They quickly got changed and then Delphie put the CD of music from Cinderella into the machine. As she ran to her starting position she looked at Madame Za-Za sitting in her chair. Her face looked strained.

I hope this works, Delphie thought anxiously as she took her place behind Poppy and Lola.

The music from the ballet of Cinderella flooded out. Delphie saw Madame Za-Za blink and straighten up slightly but then the march began and all of Delphie’s attention was focused on dancing. She, Poppy and Lola had been practising all week.

They stepped forwards, with Poppy and Lola pretending they were carrying something and Delphie in between them carrying the locket, wrapped up in pink tissue paper.

They stopped in a line behind each other and then Poppy and Lola danced to the left and Delphie danced to the right, stepping lightly, spinning round and stopping up on their toes with their arms above their heads. Then they stepped back again and spun round as they got back into their line, ending with their knees bent. Marching around the room, their heads were held high, and they had smiles on their faces. They turned together, perfectly in time.

One turn, two turns, three turns. Delphie passed Madame Za-Za and saw a smile on her teacher’s face. Her head was nodding in time with the music.

Finally the girls stopped in front of her.

“Beautiful! Just beautiful, girls!” Madame Za-Za exclaimed.

“If it was, it’s because you’ve taught us so well.” Delphie handed her the present. “Happy birthday, Madame Za-Za.”

“A present?” said Madame Za-Za, as she unwrapped it. “But you shouldn’t have got me a…” Her voice faltered as she pulled back the tissue and saw the locket. “Oh,” she whispered.

“There’s a message with it,” Delphie said softly. She saw Poppy and Lola glance at each other. They had asked her where the locket had come from but she had just made up a story that she had found it in a junk shop and pretended she herself was going to make up a message. “Always believe in the magic.”

Madame Za-Za looked at her and, for a moment a look of understanding passed between them.

“Then that is what I shall do,” Madame Za-Za said softly. A smile spread across her face. “Maybe I’m not too old for this life of teaching after all.”

“Of course you’re not!” said Lola.

“This music is too hard to resist. May I dance with you, girls?”

“Yes!” they all cried.

Madame Za-Za stood up, danced forwards and spun into a pirouette followed by a leap in the air. Forgetting the moves they had learned, the girls grinned happily and with whatever steps came into their heads, started dancing around the room with their ballet teacher.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Linda Chapman and Katie May

Darcey’s Magical Masterclass