‘Yes, you are!’ says Jack. ‘We just need to practise. Don’t worry, we can practise at home.’

‘Really?’ says Billie. ‘Thanks, Jack.’

Chapter
Three

That evening, Billie eats her dinner quickly.

‘Can I go to Jack’s?’ she asks her mum and dad.

‘No dessert?’ asks her dad.

‘It’s banana pudding!’ says her mum.

‘I’ll have some later,’ says Billie. ‘I have to practise my ballet!’

Billie rushes out the back door into the garden.

In Billie’s garden there is an old wooden fence with a hole in it.

It is just the right size for Billie and Jack to fit through!

Billie squeezes through the hole into Jack’s garden.

Billie looks through Jack’s window. She sees that Jack and his family are still eating their dinner.

When Jack sees Billie, he waves and begins to eat very quickly. Jack’s dad turns around and waves for Billie to come inside.

‘Hi, Billie!’ Jack’s dad says.

‘Jack was just telling me what good dancers you are.’

Billie feels very proud. She smiles at Jack. ‘Yes. We’re going to be famous ballerinas!’ says Billie. ‘But I still need to practise a bit.’

‘Let’s go!’ says Jack, hopping up.

‘No dessert?’ asks Jack’s mum.

‘It’s cheesecake!’ says Jack’s dad.

‘Later!’ Billie and Jack shout together. They run up to Jack’s bedroom.

Billie practises being a butterfly. Jack practises being a troll.

Billie flaps her hands fast and flutters around the room. Crash!

She bumps into Jack’s Lego table. Lego pieces fly everywhere.

Bang! She bumps into Jack’s desk. All his Star Wars figures fall on the floor.

‘Billie! You are going too fast!’ Jack says.‘You have to float like a butterfly. Gentle and slow. Like this.’

Jack stands on his toes and flaps his arms gracefully. Then he flutters around the room. Just like a real butterfly.

Billie frowns. She stamps her foot.

‘I can’t do it,’ she says. ‘It’s too hard! I’ll never be a famous ballerina!’

‘You look more like a stomping troll,’ Jack laughs. Billie smiles at that. ‘Hey,’ she says. ‘I’ve got an idea!’

Chapter
Four

All week, Billie and Jack work on their ballet after school. Sometimes they dance in Billie’s bedroom. Sometimes they dance in Jack’s bedroom.

Sometimes their parents hear them practising: Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!

‘Are you sure that’s ballet you’re doing?’ they call out, when the stomping gets very loud.

‘Yes!’ call Billie and Jack together. ‘Don’t come in!’

When it’s time for their next ballet class, Billie and Jack are ready.

Billie puts on her tutu. Then, instead of her soft pink ballet slippers, Billie puts on her big red boots.

Can you guess what Billie is up to?

Billie’s mum drives Billie and Jack to dance class. When they get inside the hall, Miss Dainty claps her hands.