Bryony Bell Tops the Bill by Franzeska G. Ewart, Kelly Waldek Page B

everything — and this just wasn’t the moment. Giving thepillow one final, colossal, thump she picked up the breakfast tray, set it on her mother’s ample lap, and perched on the edge of the bed to wait till the time was ripe.

    Nervously, she watched her mother eat the first boiled egg. A dozen or more photographs of her mother smiled back at her, for the bedroom was a veritable shrine to Clarissa Bell.
    Clarissa Bell was her mother’s stage name, her real name being Tracy which was way too ordinary. Most nights, Clarissa could be seen singing in a variety of working men’s clubs, where she was enormously popular. Just like all the other Bells, Bryony thought her mum was magic, and she always loved to see her all dolled up. And Clarissa liked nothing better than to slip into a long slinky dress, coil up her wavy blondehair high on her head like a luxurious cream dessert, and sing for them all. It made them all feel terribly special. And it made all of them — except Bryony — long for the day when they too would share in her fame.
    All the Bell girls, except Bryony, had beautiful singing voices, and even Little Bob could gurgle his favourite song,
Bob the Builder
, well enough to be recognisable. Usually, it didn’t bother Bryony — after all, she was going to be a skating star, nothing surer. But for the past month the Bell household had revolved around
The Singing Bells
. As far as Clarissa was concerned, thought Bryony ruefully, nothing else really mattered.
    The Singing Bells
was Clarissa’s brainchild. She longed to see the family name up in lights, and when she had seen the advert for
TV Family Star Turns
, nothing would do but she would enter them. They had passed the first rounds with flying colours; and now that the live television final was just weeks away, they spent every spare minute practising.
    It wasn’t so bad, Bryony thought, being the only non-singing Bell girl — not when you had a brilliant dad who bought you mega-brilliant rollerskates. But, it was simply out of the question to ask that brilliant dad to buy you anything else…

Chapter: Two
    Bryony took a deep breath. Time to take the bull by the horns.
    â€˜You know the play I’m in at school, Mum?’ she said, leaning over to wipe a stray yolk dribble fom Clarissa’s chins.
    â€˜The one you’re playing the lead in?’ Clarissa said promptly. ‘Like the family motto says,’ she beamed at Bryony, “always a Bell at the top of the bill”. You mark my words, Bryony — you’ll shine at something, even if it isn’t singing.’
    Bryony wrinkled her nose. The play was another sore point. ‘Anyway, Mum,’ she said, not wanting to dwell on it, ‘we’re getting a disco after the last performance; it’s going to be s-o-o-o-o-o cool. So …’ She gritted her teeth.
    Her mother read her mind.
    â€˜You after a new dress, Bryony, love?’
    Bryony nodded, but her mother shook her head sadly. ‘Sorry, Bryony — absolutely out ofthe question. Your dad and I are going to have to spend every last penny in the Special Expenses Account on costumes for the little ’uns for
TV Family Star Turns
.
    â€˜It’s the most important performance ever, Bryony,’ she said, eyes glowing. ‘The whole nation’s going to see
The Singing Bells
for the very first time. And if we get the most votes, there’s a recording contract and £50 000 in it. Just think of that!’
    Bryony felt a guilty little shockwave zing up her back. She had never thought about
The Singing Bells
needing new outfits. And neither, evidently, had Dad. She felt her face glow red, right to the roots of her hair.
    â€˜But everybody’s going to have new clothes ‘cept me …’ she began, then her voice faded away hopelessly. How could she even have thought of asking?
    Clarissa was not listening. She gazed into the distance, hands