Olivia's Curtain Call by Lyn Gardner

deliberately thrown Juliet away. Would they understand? Or wouldthey think she had been a total idiot?
    “How are the auditions going, anyway?” she asked.
    Georgia and Katie laughed. “They’re getting weirder,” said Katie. “Last time, we had to eat a family meal with the actors playing our mum and dad and then entertain ourselves like you would on any night at home after school.”
    “And still with no script?” asked Tom.
    “Yes,” said Georgia. “We just make up what we say. Lara, the director, just keeps on telling us not to act, but
to be
, and not to try to make anyone laugh.”
    “It’s always hard to start with,” said Katie, “but after a while it’s quite good fun. You just forget and behave normally. Georgie and I played Monopoly last time and it was so competitive we entirely forgot we were in an audition and ended up having a terrific row when she landed on Park Lane and owed me zillions of pounds that she didn’t have.”
    “Today we’re going to the zoo,” said Georgia. “I’m quite looking forward to it.”
    “And when will you know whether you’ve got it?” asked Aeysha.
    Katie shrugged. “Who knows? But Ireckon we must be quite close. Something Lara said makes me think it might be between us and another pair of girls. I think they’re real sisters, though, so we’re not holding our breath.”
    “No, we’re not,” said Georgia. “And if we don’t get it, something else will come up. At least Eel and Emmy are still in the running to be two of the Matildas.”
    She and Katie stood up to go. “We’d better go too,” said Tom. “Jack will be waiting for us, Liv. See you later, Aeysha.”
    They all started to gather their bags and things, then wandered off leaving Aeysha sitting at the table all on her own. She watched them go and felt a sudden pang.

Chapter Twelve
    Tom cycled along the wire with Olivia standing on his shoulders. He didn’t wobble once. Olivia felt ten feet tall. She loved this! It reminded her of how much she adored the high-wire, and how much she would miss it if she ever gave it up. Not that giving it up was an option. It was in her blood. She looked at Jack’s face, ablaze with pleasure and admiration.
    “That’s brilliant!” he said. “I’m so proud of you both. Anyone would think that you were born into the circus, Tom.”
    “Wish I had been,” said Tom mournfully. “It would have been far more glamorous then a terraced house off Caledonian Road.” He looked pensive. “It’s not just the glamour. I wish I’d started the high-wire when I could barely walk,like Liv. I’d be so much better by now.”
    “But you’ve made amazing progress, Tom,” said Jack. “So you shouldn’t worry on that score. You could have a career on the high-wire if you wanted it.”
    Tom looked chuffed. “Do you really think so?” he asked.
    Jack nodded. “No doubt about it. Pablo thinks so too,” he said. “But I imagine, like most people at the Swan, you’re probably rather keener on letting the world see your Hamlet, and you’ll be heading for RADA not Circus Space.”
    “You really can go to circus school?” asked Tom. Jack nodded, and Tom’s eyes gleamed. “How cool is that!”
    “Maybe you could do both,” said Olivia casually. “Maybe you don’t have to choose between acting and circus.”
    “Tricky,” said Jack. “But not impossible if you want both enough.” He glanced at his daughter. He wished he knew what
she
really wanted. Trying to fathom Olivia out was like peering into a pool that was a brilliant aquamarine on the surface but many different, darker colours underneath. She had been likethat even as a tiny child. He wondered if things would have been different if Toni had lived. She’d had the knack of drawing Olivia out, just as she’d had with him, making him acknowledge his feelings, however painful they were. Eel was easy. Most things eventually rose to the surface with Eel. But it was as though Olivia had an inner life