Little Stars Read online

  When she finished her act, people threw flowers at her. She gathered them all up, fashioning them into a neat bouquet, and then selected just one rose. She peered around at the audience, smiling coquettishly, while all the men held up their hands hopefully. She took aim and threw the rose right up to a box on the opposite side, and a gentleman caught it, held it over his white waistcoated heart, and blew her a kiss.

  It was the perfect way to end the evening. When we came out of the box, I looked for Mrs Ruby, wanting to thank her, and to pave the way for another chance at an audition, but the lurking waiter said she was busy and mustn’t be disturbed.

  ‘Besides, it’s time you little girlies hurried home to your beds,’ he said.

  I was indignant at his tone, because I reckoned he was only a year or so older than me, but he was certainly right about the time. I was shocked to see that it was gone eleven. Diamond was drooping again. I was glad we had come to the Cavalcade on foot. I think she would have fallen off if we’d tried to ride the penny-farthing.

  I was very tired myself, and disorientated in the sudden dark after the bright chandeliers in the theatre. I wasn’t at all sure how to get back to Miss Gibson’s. We had come out of a different door. I took Diamond’s arm and steered her round the corner – we seemed to have come out at the back of the theatre by mistake. Yes, there was the shabby stage door.

  ‘Come, Diamond, I think it’s this way,’ I said, practically holding her up.

  ‘I’m so tired,’ she murmured fretfully. ‘I want to go to sleep!’

  ‘Yes, darling, but we have to get home to our beds,’ I said.

  ‘Which home is it? I’ve forgotten,’ she asked.

  I could well understand her confusion. So much had happened, and so fast, it was hard to remember where we were and what we were doing. She was so tired now she could barely walk, so I gave her a piggyback. I set off, glad she was such a light little thing.

  Then I stopped in my tracks. Someone was shouting. Someone was shouting at me.

  ‘Hetty Feather! Hetty Feather, stop!’

  ‘HETTY! SOMEONE IS shouting after you!’ said Diamond, craning round.

  ‘I know. Quick! We must run,’ I said instinctively.

  ‘But they know you, even though we don’t know anyone here.’ Diamond was still peering. ‘No, wait, we do know him! It’s your Bertie.’

  ‘Let’s still run,’ I said, grabbing her by the wrist and hauling her along.

  ‘But he’s your friend! You wanted to see him! You’re being silly, Hetty!’ Diamond panted.

  I knew I was being silly, but I couldn’t help it. I had wanted to meet Bertie – I’d longed to see him – but I felt different now. I was almost scared of talking to him. Perhaps it was because he seemed so grand now, a professional artiste, a star of the music hall. Or perhaps it was because he seemed overly fond of Miss Ivy Green, who was superior to me in every way. Why had I ever thought Bertie would be pleased to see me?

  He was close behind us now. ‘Hetty Blooming Feather! Stop running, will you! It’s me, Bertie,’ he called.

  It was ludicrous to go on running. I slowed to a halt and turned. There he was, grinning at me in the lamplight. He wasn’t in his smart striped blazer and white flannels now. He wore an old thick jersey, a shabby cord jacket and trousers patched at the knee.

  ‘Hello, Bertie,’ I said, trying to sound casual, as if we met each other every day of the week.

  ‘I knew it was you! I saw you in Mrs Ruby’s box and knew it, though it didn’t make any sense. What are you doing here?’

  ‘Oh, we just happened to be passing,’ I said ridiculously. ‘This is my friend Diamond.’

  ‘Pleased to meet you, Miss Diamond,’ said Bertie, taking her sticky hand and kissing it.

  She stared up at him, thrilled to be treated like a grown-up lady. ‘We came specially to see you, Mr Bertie,’ she said.

  ‘Did you, indeed?’ he said, smirking.

  ‘No we didn’t!’ I said, giving her a shake.

  ‘And what did you think of my performance, Miss Diamond? I hope you weren’t too disappointed,’ said Bertie.

