Davina Dupree Predicts a Plot Read online

  ‘That’s him,’ Arabella whispered. ‘That’s Alfie Calpone. He looks shorter in real life.’

  ‘Yeah, yeah, hello to you all and all that,’ Alfie shouted, eyebrows lowered, no trace of a smile. His voice was deep and rough, as though he’d just eaten a ton of gravel. ‘Now can someone tell me where I can get a drink around here? And can you girls move out of my way so my people can unpack my luggage? We need some space so move back will you.’ Well! How incredibly unappealing.com. It’s a good thing Carrie’s not here or she’d have given him a loud piece of her mind for arriving like that, famous or not.

  At that moment our drama teacher, Mrs De Nero, came floating round the corner. Mrs De Nero reminds me of a human butterfly, she has long, wavy white hair that wafts out behind her wherever she goes, and she always wears loose, patterned scarves, tops and trousers that seem to flap like butterfly wings when she moves. She went up and kissed the unsmiling Alfie on both cheeks then escorted him off to his luxury, guest apartment, while his ‘people’ dragged suitcase after suitcase out of the six cars.

  ‘Is he moving in forever?’ I whispered to Arabella in wonder and she grinned back, shrugging. How can anyone have that much stuff? Some of the cases and bags were labelled with stickers that read, “Alfie’s make up”, “Twenty different flavours of tea for Alfie”, “Alfie’s yoga mat”, “Alfie’s favourite pillow” and “Alfie’s hair dye”.

  ‘Didn’t think he had much hair left to dye,’ Arabella said, nudging me.

  The crowd was breaking up, with Cleo and Clarice looking offended, probably because Alfie hadn’t recognised their Hollywood potential in the few moments they were lying across his car, when there was a tinkling sound and a bike came zooming down the drive.

  ‘Is that Stephania Sellwig?’ I asked, squinting.

  ‘Yes I think so,’ Arabella said, as the tall, graceful lady dismounted and removed one, small backpack from her bike. ‘She looks much more normal than that Alfie chap, don’t you think?’

  ‘Hello girls,’ Stephania said in a lilting voice as she swept towards the front door, golden hair wound round her head in an intricate plait. ‘It’s so lovely to meet you, I can’t wait to see what talents you all have when we start the auditions tomorrow. Your teacher, Mrs De Nero, sent me an email saying to come and find her when I got here, so I’ll go in search of her now. See you soon.’ And with that she hopped inside and disappeared, Cleo and Clarice following her like two little puppies.

  So now we’ve got lessons all morning and auditions all afternoon. Aggghh! I’ve never acted in front of anyone in my life and Arabella is absolutely insistent that we both audition, just to annoy the bullies if nothing else. Oh WHAT am I going to do?

  Thursday 4th November

  Surprising news, Diary.

  Yesterday afternoon I felt like digging a hole and sitting in it quietly until the auditions were over, but Arabella didn’t let me. Honestly, she’s such a fiery red head! She came and found me in the library, where I was trying to hide from her behind the biggest stack of books, unsuccessful plan.com, and frog-marched me to the Grand Hall.

  I had to admit the hall was looking utterly fabulous. Apparently Mrs Fairchild had hired a team of professional designers over the half term, who’d completely transformed the hall from somewhere we have assemblies and sit exams to a West End standard theatre. It now has a proper high stage with a drop down red curtain, stacks of blank scenery leaning up against the back wall that has to be painted by us pupils, loads of boxes of props and even a trap door in the stage floor. Wowzers.com. The designers even put new rows of seating in. soft red chairs that step up higher and higher towards the ceiling, with pairs of red binoculars for the seats far from the stage. So cool.com.

  Alfie and Stephania were sitting several seats apart from one another on the front row and Mrs De Nero was perched on the side of the stage. Melody was reading from a script when we got there. She’s really good at acting and she wants to be a famous actress when she grows up so I hope she gets a good part.

  I saw a whole pile of scripts on one of the seats and the sight of them made me want to be sick. They were titled, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Arabella stepped forward and grabbed a couple, shoved one at me, then thumbed through the pages of hers excitedly. I couldn’t look at mine as I was trying not to faint.

  ‘I don’t even know what “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is about,’ I muttered.

