‘A lot are already down,’ Joel observed. ‘Or graffitied in a way Olivia Newton-John would turn in her grave over.’
Robyn smiled at that. ‘Look, don’t forget I’ve done years in musical theatre. Been in the chorus of loads of productions, both amateur and professional. Your dancing is superb – you know that. Your acting’s not bad at all. Honestly. And this is a simple amateur school production, not something in the West End.’
‘But I’ll be leading man with Sorrel. You know how good she is. I don’t want to let her down.’
‘OK, so yes, sheisfabulous, but she’s practised and practised. She’ll just fall back into the part when she returns in July. Listen, once we’ve got you up and running, when you know the words, we’ll arrange a Zoom meeting between the pair of you…’
‘Dancing on Zoom? Now youarebeing daft.’
‘No! The lines, I mean. You learn all your songs, and then she’ll help you as will the rest of the cast. Miss Preston in the music department has already agreed to give you singing lessons to get you up to scratch. I messaged her this morning. She’s been great coaching the Pink Ladies and the T-Birds.’ Robyn was thinking on her feet. ‘And’ – Robyn felt she was now clutching at straws somewhat – ‘we can get the technical people in to have you sing along to a recorded version through an earpiece maybe – you know, a bit like singers do in the pub when it’s karaoke evening?’
‘You want me to drink five pints first?’ He grinned up at her and Robyn felt real affection for the boy.
‘If it helps.’ She smiled along with him.
‘And these “technical people”? What technical people?’ Joel actually laughed out loud at that.
‘Oh, you may scoff, but we have that in hand.’ (Robyn crossed her fingers behind her back, hoped her nose wasn’t growing longer.) ‘Mr Davies, the science technician, is big into sound systems. He DJs in his spare time.’
‘Does he? Old Dithery Davies? He’s always dropping Bunsen burners and test tubes. Can’t imagine him going for it in the nightclubs.’ Joel laughed again. ‘And he must be forty if he’s a day.’
‘Hey, there’s no monopoly on age when it comes to the turntables. Look at Fatboy Slim.’
‘Who?’
Robyn tutted.
‘OK, all right, I’ll give it another go. I want to show Sorrel that I’m up to it. Even though I’m not…’
‘Of course you do.’ Robyn patted Joel’s arm.
‘Mind you, she’ll soon forget me when she’s down there with all those talented people.’
‘Stop feeling sorry for yourself,’ Robyn said, reaching for a couple of bottles of water and handing one to Joel. ‘That’s not the way to go about it. And listen, remember, I’ve seen and heard you take Shakespearian parts in my English Lit classes. You have good intonation; you read well. This is something you’ve never done before. No different from the rest of the cast who started out back in October when I was tearing my hair out. The others will be so pleased the whole production is back on – I’ve already emailed them and their parents – they’ll be willing to give you every bit of help there is.’
They both looked up as Mason Donoghue popped his head round the door. ‘I thought I heard voices. What are you two doing here? It’s the Easter holidays, if you hadn’t noticed.’
‘Mr Donoghue.’ Robyn sighed. ‘Do you never read your emails? I’ve been keeping you up to date with what Joel here is up to.’
‘Not if I can help it,’ Mason said. ‘What Joel’s up to?’ He frowned, turning to the boy. ‘You’re not back with the lot that put you in hospital?’
‘No!’ Joel tutted, cross, Robyn could see, that Mason might think that.
‘Joel’s moved in with Jess…’ Robyn started.
‘Yes, I’m aware of that. I did see the texts you sent me and also the ones from both the Youth Justice Service and from Andy somebody…’
‘Andy Somerville – he’s my social worker,’ Joel muttered, obviously embarrassed at the entourage of support workers he’d had foisted on him.
‘So, I’m in school to do just that. Answer emails, see what’s afoot with the closing-down plans, etcetera, etcetera. Who let you in?’
‘Mr Donoghue, the school’s open all the holiday for revision classes in the library. You must know that?’ Robyn frowned.
‘Duh, of course. I knew there was another reason for me coming in. I need to check the Year 11 staff who’ve volunteered to do a stint are actually here.’
‘They are.’
‘And shouldn’tyoube up there, Joel? Revising? You’ve missed six months of actual school, you know.’
