Ratz: Part 1

By PAT QUINN

I stood by the big, velvety curtains at the side of the stage. The music thumped through the wooden floor. It made my feet want to hop and my legs want to move. On the stage, lots of little dolls danced around four big rag dolls. Their arms swung in time to the music, their bodies bent and swayed. I bent by legs. And swayed my body, and - "Lorrie!" someone whispered behind me. "Stand up straight!"

"Ready, soldiers? Off you go!" hissed Ms Davison. She gave me a gentle shove, the music changed and the toy soldiers marched on to the stage. Left, right, left, right. I tried to look straight ahead, the way Ms Davison had told us to, but at the same time I tried to see the audience. Left, right, left, right. There were a million faces out there - where was one I knew? I wasn't even sure who to look for.

"One of us will be there!" Mum had shouted as I'd left. But which one? The lights were so bright, it made it hard to see.

Publisher: Scholastic

Price: $13.95

Age group: 8-13 years