  ‘All I know is it’s by the playwright William Shakespeare. Don’t worry, they’re bound to explain it to us when rehearsals start,’ Arabella said over her shoulder.

  There were only two first years ahead of us in the audition queue, and of course it had to be Cleo and Clarice. Clarice’s mum, Mrs Blinkham was also there, dolloping bright red LIPSTICK (for goodness sake!) on to her daughter’s face.

  ‘Speak clearly, darling,’ I heard her whisper loudly. ‘Alfie’s bound to recognise your star quality if you draw enough attention to yourself.’ Hah! Clarice’s little sister, Polly, was galloping along rows of seats, pretending to be a horse, stopping to pick her nose every now and again. I didn’t see Mrs Blinkham look at Polly ONCE the whole time we were in the Grand Hall, she seemed too busy worrying about getting Clarice a one way ticket to Hollywood. Honestly, that little girl could run out of the hall and her mother wouldn’t even notice.

  When Melody had finished her turn, Cleo climbed up onto the stage and read her script very quietly, mumbling into her sleeve.

  ‘Not such a big shot now, is she?’ Arabella whispered with glee.

  Then it was Clarice’s turn, her mother fussing over her all the way to the stage. Even though Arabella would never admit it, Clarice was actually quite good. She was playing the part of Helena, who was apparently in love with someone called Demetrius. She read the words confidently and even got carried away and did some actions. When she’d finished to ecstatic applause from her mother, Alfie called out,

  ‘Who’s next?’ I was nearly sick, thinking it might be me, but then…

  ‘Oh me, me, me!’ Arabella ran to the stage and jumped up. She then COMPLETELY astonished me by putting on the most marvellous acting performance I’ve ever seen. Honestly, she was no longer Arabella, but BECAME someone called Hermia, who was apparently in love with a bloke called Lysander. It seemed like Hermia’s dad wanted her to marry Demetrius not Lysander, but I could tell from Arabella’s acting that Hermia REALLY didn’t want to.

  By the time she’d finished, Stephania was on her feet clapping, and even Alfie had a half smile on his face. Cleo, Clarice and Mrs Blinkham, however, had twisted up faces like they’d been sucking on a batch of very strong lemons.

  ‘You were much better than her, darling,’ Mrs Blinkham said loudly to Clarice. Yeah right, I thought. Not likely. I walked up to the stage, plucking up my courage, because I’d just had an idea.

  ‘Wasn’t Arabella amazing?’ I said to Alfie, who just stared back, giving nothing away. ‘Look, I was going to audition, but to be honest I really don’t want to as I’d much rather be a stage hand, and help paint the scenery and things. And anyway, I wouldn’t want to be the next to audition after Arabella’s performance.’

  Arabella looked at me crossly for a moment, then her freckly face broke into a grin. She nodded in agreement.

  ‘What’s your name, kid?’ Alfie said, reaching down for a clipboard and pen. He wrote my name under “Stage hands”, then Arabella and I raced back up to our dorm while one of the twins, Moira, climbed on to the stage to say her piece.

  After dancing round the room all evening yesterday, Arabella had a total mood crash this morning and is now lying under her duvet with her face in the pillow, really worried that she messed up her audition. NOTHING I say seems to make her feel better, not even the offer of one of my dark, cherry chocolates that Carrie sent. Oh I DO hope she gets a good part. Stephania said the character list should be going up later today. SO nerve wracking.com…

  Friday 5th November

  A bitter-sweet success
, Diary.

  Well, there’s good news and bad news. The good news, well fabulous news, is that Arabella has been given one of the main parts – hurrah! The bad news is that she has to act opposite Clarice, who’s also been given a main part. And guess what – they have to act being in love with each other! It would almost be funny if Arabella wasn’t so utterly MAD about it. Arabella is going to play Hermia and Clarice is going to play the boy’s role of Lysander, because we don’t have any boys at our school to take those parts. Another bit of good news is that I’ve been made the head stage hand, which I’m really very pleased about because I can concentrate on painting the backdrops without worrying about lots of people staring at me on opening night, which would be TOO freaky for words.com.

