Trouble in a Tuto pagesChicken House 07092020 0910 Page iii - PDF document

1 Trouble in a Tuto pages_Chicken House 0
Trouble in a Tuto pages_Chicken House 07/09/2020 09:10 Page iii Text © Helen Lipscombe 2020www.chickenhousebooks.comotherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.Typeset by Dorchester Typesetting Group Ltd Trouble in a Tuto pages_Chicken House 07/09/2020 09:10 Page iv For Mum and Dad Trouble in a Tuto pages_Chicken House 07/09/2020 09:10 Page v At Home Ballet dancer and choreographer s R Milly School of Balletand secret head of Swan House s m Milly  Student ballerina and spyMax DeverallCatherine Lilova, BabEva Kydd, OMilly Kydd Balle

2 t dancer and choreographers Russian babu
t dancer and choreographers Russian babushka School of Balletand secret head of Swan House ballerina s mother … prima Student ballerina and spy Leonora Deverall s c Milly s n Milly  s d M ax  BorisThe BombardierLeonora Deverall s cats daughterBallet dancer and choreographer THE VIRTUAL MENTORSWillow PerkinsTom GarrickDafydd Wynn-Jones William FlynnMillys best friendMillys friendHead of IT and Millys friendMillys nemesisWillows best friend Millys mentor Lotties mentorSpencers mentor THE STAFFEmmeline Topping, TopsyTrevor ToppingTopsys motherVirtual

3 librarianKorolevs star pupilCooks hus
librarianKorolevs star pupilCooks husband and Topsys At Meekes the ShoemakersMilly and Evas shoemaker ’Twas the Night Before Christmashots ring out. Swords slice the air. One by one,My skin tingles. It’s like I’m right there. and my feet flex. Claraand my toes point. When they defeat the evilMouse King, Mum and Bab cheer. I squeeze Mum’sarm and her muscles tense. She’s thin, but Mum’s a ballerina. And ballerinas are stronger than they‘Milly, come closer.’ Her whisper kisses my cheek.‘This reminds me of an important rule in to Espionage about never giving up

4 – try, try, tryagain. I wouldn’t be here
– try, try, tryagain. I wouldn’t be here today if I hadn’t followedthat rule.’battle onstage glints in her eyes. I remind myselfMum’s not just a ballerina. Trouble in a Tuto pages_Chicken House 07/09/2020 09:10 Page 3 The lights go up for the interval. ‘Vhat a vonderfulevening. Isn’t the Prince to for?’ Bab winds afeather boa around her neck. ‘Christmas simply isn’tand it’s even moreperfect now that ve’re together again – that calls for‘And ice cream?’ I say, blinking myself back to‘And ice cream, dahhling. You can have anythingyou vant – it’s Christmas Eve!’My

5 babushka takes my hand, still tingly fro
babushka takes my hand, still tingly fromclapping, and we wind from our box to the stairs.People make way for Mum. She swishes past theblack suits and silky dresses in a long white gownstudded with jet-black beads. I’m wearing the newdress and silver high-tops Bab bought me last term,‘for the Christmas party at your new school’.Turned out Swan House School of Ballet wasn’tthat kind of school. Spy schools don’t do parties.I find the ice-cream queue in the foyer, and listento murmurs of ‘Isn’t that Eva Kydd?’ follow Mum tothe bar.I smile to myself. After 364 days of

6 beingkidnapped, she’s home. And not just
beingkidnapped, she’s home. And not just for ChristmasDay. For the whole of the Christmas holidays. That’stwo whole weeks of just Mum, Bab and m––There’s a tap on my shoulder. Trouble in a Tuto pages_Chicken House 07/09/2020 09:10 Page 4 I know that voice. My legs want to scarper, butnot as much as the rest of me wants to see the Danceof the Sugar Plum Fairy in Act Two.I stick my smile back on and turn around. ‘Oh, hi,Willow. Are you enjoying the show?’Willow Perkins rolls her violet eyes. ‘Did you seethe duel between the Nutcracker and the MouseKing? Sooo lame.

