“Right – that’s quite enough work for one day,” calls Miss Balogun. “You can all put your science books back in your drawers and then look this way.” She pauses dramatically. “It’s finally time for the big reveal!”
Tally shoves her book in her drawer and grins excitedly at Layla. Miss Balogun has been dropping not-so-subtle hints all week about having some exciting news, and they know exactly what it is that she’s going to talk about. Tally has been waiting for this moment all year. There are lots of challenges about being in year six, but this, this is going to make up for all the difficulties and tough times.
Miss Balogun waits until everyone is quiet and then gives the class a big smile. “Now as you all know, we’ve got some hard work ahead of us between now and the year six tests.”
“My brother said that they’re a nightmare,” shouts one of the girls. “He said that the questions are super difficult and make kids cry.”
Miss Balogun takes a step forward and shakes her head. “They’re really nothing to feel anxious about,” she assures them. “You just have to do your best – I’ve been telling you that all year.”
Tally isn’t convinced. Miss Balogun has been telling them that since September, but the way her lips press tightly together whenever the subject of the year six tests comes up makes Tally think that Miss Balogun isn’t entirely telling the truth when she says that they shouldn’t be worried. And it’s all very well saying that they just have to do their best, but what if your best isn’t good enough? What happens then?
“Anyway, we’re not talking about the tests right now.” Miss Balogun leans back on her desk and raises one eyebrow. “What we’re talking about is what happens after the tests. And that thing is, of course…”
She pauses again, really drawing out the moment. Tally leans forward in her seat.
“…The year six summer production!”
Everyone cheers, and there are even a few whoops from the back of the class. Miss Balogun gives them a moment and then leans across her desk to press a key on her computer. The whiteboard behind her springs into life, and there on the screen, in full multicoloured glory, is the title page of the script.
“This year we’re going to be putting on a performance of “Little Red – The Untold Tale,” she announces. “And I am very excited about this one!”
“So we’re just doing a fairy story?” asks Luke, sounding disappointed. “Like, for babies? Last year they did Bugsy Malone.”
There is a rumbling sound as the class all start muttering amongst themselves.
“It’s not just a fairy story,” Miss Balogun tells them, pushing herself off the desk. “In fact, there’s no such thing as ‘just a fairy story’. If you look at them properly, fairy tales are dark, sinister fables created to teach children about the world – and if you ever read some of the older versions, then I guarantee you won’t think that they’re for babies.”
She starts walking around the room, putting a piece of scrap paper on everyone’s desk.
“Little Red – The Untold Tale has a twist. What if the wolf isn’t an evil, granny-eating beast, but instead is constantly in the wrong place at the wrong time and unfairly getting the blame when things go badly? What if he’s just trying to find a place to be safe? And what if Granny isn’t a sweet old lady, but instead is a wolf-hunter, determined to rid the world of these troublesome creatures who don’t fit in?”
“Did you know that the world record for the largest number of people howling simultaneously was achieved in 2017 in Canada, when eight hundred and three people all howled like wolves at the exact same time?” announces Miles.
Miss Balogun grins at him. “I did not know that, Miles. Did you by any chance take another Guinness Book of Records out of the library this week?”
Miles nods seriously, and Miss Balogun keeps moving around the room.
“What if Little Red doesn’t really want to take her grandmother a basket of food because her granny is terrifying and unfriendly? And what if she ends up having to fight to protect the wolf from the people who don’t understand him?”
She turns and looks at them all. “We’re going to put on a production that will make everyone look at the story of Little Red Riding Hood in a whole new way. So, what I want you to do now is to write down the kind of role that you’re interested in going for and put it on my desk. I’ll start thinking about our cast list over the next few weeks. You can specify if you’d like a main role, in which case you need to be happy to learn a lot of lines and also to do some singing.”
Tally sinks back in her seat and smiles to herself. Acting is absolutely her thing, and it’s the one thing that she knows she is excellent at. She was born to play the lead in the summer production, and she knows that the role of Little Red is perfect. Tally would never let an animal be treated badly or unfairly, even by a granny.
“Or you can choose a minor role,” continues the teacher, heading back to her desk. “Perhaps something with fewer lines. Or you can be in the chorus and do the singing. Last, but definitely not least, you can request a position as part of our technical crew who will be in charge of the all-important lights and sound.”
Everyone grabs their piece of paper and starts to write. It takes Tally only seconds to record her choice and then she stands up and puts her piece of paper on Miss Balogun’s desk.
Tally Olivia Adams – Little Red.
“I put down for a minor role,” Layla tells her. “What about you?”
“Oh, I asked for a main part,” Tally replies, trying to sound casual.
Layla beams at her. “You’d be a brilliant Little Red!” she says. “You’re the best one at acting in the whole class, Tally!”
The warm feeling starts in Tally’s stomach and spreads outward, making her cheeks glow. “Do you think so?” she asks.
Layla nods. “One hundred per cent. You’re going to be Little Red and we’re going to have so much fun rehearsing and it’s all going to be amazing!”
In the distance, doors start to slam as the school day ends, and children erupt from their classrooms. Miss Balogun reminds them all about the homework due in tomorrow and then asks everyone to collect their things and line up at the door.
But Tally doesn’t move for a moment, even though the room around her is filled with noise and activity. She sits very still and lets her mind wander to what it’s going to be like when she gets the part; to how it’s going to feel to be the most popular kid in year six because the person who plays the lead role in the summer production is always the most popular. She knows that Layla believes in her – that’s what a best friend does – but she also knows that as far as the rest of year six are concerned, she’s not exactly the best. She’s going to show everyone what she can do, and it’s going to feel amazing to be her for once. Everything is finally going to start working out – she just knows it.