Making the Grade. Cate Shearwater

it didn’t quite take her mind off her nerves.

      ‘Come on,’ said Nancy, bolting down the last of her pancake. ‘We’d better get to the Academy. Can’t have you being late on your first day.’

      Ellie jumped up as if she’d been scalded. ‘Are we late?’

      ‘Actually, no,’ said Nancy. ‘Which is surprising for me, but I thought I’d make a special effort today since you’re new. So, have you got everything? Weights – guards – leo – fluffy socks.’

      ‘Socks?’

      ‘The gym floor is ice cold first thing in the morning. Especially this time of year,’ Bella explained, pulling on a coat that looked about two sizes too big for her. ‘I can lend you a pair if you haven’t got any.’

      ‘Thanks,’ said Ellie, as the girls headed off to the front door. How many other Academy traditions would there be to get used to, she wondered. She could hardly wait to find out.

      The Academy was only a short walk from Head-Over-Heels House, across the frost-covered park, over a busy road and through some winding backstreets. The other girls had gone on ahead after Nancy had realised she’d forgotten her weights, but Ellie and Tam had waited for her. It wasn’t even 6 a.m. and it was still dark outside, but Ellie was amazed how many people were up and about.

      ‘London never sleeps, Mum reckons,’ said Nancy as they ducked past a twenty-four-hour grocery shop and down an alleyway into a courtyard of converted warehouses. And then Ellie found herself standing in front of a battered metal door, above which a sign read ‘London Gymnastics Academy – Home of Sian Edwards and Matt Simmons – World Champions!’

      Ellie took a deep breath and made a vow to remember this moment. But then a couple of boys – members of the boys’ squad, she guessed – nearly knocked her off her feet as they raced up the steps.

      ‘Right, I’m this way,’ said Tam, following the other boys through a large metal door to the left. ‘See you later.’

      ‘The boys train in a separate gym next door,’ Nancy explained as she led the way to the girls’ changing room. ‘So you won’t have Tam showing off on the rings – which he is annoyingly good at. Don’t tell him I said that, though, or I’ll have to kill you.’

      ‘Um – no, I won’t,’ murmured Ellie, standing in the middle of the changing room, staring around half in a daze.

      ‘You’re busy thinking about all the famous gymnasts who’ve got changed here, aren’t you?’ said Nancy as she plonked down her bag and started tugging off her trainers.

      ‘Um – yes, I was,’ said Ellie. ‘How did you know?’

      ‘You’re one of those romantic types,’ said Nancy with a grin. ‘I could see that right away. I wish I was like that, only Tam says I have less imagination than a slug. Although slugs could be very imaginative for all he knows.’

      Ellie giggled.

      ‘That’s rubbish, anyway! You’ve got the craziest imagination of anyone I know, Nancy!’ said Bella who was already in her leotard and pulling on a pair of fluffy socks.

      ‘Yes, the sort of imagination that gets me in trouble for daydreaming, not the kind that makes a world champ,’ said Nancy.

      ‘You see, Emma’s got this theory that there are three kinds of gymnasts,’ Bella explained, twisting her hair up into two little buns. ‘Power gymnasts, technical gymnasts and artistic gymnasts.’

      ‘Oh!’ said Ellie. ‘That’s what my coach Fran said too.’ But of course that made sense. Emma and Fran had trained together and competed for Team GB together too – along with Aunt Lizzie.

      ‘According to Emma, you need all three to make it to the top,’ said Nancy. ‘So, if you’ve got strength and precision to go with that imagination of yours, you’ll be winning gold medals before you know it.’

      A couple of other girls appeared at that moment, so Ellie didn’t have the chance to reply. She was touched by Nancy’s faith in her, but she couldn’t help worrying that she wasn’t going to live up to anyone’s expectations – not even her own.