  Melody, the twins and Hannah all have main parts too. Lottie is a stage hand, and Erica didn’t bother auditioning for anything, lazy thing. Cleo has a small part in the play, apparently she’s going to be a wall, which I’m sure she’ll be very good at because sometimes, trying to get through to her IS like talking to a brick wall. Good casting.com.

  Right, I’m going to take Arabella to the school farm to calm her down. She always likes spending time with our chickens, Lemony and Superchick and anyway, it’s their feeding time. She’s just thrown her pillows on the floor and is sitting crossed legged on her bed, repeating,‘Why does it have to be Clarice? Why oh why oh why?’

  Saturday 6th November

  I can’t believe it, Diary, there’s been a crime!

  Yesterday afternoon me and Arabella were sitting on a bale of straw in the school farm, Lemony was on my knee and Superchick was on her shoulder. We’d just cleaned out their run and Arabella was looking a lot happier.

  ‘It’s not that bad is it, Clarice playing opposite me? I mean, at least I got a main part, Alfie and Stephania must have thought my acting was sort of OK.’ Phew, I thought. Her mood is picking up.

  ‘Sort of OK?’ I said. ‘For goodness sake, Arabella, you were AMAZING, like a proper professional actress. You actually became someone else before my very eyes, it was magic.’ She grinned at me. ‘And yes, you’re right,’ I went on. ‘You should concentrate on what a great acting role you’ve been given, and ignore Clarice if she acts like a rude idiot towards you. But to be honest, her acting wasn’t bad either. Maybe you’ll even enjoy working together.’

  ‘Hmph.’ Was all Arabella said in reply.

  I lifted Lemony off my knee and was putting her on the floor for a bit of a run around, when the barn door crashed open and Melody ran in.

  ‘Have you heard?’ She panted.

  ‘Heard what?’ I said.

  ‘There’s been a theft. Apparently Moira and Lynne’s dorm was ransacked yesterday during the auditions, and some of the treasure their father brought them back from his Rainforest expedition has been stolen.’ Melody stopped for breath. ‘They’re both really upset about it.’

  ‘What?’ Me and Arabella said together.

  ‘It’s true,’ Melody panted. ‘I just heard Mrs Pumpernickle telling a sixth former all about it.’

  ‘Well I’m not surprised Moira and Lynne are upset,’ Arabella said. ‘Their father brought them back bracelets set with rare Amazonian stones. Who on earth could have done such a thing?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Melody said, sitting down on another straw bale. ‘But Mrs Pumpernickle is FURIOUS, and is off to have a meeting with Mrs Fairchild about it now. Moira said that their room had been completely turned over and messed up, drawers and clothes on the floor, shampoo squirted in the bath, make up all over the mirror, empty jewellery box on the floor. It was obviously someone really horrible doing it, who wanted to badly upset them.’

  ‘Yes,’ I said, flicking a long brown strand out of my face. ‘What an utterly beastly thing to do. The twins are so nice, I can’t imagine them having any enemies at all. Oh, I can’t bear to think of anyone we know doing such a terrible thing. Even Cleo and Clarice wouldn’t stoop that low, would they?’

  ‘I wouldn’t think so,’ Melody said, rubbing her forehead. ‘Actually, since they found out they’ve been going round putting all sorts of theories forward about who they think the thief is.’

  ‘Hmm,’ I said. ‘I can just imagine, and knowing those two I bet they’re not very polite theories either.’

  Oh diary, a crook is in our midst. But WHO could it be? Unsettling times.com.

  Sunday 7th November

  Oh dear, Diary.

  I have to tell you that there was a bit of drama at dinner last night. Me, Arabella, Lottie and Melody were all sitting round a table eating duck and kiwi fruit pate and crackers, when who should turn up next to our table but the lovely Cleo and Clarice. Cleo cleared her throat loudly, making sure lots of people looked up to see what was going on, before saying at the top of her voice,

  ‘Clarice and I know who the thief is. We know who stole the twins’ jewellery. We’ve worked it out, and we’re one hundred percent sure we’re right.’

  She paused for dramatic effect. By now, there was quiet across the dining hall. Everyone in the school had heard about the theft and were very shocked, because things like that just didn’t happen to pupils here, or so we’d thought.

