Let the Dance Begin Read Online Free Page A

Cassandra, but everyone calls me Cassie.’
    Lexie wrung her hands dramatically and sighed. Well, isn’t it wonderful that we’re all here? It has always been my dream to be a sand dancer.’
    Shell ducked below Lexie’s arms. ‘Quit gushing, kid. Isn’t there a Rule in The Sands of Time about that?’
    The three sprites sat up straight and chanted, ‘A sand dancer should behave with decorum at all times, remain in the background and wait to be given her due. ’
    ‘As if that ever got her anything!’ Shell added.
    They all burst out laughing and Cassie instantly felt less tense. The door of the audition room opened and a voice gave a loud, ‘Shh!’. The girls struggled to suppress further
laughter.
    ‘What’s taking so long? A one-eyed jellyfish could see that that girl who just went in can’t dance. Likes fish cakes too much,’ Shell hissed when the door had closed.
    Lexie giggled but Cassie said, ‘Body shape has nothing to do with it. It’s all about interpretation of feelings. Isn’t that the most important thing?’
    She certainly hoped so. She swallowed and held the box containing her precious dancing slippers even tighter.
    ‘You have to master the technique as well and that takes years of training,’ Lexie added. ‘My mother, Viola Seacouch, danced at the Harvest Moon Festival and was hoping to be
become a dune dancer. Only the finest sand dancers were taught the secret dune dance routines. Then came the Night of the Great Sandstorm.’
    Shell stomped her foot. ‘Please don’t go on about that! I’m so tired of hearing about it and how everyone has to work harder, be vigilant and never have any fun any
more.’
    ‘But things did get tougher after the devastation of the storm. A lot of sprites have struggled to make ends meet,’ Lexie continued.
    Shell’s eyes flashed. ‘When I get to the dance school I’m going to enjoy myself. Maybe hook up with a surf boy’
    ‘No way!’ Lexie’s eyes widened in horror. ‘Surf boys are wild. They can ruin your reputation. I saw a surf boy once and he wasn’t even wearing a shirt!’
    Shell giggled. ‘They might have something interesting to say. They get to travel all over the place.’
    Cassie kept quiet about her friendship with Rubus. She knew that most female sand sprites were wary of surf boys – but that was only because they did not know any.
    ‘Dance school would be a bit of freedom after being stuck at the palace, and I’m going to grab it if I get the chance,’ Shell insisted.
    ‘I just want to learn how to dance,’ Lexie replied solemnly.
    ‘What do you want?’ Shell turned to Cassie.
    Answers,’ Cassie said without thinking, and then she blushed. ‘I mean, I want to learn how to do all the dance steps.’
    ‘Me too.’ Lexie grinned. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all got into the dance school. My dream is to be chosen to perform the dune dances and become the prima dune
dancer.’
    ‘Dream on,’ Shell laughed.
    ‘Let’s promise that if we get in we’ll look out for each other,’ Cassie said. She had always longed to have some friends of her own age. She beamed with happiness at the
thought that these two sprites could be her friends.
    The three girls stood up, held hands, formed a circle and squeezed hands three times. Then they took five steps anti-clockwise, spread their
fingers wide and touched the person on the right with each finger, performing the Friendship Promise.
    ‘Day and night,
    Loyal and true
    I will always believe the best of you
    I’ll share my time
    I’ll stick like glue
    Never a flicker of doubt for you
    I’ll watch your back
    I’ll sift your sand
    If you fall I’ll take your hand
    No question
    No need for answers
    With your friendship I’ll take a chance
    Do what’s fun
    Do what’s right
    Because
    You’re a true friend of this sand sprite.’
    When they’d finished they all sat down together on the bench.
    ‘This is a great chance for us,’ Shell said. ‘And now that we are