Star Quality

“You mean, if I get into the Company.”

“Yes.”

Caitlyn crinkled her nose. “I daren’t look that far ahead! It’s like tempting fate … Suppose I get thrown out?”

“Don’t be silly,” I said. “Of course you won’t get thrown out! Don’t even think about it.”

“How can you help it?” wailed Caitlyn. “Everybody thinks about it!”

She didn’t add, everybody except you, though she could have done cos it was quite true: I didn’tthink about it. Maybe I might nearer the time, but for goodness’ sake we’d only just come to the end of our very first day!

“Someone told me,” said Caitlyn, “that by the time we reach the end of our training there’ll be only half of us left. And did you know –” she turned, big-eyed, to look at me – “did you know that six people were thrown out last term? Mei was telling me. Six people!”

“Pity it didn’t include Tiffany,” I said. “Can’t think anyone would miss her.”

There was a pause. I could see Caitlyn struggling to think of something to say in Tiffany’s defence. She is someone who always tries to see the best in people. I tend to just jump in and say whatever I feel.

“Don’t tell me you like her?”

“She’s a good dancer,” said Caitlyn.

Grudgingly I said, “I suppose.” From what little we’d seen. “I wish you hadn’t told her about Mum giving you a scholarship, though.”

“Why?” Caitlyn seemed startled. “Didn’t you want me to?”

I said, “I don’t mind. Not like it’s a secret. But now she’s going to go round telling everyone you only got in cos of knowing the right people.”

“Oh.” She bit her lip. “Maybe I did.”

“That’s absolute rubbish,” I said, crossly. “Mum would never have given you a scholarship if she didn’t think you deserved it. As a matter of fact –”I wasn’t sure that Caitlyn knew this – “it’s the only scholarship Mum’s ever given. Ever! Which just shows that she agreed with Sean. He was the one that said you had a special talent.”

Predictably Caitlyn’s face had turned bright pink, either because I’d mentioned Sean or because I’d told her what he’d said. Most likely a mixture of both.

I sternly informed her, not for the first time, that she really had to have a bit more faith in herself. “Otherwise,” I said, “people like Tiffany will just walk all over you, like she tried to do today. She can try it with me as much as she likes. Doesn’t bother me! You’re too modest. It simply doesn’t get you anywhere, not in this business. You have to be really tough in this business.” (I was quoting Mum, here.) “If you keep putting yourself down all the time, people start thinking you can’t be much good. It helps, of course, if you’re naturally bumptious, which apparently I am, according to Sean.”