  ‘Yes,’ Clarice went on. ‘The thief MUST be the poor girl, Lottie Greenwood. Think about it, there were never any thefts before she arrived and she’s the only poor girl at the school who can’t afford to buy jewellery of her own. She must have become jealous, seeing all of our riches and wealth, and decided to steal some bracelets for herself. She wasn’t even in the Grand Hall during the auditions yesterday, I remember. She asked Melody to put her name down on the ‘stage hand’ list.’ Clarice stepped back, staring at Lottie, arms folded.

  Lottie’s face crumpled and she gave a big sob.

  ‘I asked Melody to put my name down because I was too shy to come into the Grand Hall and speak to two famous celebrities. I was in my dorm the whole time, writing a letter to my mum about how I was finally starting to enjoy it here.’ Another big sob. ‘Oh I would never steal from anyone. Never!’ And with that she jumped up and ran out of the dining hall.

  ‘You ABSOLUTE PIGS!’ Arabella jumped out of her chair and ran towards the two snobs with her fists whirring like windmills in front of her. I also jumped up and caught my friend in my arms just as she was about to whack Clarice.

  ‘Calm down,’ I whispered. ‘They’re not worth getting into trouble for.’

  ‘What’s all this fuss?’ Mrs Pumpernickle came bustling towards us through the throng. Most girls in the room had climbed on to their chairs to get a better view, delicious dinners forgotten. Even little Polly was standing on her chair at the back of the room.

  ‘How dare you accuse Lottie, just because she’s a scholarship girl,’ Arabella said, trembling with rage. ‘You and your snobbish ways disgust me.’

  ‘It was an unfair, unkind thing to do,’ I agreed, looking from Cleo to Clarice while holding Arabella tightly in case she tried another attack. ‘Poor Lottie, just because she’s here on a scholarship it doesn’t mean she’s a thief, or is jealous of our things.’

  ‘Cleo, Clarice? What have you done?’ Mrs Pumpernickle demanded, now standing next to me, slightly out of breath. She looked from Arabella to the two blonde haired girls and back again.

  ‘Oh, just telling a few home truths,’ Cleo simpered, before spinning round in her high heeled shoes and strutting off, followed by Clarice. Mrs Pumpernickle looked around at everyone, eyes narrowed, clearly confused and suspicious. No one wanted to tell her about the horrible accusations so we all kept quiet.

  ‘Right. The pantomime is over,’ she said after a few moments, shaking her head. ‘I hope whatever happened is now finished and forgotten. Sit down, act like ladies and get on with your dinners. Honestly, sometimes you’d think we were in a zoo not a boarding school, the way you lot carry on.’

  Poor Lottie, being shamed in public like that. We couldn’t find her ANYWHERE after dinner, I hope she’s OK. I don’t believe for one minut
e that she’s the thief, but what if Cleo and Clarice have sowed a seed of doubt in people’s minds with their stupid speech? That would be too awful. If you ask me, Erica is much more of a likely candidate, she just doesn’t seem to like anyone or join in with anything.

  Arabella and I had a long chat about it when we got back to our dorm. Arabella was still upset about seeing Lottie so UNFAIRLY treated, and to be honest so was I. She’s new and such a sweet little thing, it was just so mean.com. We both VOWED to find the real culprit and to clear Lottie’s name. She doesn’t seem to have enough confidence to do that by herself, and it would be AWFUL if she decided to leave Egmont because of those two bullies. So we’ll have to do some serious detecting work and sniff out the real crook. This might be difficult in between rehearsals but we’ll give it our best shot.

  I’m going to sleep now, tomorrow’s going to be busy as Alfie and Stephania are going to talk us through the whole play. Ooh, I hope they don’t argue like Mrs Fairchild said they used to…

  Anyway, night night, Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

  Tuesday 9th November

  To be suspicious or not to be, Diary, that is the question.

  Yesterday was very interesting indeed. In the morning, Arabella and I went along to the Grand Hall two minutes after nine o’clock, and found it full of all the first years from Sapphire, Emerald and Ruby classes. Alfie was pacing up and down the stage.

  ‘You’re late,’ he shouted as we came in. ‘Sit down.’ Honestly, how impatient. It’s not my fault my electric tooth brush fell off the bathroom shelf and splattered water on my top so that I had to change it at the last minute, is it?