  ‘I thought you were very good. We both did.’ Diamond pouted at me. ‘We wanted to be music-hall artistes too!’

  ‘Really?’ said Bertie.

  ‘No, it’s just her little fancy,’ I said, horribly disloyal. ‘Come along, Diamond, it’s long past your bedtime.’

  ‘We did our acts for Mrs Ruby but she didn’t think we were good enough,’ said Diamond.

  I felt like gluing her little lips together. She was usually so shy she would hardly say anything in company, but now she seemed intent on blurting everything to Bertie.

  ‘So you fancy being a showgirl too, Hetty?’ said Bertie. ‘Well, that’s marvellous. Don’t worry about Mrs Ruby. She only wants experienced professionals. But I know plenty of other gaffs where they’ll take a chance on lily-whites. That’s what they call beginners. And I’ll help you polish your act, if you like.’

  I felt my face flushing as red as my hair. How dare he patronize me when he’d just been funny old Bertie the butcher’s boy last year!

  ‘We’re professionals too, thank you very much. Diamond is known as the Acrobatic Child Wonder. She has been starring in Tanglefield’s Travelling Circus. She’s performed the famous human column with three fellow artistes night after night.’

  ‘I know you of old, Hetty Feather,’ Bertie laughed. ‘You’re making up stories, aren’t you?’

  ‘No, it’s real. I only tumbled once. But then Beppo frightened me and we had to run away,’ said Diamond.

  Bertie stared, hands on hips. ‘What?’ He turned from Diamond to me. ‘You’re not telling me you’re an acrobat too, Hetty? Do you wear short drawers and saucy fleshings?’

  ‘No I do not! Take that grin off your face. But I’ll have you know I was the top draw of the circus.’

  ‘Oh, modest as always, as well as fanciful,’ said Bertie, shaking his head.

  I wanted to slap him. ‘I was the ringmaster,’ I said, as grandly as I could.

  Bertie doubled up laughing. ‘The ringmaster!’

  ‘Yes, I was. Look!’ I snapped open our suitcase and showed him my scarlet tunic and cream trousers and riding boots.

  ‘Oh my Lord!’ he gasped.

  ‘I introduced each act. Everyone said I was a magnificent spieler. The words just tripped off my tongue,’ I declared.

  ‘Well, I can believe that,’ said Bertie. ‘Oh, Hetty, it’s grand to see you. There’s no other girl to beat you!’

  ‘Not even Miss Ivy Green?’ I said, and then blushed again for being so obvious.

  ‘Not even Ivy Green herself,’ said Bertie, hand on heart, laughing triumphantly.

  ‘We must get home now. Come along, Diamond. At once!’ I commanded.

  ‘I’ll walk with you,’ said Bertie.

  ‘No you will not!’

  ‘Very well. Suit yourself. But tell me where you’re staying, Hetty.’

  ‘There’s no need. We are only there temporarily. I dare say we will be on our way tomorrow. Goodbye,’ I said, trying to retain a shred of dignity.

  ‘Oh, Hetty, I like it at Miss Gibson’s. Can’t we stay?’ said Diamond.

  ‘Miss Gibson the dressmaker? She fashioned my blazer for me! Then I’ll come calling tomorrow in the hope of persuading you to stay.’ Bertie gave us each a low bow and then marched off in the opposite direction.

  ‘Bertie’s so lovely!’ said Diamond, far too loudly.

  ‘Ssh! And he’s not lovely at all, he’s just a dreadful tease,’ I said crossly.

  ‘I thought you were sweethearts!’

  ‘That was long ago. And we were never exactly sweethearts,’ I said.

  ‘Then if you don’t want him any more, could he be my sweetheart?’ asked Diamond.

  ‘Bertie likes to be everybody’s sweetheart,’ I said sourly.

  Perhaps we should have permitted Bertie to walk us home, because we took a wrong turning somewhere.