Shakespeare's Globe Read Online Free Page A

thank you for ’elping me. I will repay you.’
    She slipped into the trees and was gone.
    Once in town, I went straight to the inn yard, but there was no one around. I found the ostler in the stables.
    ‘Pardon me,’ I said. ‘Where are the players?’
    He picked up a brush. ‘They be restin’. Keep that dog away from the ’orses.’
    I signalled ‘outside’ and off Hoppy went.
    ‘Would you give Master Burbage a message?’ I asked.
    He swept the brush along a horse’s back. ‘My job,’ he said, ‘is seein’ to the ’orses, not carryin’ messages.’
    Thanks mightily, I thought, and went into the yard. A maid was sloshing water across the cobbles.
    ‘Pardon me!’ I called.
    She looked up and grinned. ‘What can I do for you?’
    ‘Will you give a message to the players?’
    Her eyes gleamed. ‘That I will!’
    ‘Tell Master Burbage that Billy-Odd-Job will be here on time, to act his part in the play.’
    Her eyes widened. ‘Are you a player, sir?’
    I felt six-feet tall. ‘That I am!’ I said.
    She bobbed a curtsy. ‘I’ll deliver your message now.’
    As I turned out of the yard entrance, I was nearly run into by a man on horseback.
    ‘Careful, boy!’ said the rider, as his horse danced to one side. ‘You’ll have me off, frightening my mount like that!’
    ‘Sorry, sir,’ I said.
    He dismounted, pulled off his hat and banged it against the wall. Dust flew everywhere. When he turned I saw his face for the first time.

    ‘Master Shakespeare!’ I cried.
    ‘Bless my soul! Billy-Odd-Job!’ he said. ‘What are you doing here?’
    ‘We are living with relatives because of the plague and I don’t like it in the country and I saw the play and Master—’
    He held up a hand. ‘Whoa! Slow down!’
    I began again, explaining that Master Burbage had said I could be in
Romeo and Juliet
.
    He smiled. ‘I am returning from visiting my family in Stratford, and I am as excited as you to be back with the company. You still wish to be a player, Billy?’
    ‘Oh sir, more than anything in the world,’ I said.
    He looked thoughtful. ‘I remember when I was young,’ he said. ‘Your father and I made a pact – a promise to ourselves – that we would always follow our hearts. My
heart told me I must be a player, and write plays.’ He laughed. ‘Your father wanted to see the world, and I wanted the world to see me!’
    He gathered his horse’s reins and led it towards the stables. I signalled to Hoppy to stay at my heel.
    ‘I want to be a player so much, sir,’ I said. ‘My father understands. That’s why he lets me help at the Globe. But Mother doesn’t want me there.’
    He handed the reins to the grumpy ostler. ‘All things change, Billy,’ he said. ‘There’s a time for everything.’ He put his dusty hat on and clapped me on the
shoulder. ‘Now for a jug of ale!’
    As he went to the inn door, I called. ‘Two days, Master Shakespeare! I will be back in two days to play my part in
Romeo and Juliet
!’
    He waved. ‘I look forward to your performance, Billy-Odd-Job! And mark what I say – follow your heart and you will be on the stage of the Globe itself one day!’
    I felt dizzy with delight. To act at the Globe had always been my dream. If William Shakespeare himself believed it would happen…!

CHAPTER SEVEN
    The next morning was cold, with an icy wind. I sat in bed, huddled in my blanket, with Hoppy snuggled next to me. I thought of Rosa, and what it must be like to be travelling
people in such weather. Then I remembered her sick mother.
    I wished I could help them. What would they want?
    That was easy. They’d want to get on with their journey. What was stopping them? Rosa’s mother being ill.
    I jumped up and struggled into my clothes.
    Sick people need good food and warmth, Mother always says. I decided to take Rosa’s mother some milk. I bet they never had milk. And cheese. I guessed they lived on berries and scraggy
wild rabbits.
    I fetched a jug of milk and