Broadway Baby by Samantha-Ellen Bound

Chapter One
    Belated birthday presents are the coolest.
    This was the best one I’d ever received: better than my week-late trip to the Gold Coast on my eighth birthday; better even than the pre-order voucher for the whole series of Dance Moms when I turned ten.
    My eleventh birthday was a few weeks ago. I’d had a party and everything, but now it was time to experience Mum and Dad’s present:a yummy dinner in the city with the biggest, most delicious sundae I’d ever had and, finally, I was about to watch a real, professional musical – something I’d dreamt about for years.
    Mum and I had two tickets to see 42nd Street at the Performing Arts Palladium in the big city!
    I guess you have to know a bit about me to see why I was so excited. My name’s Ellie, I’m a dancer and I’ve been working on becoming a ‘triple threat’ for a while now. A triple threat means you can sing, dance and act. So not only do you get way more opportunities, but you also get to do musical theatre.
    And I love musical theatre! I’ve been going to my dance school, Silver Shoes, since I was a tiny, and my favourite style has always been jazz. But my teacher, Miss Caroline (who also owns the school), encouraged me to trymusical theatre because I am ‘very dramatic and expressive when I dance’. Our musical theatre teacher at Silver Shoes is called Billie, and she started giving me singing lessons. Then, I guess, I fell in love.
    I’ll never love any style as much as jazz, but musical theatre sure comes a close second. Don’t get me wrong – I still have big dreams about being a famous dancer or choreographer and appearing in the video clips of pop stars. Maybe I’ll even be a pop star myself!
    But lately the stage has been calling me. Just thinking about it makes my fingers and toes tingle. I imagine how my acting will make people cry, and how my singing will fill the theatre and make the audience’s hearts swell.
    For a minute I will feel larger than myself, Eleanor Charlotte Irvin, and be part of something greater and more fabulous.
    It’s the same feeling I had now, as Mum and I weaved our way through all the people at the Performing Arts Palladium. Bodies were packed into the foyer and up the stairs, and everything smelt like toilet spray perfume and peppermint mouthwash. Mum and I had to go totally ant style, weaving our way in and out of arms and legs, and dodging the drops flung from people’s champagne flutes while they laughed loud enough to burst our eardrums.
    I mean, great that they’re enjoying themselves, but I need my eardrums or I’ll never be able to sing properly. I don’t want my career sabotaged before it’s even begun.
    â€˜Welcome,’ the usher said to us at the door. He had a moustache drawn on with eyeliner and talked with an American accent like in gangster movies. His slicked hair had abouthalf a tub of gel holding it back. ‘How you two ladies doing tonight?’
    â€˜Just fine, thank you,’ said Mum. She looked around at everyone and winked at the usher. ‘Even better when we can breathe.’
    â€˜Why breathe when you can sing?’ The usher shrugged. ‘My name’s Mikey, pleased to meet you.’ He glanced down at me. ‘And you, princess? You look like a leading lady in the making.’
    I gave him a big smile and did a little curtsy so my glittery pink dress floated out. ‘My name’s Ellie,’ I said. ‘One day, I will be.’
    â€˜A princess or a leading lady?’ The usher grinned.
    â€˜Both,’ I said, flicking my blonde curls over my shoulder.
    â€˜Big aspirations, this one,’ Mum chuckled, giving one of my curls a playful tug.
    Mikey laughed. ‘Maybe next time I’ll be working the door for one of your shows.’ He checked the tickets Mum was holding. ‘Tonight you two will be seated on the mezzanine level. It’s just up the stairs