The crucial week was here. Because of a newly-imposed rule that only entrants who'd already performed could watch the other schools' contributions, the Mixed Infants felt a little deprived.

"Did you really want to watch dear little Taylor skipping round the stage in a tutu doing Shakespeare? Blah!" was Mr Keogh's comment. Then he glared and said:

"SUMS! NOW!" and wondered why the kids just grinned as they got out their books.

Eric Chiltern and Bob Hardy Hamster got a lot of cuddles, as did the rabbits at school. Ethan was now besotted by Janie.

"She's a good rabbit, isn't she?" Ethan confided to Lofty. Although Ethan loved his big brother, he liked to tell Lofty things because Lofty was kind and didn't tease.

"Fat enough for a pie!" chimed in Cal.

Gentle little Lofty did something entirely out of character. He put up his fists.

"Me and Ethan will have to kill you if you don't shut up with that. And then we'll get you out of the gang."

Then they realised what Lofty had just said, and they fell about laughing.

The judges came to see Mrs Beauchamp, to discuss the procedures. There was a Ms Lara Stone, a Mr Patrick Spiller and a Mr Martin Ashford. The two men tried their charm in vain on the headmistress, their cause being even more hopeless when Mr Spiller made a throwaway comment that hinted at homophobia. Being professional judges however, they didn't let personal feelings cloud their judgement. But both men felt it was like being allowed to see and smell a delicious pie and then being told that they were on diets.

The kids were a bit worried when they found out that the audience would have the final vote.

"But if any of Taylor's friends or parents are in, they'll give us rotten marks."

"There'll be enough parents who like you, Ben, so stop fretting and finish that drawing of Eric Chiltern for me" ordered Ms Chao.

The judges went to a restaurant every night and discussed the performances over dinner. On the Monday night they discussed 'Titania's dream', the production by St Cuthert's, and 'Jacqueline and the Beanstalk' by Holby Sports Academy.

"I think the Beanstalk one might just scrape through. It was better than that St Cuthberts' effort. All they did was take the bits about the fairies from Midsummer Night's Dream and act them."

"But Beanstalk was just a gender-bender version. The giant man who's kind to Jacqueline, but his wife who tries to catch her and eat her. But that little girl playing Jacqueline can climb."

"So she should, coming from Holby Sports."

"So Cuthberts at the bottom, with 'Jaqueline' best out of those two up to now."

"Just our views. The parents will decide. Let's hope they're not besotted with soppy little blonde kids in tutus."

And all too soon it was Thursday. The only kid who could eat a decent breakfast that day was Noel because he could eat a decent breakfast in the middle of a battle zone. All the other little guts were full of butterflies.

Mr Keogh didn't even make them do sums.

"Just sit there and read today, kids."

He handed books of stories out. They were nice and one made Ethan giggle a bit because it was about a circus with an elephant, but they were still all quite tense.

Miss Honey knew the feeling and made soup and made soup and smoothies for them all. They found these easier, but still didn't clear their soup bowls.

There were no lessons for the afternoon, but one final rehearsal was to take place at the Holby New Theatre, where the plays were being performed.

Then the kids would have a rest, until it was time for their play to begin.

"Now look, kids, just do your best. Nobody's going to shout at you afterwards if we don't win. We've all had a good time putting this together haven't we?"

Nods and grins from the kids.

"Well then. You just enjoy yourselves, do your best and then we'll all know on Friday, won't we?"

Miss Freeman passed a note over to Mrs Beauchamp, who read it, raised her eyebrows and said:

"Good point, Miss Freeman. We'll see to that when this lot are having their rest."

Minx, thought Mrs Beauchamp, she KNOWS the tips of my ears go red when I'm embarrassed.

Suddenly there was a little frightened moan from Ethan:

"I don't want to be the Director any more."