Ann Martin - Baby-Sitters Club 042

All of a sudden, I noticed that the last dancers had finished. Auditions were over. Mme Noelle called us all out onto the stage. She looked us up and down without saying a word. Then she smiled.

"All of my mademoiselles have done very, very well today," she said. "But only one can be zee Princess Aurora." Suddenly she clapped her hands three times. "Go now!" she said. "Change zee clothes. When you are ready, come back. I will give my decision zen." We all scurried into the dressing room and raced to be the first out of our leotards. Everybody was talking at once, asking the others how they'd looked as they performed.

"Did you notice when I shook on the arabesque!" asked Lisa Jones, as she pulled on an oversized sweat shirt. I like Lisa, but sometimes she worries too much about her performance in class.

I shook my head. "Sorry, but I wasn't paying that much attention," I said. "I think I was on Mars for awhile there." That's what it had felt like - I'd been concentrating so hard that I felt like I'd been on a different planet.

"I thought I'd die by the time I bourree'd across that whole huge stage," said Hilary. "It's not fair that the stage is so much bigger than our usual studio." "Sure it's fair," said Carrie. "We all have to do the same thing on the same stage, don't we?" "I guess," said Hilary. But she didn't sound convinced.

I stuffed my leotard and tights into my dance bag, and then carefully wrapped the ribbons around my toe shoes and laid them on top.

You have to take very good care of them, otherwise they won't last.

"I just hope Madame noticed how much I've been working on my arm movements," said Carrie. She stuffed her toe shoes into her bag, got up, and left the dressing room.

"Actually, she better hope that Madame didn't notice she's completely over the hill," said Hilary, giggling.

Over the hill! It was true that Carrie was one of the oldest students in class, but really! She's only a few years older than me! Ballet may look like a graceful, dainty world - but it's not. It's as tough and competitive as any sport. I could have spoken up in Carrie's defense, but I held my tongue. I don't like to get into any of the gossip and backbiting that often goes on in the dressing room.

Hilary looked in the mirror and patted her still perfectly braided hair. "I'm just dying to dance Princess Aurora," she said. "What a great part." Then she spun on her heel and headed out of the. room.

"The rest of us just better pray that she doesn't get that part," said Katie Beth. "If she does, we'll have to put up with Mrs. Morgan practically sitting in our laps during every rehearsal!" "I know," said Lisa. "I think Hilary's mom would dance the part for her, if she could." I shook my head and kept quiet. Everybody was being pretty catty that day. I guess the auditions brought it out.

Finally we were all finished changing. We sat in a semicircle on the floor of the dance studio, facing Mme Noelle. She was seated on a chair, and she looked very serious.

"Zee Sleeping Beauty is one of zee most beautiful ballets in zee world," she began. "To perform in it is a privilege, no matter how small zee role." Right. But none of us wanted "zee small roles." We all wanted the lead.

"To begin," said Mme Noelle, "zee part of zee Lilac Fairy will be donced by Lisa Jones." Lisa smiled. I don't think she had really expected to get the lead. The Lilac Fairy is a pretty good role, and she looked happy to get it.

"Next," said Mme Noelle, "zee part of zee Bluebird of Happiness." That part is usually played by a man, but it sounded like someone from our class would be playing it instead. There aren't too many boys in the school - and there are none in our class. "Zis will be donced by Carrie Steinfeld." Carrie let out a breath, then pressed her lips together and tried to smile at Mme Noelle. "Thank you," she said. "I know that the Blue- bird's pas de deux is famous. I will try to do it justice." I had to hand it to her - she handled the disappointment well.

"And now," said Mme Noelle, "I will tell zee news you are all waiting for." She paused. "Zere is only one student in zis class who has zee talent and zee je ne sais quois to bring zee role of Princess Aurora to life." Zhuh-nuh-seh-kwah? What on earth did that mean? I'd never heard the expression before.

"Zat student is Mademoiselle Romsey," finished Mme Noelle.

I was still trying to figure out what she meant, and I didn't really hear my name. The next thing I knew, Lisa was giving me a quick hug. "All right, Jessi," she said. "You did it again!" She seemed genuinely happy for me.

"Congratulations," said Katie Beth sort of halfheartedly. I smiled vaguely. It still hadn't sunk in that I had won the role. That meant that I had gotten yet another lead in a production! I'd loved dancing in Swan Lake. And playing Swanilda in Coppelia had been pretty incredible. But the Princess Aurora! It was the role of a lifetime.

When I finally came to my senses, I was alone in the room. Except for Mme Noelle. She was smiling gently at me. "Congratulations, Jessica," she said. "You earned zee part." "Thank you, Madame," I said, blushing. "But there's one thing I want to know. What does 'zhuh-nuh-seh-kwah' mean?" "It simply means 'zat certain something' - zat indescribable feeling," she answered. "And you, my mademoiselle, possess it." I blushed again. Then I thanked her once more, said good-bye, and ran out to wait for my ride home.

Hilary Morgan's mother pulled up just as I reached the outside stairs, where we all wait for our parents. Hilary started to walk toward the car, looking like she was headed for a funeral.

"Did you get the lead?" called Mrs. Morgan loudly.

Hilary shook her head. I saw Mrs. Morgan frown and heard her start to lecture as Hilary got into the car. "Didn't I tell you . . ." she began.

I turned away - I just couldn't listen to any more. Part of me almost wished that Hilary had gotten the part. Poor Hilary. But - I have to admit it - a bigger part of me was so happy I could hardly stand it. "Princess Aurora," I said to myself softly. "Princess Aurora." Chapter 2.

After Hilary left, I sat down to wait for my dad. I was still in a state of shock about getting the lead, but I thought that - just for fun - I'd play it cool with him.

Pretty soon, Daddy pulled up in front of the steps. I opened the car door and slid in, throwing my dance bag onto the backseat.

"Hi, baby!" he said, giving me a kiss. He started the car, and I saw him looking at me out of the corner of his eye as he pulled into traffic. He was being careful not to be pushy - but I could tell he was dying to know how the auditions had gone. "How did it go?" he asked casually.

"Pretty well," I answered, just as casually. "I mean, okay, I guess." I was bursting with holding it in for a little while.

We'd only gone about three blocks before I couldn't stand it anymore. "Daddy!" I said. "I did it! I'm Aurora!" He turned to grin at me. "All right!" he said, holding up his hand for a high five. "I knew you could do it." A horn honked, and Daddy straightened out the car.

"I want to hear all about it," he said, "but let's wait till we're home, so you can tell everybody all at once." Then he pulled the car over to the curb and turned off the engine. "Wait here," he said. "I'm going to run into the store for some ice cream. We've got something to celebrate tonight!" The minute we pulled into our driveway, Becca came running out of the front door. "Did you get a part?" she asked excitedly. Mama was right behind her, carrying Squirt. Aunt Cecelia stood in the doorway, holding a dishcloth.

Becca is my little sister. She's eight and a half, and she's a pretty great kid, even if she does drive me up the wall sometimes. She's really bright, and she has a great imagination. Becca loves to come and see me in my productions. In fact, she'd probably like to be in one herself - except for one thing. Becca has the worst case of stage fright I've ever seen.