that most people would have bought themselves a new pair of shoes or got a haircut?’ Steph said, incredulously. ‘Usually when I want to perk myself up, I buy a new lipstick. Or, I don’t know, stuff some chocolate in my face. Most people don’t relieve the boredom of everyday life by auditioning for a national talent show.’

‘No, I realise it’s a bit … well, unusual. I can’t really explain it – I just, it just sort of happened,’ Clare said, looking at her sister over the top of her mug and shrugging as if it was no big deal. ‘Anyway, I think I could dye my hair blue and no one would notice.’

Steph looked incredulous. ‘Really?’

‘Yeah, really. I know it sounds odd. Even odder, I actually enjoyed it!’

‘Well you’re a braver woman than me. Anyway, how did it go?’

‘Well, pretty much as you’d imagine. I think they felt sorry for me actually.’

‘Oh, sis. So you didn’t get through to the grand final, or whatever?’

‘Actually …’

Clare explained that she’d been asked to go back as a rapper. And how her automatic ‘no’ had faltered when she’d realised how much it had meant to the group of dancing boys. ‘I’ve been rehearsing with them this afternoon,’ she admitted. ‘I told Toby I needed to pick something up from work.’

‘Oh my god!’ Steph giggled.