At the end of the class, Rosie called Charlie over to talk.

‘Kathy’s mum is going to drop round her costume this week,’ Rosie said.

Charlie nodded down at her shoes. She hated herself for being so shy.

‘How is Kathy?’ Charlie asked quietly.

‘She’s OK, poor thing,’ Rosie said. ‘She’s coming to watch the concert.’

Charlie managed to look up at Rosie and smile.

But Rosie looked thoughtful. ‘Why don’t you show me your solo now?’ she said. ‘I’d love to see it.’

‘Oh,’ Charlie glanced out the door to the waiting area. She could hear the rest of the class talking and laughing together.

‘Hang on.’ Rosie ran over and shut the door. Then she gently led Charlie by the shoulders to the centre of the room. ‘Just dance for me,’ Rosie said. ‘OK?’

Charlie wanted to shake her head. Then the music started.

Friday night and the lights are low …

Somehow, with the other girls out of the room, Charlie felt the sweet voice reaching inside her like before.

Before she could think, Charlie was dancing. But not just dancing — she was feeling it all inside, coming from her heart. The hope and fear and joy all came out as Charlie danced for her teacher just like when she danced at home.

When Charlie had finished, Rosie smiled and nodded.

‘See you next week,’ she said.

Everyone was stunned.

The whole class stared at Rosie with mouths open and eyes wide.

It was the week after the audition, less than one week until the concert.

Charlie couldn’t see her own face, but she knew that she must have looked more stunned than anyone.

‘Me?’ she stammered. ‘I —’

Her heart was pounding again, but not like last week. Part of her felt good. She was surprised and scared, but also happy.

Thrilled.

‘I know you had a case of stage fright last week,’ Rosie said. ‘But I’m sure you can do it, Charlie.’

The trendy girls were whispering to each other as they looked at Charlie.

Charlie shook her head. ‘I can’t,’ she said. Not with everyone watching, she thought.

‘Here,’ Rosie said kindly. She gave Charlie a bag. ‘Just put on Kathy’s costume and give it a go.’

Charlie nodded and ran to the toilets. She was glad to escape from the eyes of the rest of the class.

Once she was safely inside the toilet cubicle, Charlie put her hand over her mouth and laughed out loud.

She couldn’t believe it! Rosie had asked her to be the Dancing Queen!

She couldn’t imagine doing her dance in front of the trendy girls, and definitely not at the concert!

But it still felt great to be asked.

Charlie pulled the shimmery costume out of the bag and carefully pulled it on.

It felt fantastic.

She leaned back, all glittery, against the door. Then she took a long, deep breath.

Rosie must have thought Charlie’s solo was good. But was it good enough to dance in the concert?

What if she had stage fright again?

Charlie took another breath and shook her head. No, she was too shy to dance her solo for the concert. She would have to tell Rosie to choose someone else.

Charlie picked up the empty bag, ready to go back and talk to Rosie.

But then she stopped.

The bag wasn’t empty.

At the bottom of the bag was a small package with Charlie’s name on it.

Inside was a delicate plastic butterfly. Its wings were white and shimmery.

She smiled at the delicate wings. They reminded her of something …

Then she noticed a note tucked into the wrapping.

Charlie smiled at the note. Kathy was so kind. Right from the start, she had been nice to Charlie. She didn’t care that Charlie was different.

Why, then, did Charlie worry about the trendy girls? It didn’t matter what they thought. Charlie already had a friend in the class. A good friend. After a while, she tucked the butterfly and note safely back in the bag.

Then Charlie headed out of the toilets, with a secret smile in her heart.