7 And Davina – that’s my dad’sfiancée – s
And Davina – that’s my dad’sfiancée – says Clara was très gauche. Honestly. Evenyou could do better.’That’s Willow trying to be nice. I try to be niceback. ‘Ice cream?’Her nose wrinkles. ‘No, thank y–– OMG! Don’tlook now, but Max Deverall’s behind you.’Max Deverall?’ I peek over my shoulder,hoping to see the superstar dancer turned superstarchoreographer. ‘Where is he?’‘Too late, you missed him.’ Willow’s face is apicture of smugness, like one of those tiny dogs thatgets to ride in their owner’s handbags. ‘Anyway, I’mglad they found your mother. The papers said sh

8 eI practise my unreadable spy-face. ‘Yes
eI practise my unreadable spy-face. ‘Yes. She waslooked after by a very nice family in Piccadilly orthereabouts. Bab says it happens all the time.’I score myself a two out of ten on the fib-o-meter, Trouble in a Tuto pages_Chicken House 07/09/2020 09:10 Page 5 but Willow’s not even listening – she’s got her own‘Did I tell you Davina has her very own dramaschool in LA?’‘What flavour would you like?’ says the ice-creamboy.‘Strawberry, please. Um, LA?’Willow swishes her blonde ponytail. ‘You know –Hollywood. She says it won’t be long before myacting is as good as m

9 y dancing. She says I’m going tobe a sta
y dancing. She says I’m going tobe a star.’I’m not surprised. Acting and lying are almost thesame thing, aren’t they?Willow lowers her voice. ‘And given that I almostdied last term, I’ve decided spying’s not for me. So Idon’t suppose I’ll see you again.’I peel off the lid of my ice cream. ‘I don’t suppose‘You’ll see me, of course, on the silver screen.’I scoop out a pink creamy dollop and suck on thesmall, wooden spoon. How many miles are therebetween Hollywood and London? Must be thou-sands. Next to having Mum home, that’s the bestChristmas present ever.Willow wav

10 es at a woman in a long black dress.‘Her
es at a woman in a long black dress.‘Here’s Davina. Divine, isn’t she? Guess this is Trouble in a Tuto pages_Chicken House 07/09/2020 09:10 Page 6 , Willow.’happy for Willow Perkins. I really and truly am.I take my seat in the box, snuggle into the dark andwait for the Sugar Plum Fairy.Mum puts down her programme. ‘I hope Babcomes before it starts. I’d forgotten how long it takesher to powder her nose.’We clap for the conductor. The orchestra waits forhis baton to twitch but there’s a noise. Not the tinkleof a harp or the toot of a flute – a One of the cellists

11 squeals. A squiggle of neonshoots throu
squeals. A squiggle of neonshoots through the air, hangs over the orchestra andbursts in a shower of stars. The lady playing theceleste swats a spark from her hair. There’s a screamfrom the stalls below and my stomach squiggles too.‘What is it, Mum? Is it part of the show?’‘I doubt it, sweetheart, and I don’t think weshould stay to find out. Hold my hand. We’ve got toMum’s hand is cool and dry. Mine is hot and 7 Trouble in a Tuto pages_Chicken House 07/09/2020 09:10 Page 7 sweaty. It’s only been three days since I stoppedFilipp Popov from blowing up Swan House.

12 To beperfectly honest, I’ve had enough
To beperfectly honest, I’ve had enough excitement for oneAnother rocket explodes over our heads. Fierysparks rain down. My heart gullumps.People are clambering over their seats, charging‘Milly, this way!’ coughs Mum.Smoke creeps up my nose. We run out of the boxand into a stampede of dark suits, silky dresses,Wrapped around her wrist like an almost invisiblebangle is Mum’s Swanphone. She holds it to her lipsand whispers a command. The next thing I know hervoice is booming over the screams and clacking heels.It’s Mum on loudspeaker.‘PLEASE REMAIN CALM. MOVE SWIFTLY

13 TO THE EXITS AND TAKE CARE ON THESTAIRS
TO THE EXITS AND TAKE CARE ON THESTAIRS.’We move against the crowd. I lose Mum’s hand. Aheel stabs my foot. We keep pressing forwards. Thendown. And down. And down.Mum bursts into the Ladies. ‘Mama, ty gde?I shout too, ‘Bab, where are you?’No reply, just a tinny recording of ‘The Dance of Trouble in a Tuto pages_Chicken House 07/09/2020 09:10 Page 8 the Sugar Plum Fairy’. One by one, we crash into the‘She might have gone outside,’ says Mum. ‘Let’sI take one last peek in the loos and run after her. Trouble in a Tuto pages_Chicken House 07/09/2020 09:10 Page 9