Darcey Bussell - Rosa and the Three Wishes

“Oh, wow!” Rosa breathed, despite her dislike. “She’s brilliant.”

“Amazing,” agreed Olivia.

“Excellent girls,” Madame Za-Za said at the end of the lesson. “There has been some really good work today. We’ll finish there.” She curtseyed and they all curtseyed back.

As Rosa and Olivia collected their character skirts from the end of the room, Rosa saw Holly walking nearby, her face composed.

“Your free dancing was brilliant,” Rosa said generously.

Holly shrugged as if to say of course and walked away.

“Honestly!” Rosa exclaimed crossly to Olivia. “She is so rude!”

“Rosa!” It was Madame Za-Za.

Rosa looked round.

“Would you mind coming to my office for a quick word?” the teacher asked with a smile.

“Sit down, Rosa,” Madame Za-Za said, patting the sofa. Rosa sat. She loved Madame Za-Za’s office. The walls were covered with ballet photographs and there were shelves of books and a large desk, as well as the sofa.

“So, it was your last lesson today,” Madame Za-Za said. “I will miss you very much. I hope you will come back and visit when you are home in the holidays.”

“Oh yes, I’ll come lots,” Rosa said eagerly. She only lived just around the corner.

Madame Za-Za steepled her fingers. “Before you go, I want to talk to you about the ballet shoes.”

Rosa felt herself stiffen slightly. Was Madame Za-Za going to ask for them back?

Her ballet teacher seemed to read her mind. “I know they belong to you, but soon the time will come when you should pass the shoes on. They are only ever really lent to us, Rosa. And whilst the person who wears them helps the people in the land of Enchantia, the magic of the shoes is such that they also help the wearer too.” Her eyes gazed into Rosa’s. “There may be someone around you, Rosa, who needs that help.”

Rosa frowned. Everyone in her dance class seemed happy enough, everyone apart from…

She stared at her ballet teacher. “Not Holly!”

Madame Za-Za held her eyes with a steady gaze.

“But, Madame Za-Za, she doesn’t need help, she’s rude and…” Rosa broke off, suddenly realising her voice was getting louder and louder.

Madame Za-za spoke softly, “Sometimes everything is not quite as it seems. I told Delphie that once.”

Rosa’s mind guiltily flashed back to how she had acted when she had first been given the shoes. She’d been defensive and prickly and hadn’t made friends easily. Not only that, but she’d rushed into things too quickly and lost her temper too fast. Her adventures in Enchantia had taught her a lot. But, even so…

“Not Holly,” she said in a low voice, shaking her head. “Please don’t tell me I have to give them to her.”

“I am not going to tell you to give them to anyone,” Madame Za-Za reassured her. “That decision is yours. But do not judge Holly only by what you see. She has not had an easy life.” She patted Rosa’s hand. “Your heart will tell you what to do, my dear. Go now. I’m very proud of you – both as a dancer and as a person.” She stood up and as Rosa stood up too, the teacher kissed her lightly on both cheeks. “Good luck, Rosa.”

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