QUIZ: WHAT SEASON SUITS YOU BEST?

Reader Lori has devised a fab quiz to find out which season of the year is just right for you! What are you waiting for? 

1. Your alarm goes off at 7am... do you:
a/ Pull the covers over your head and snuggle down for as long as you can?
b/ Jump up, take a quick shower and go for a morning run through the park?
c/ You're already up, having a lazy breakfast in the garden!
d/ You get up grudgingly... 7am is too early!

2. What snack would you choose mid-morning?
a/ Hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows!
b/ A fresh fruit smoothie for energy!
c/ An ice cream... decadent but gorgeous!
d/ A blueberry muffin!

3. What colours are your favourites?
a/ Cream and crimson...
b/ Greens, pinks and blues...
c/ Rich yellow, white and turquoise...
d/ Golden brown, burnt orange and mustard yellow...

4. What style of clothes are you most drawn to?
a/ Anything with a luxe feel and fabrics like cashmere, velvet and silk.
b/ You choose sporty, practical styles where possible.
c/ Cute little dresses, ultra-short shorts and crop tops.
d/ Romantic, boho styles with lots of layers and flowing fabrics.

5. Footwear... what would you choose?
a/ Sounds crazy, but fluffy slippers are your absolute favourite!
b/ Trainers - a nice design, sure, but they have to be practical.
c/ Strappy sandals with a bit of glitz!
d/ Suede boots with tassels and a bit of folk-art detailing.

6. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
a/ To Lapland, to see the land of the midnight sun, stroke a reindeer and sleep in an ice-hotel!
b/ To Ireland or the Scottish highlands, to explore the lush green scenery and climb some mountains!
c/ To Tenerife or Barbados to do some serious sun worshipping!
d/ To Rome, Barcelona or Paris... a cool citybreak!

7. Later, you are planning to:
a/ Veg out at home with friends, watching movies and eating pizza.
b/ Go to your dance class, then meet some mates to plan tomorrow's adventures.
c/  Party - life is for living!
d/ Curl up at home, read a book and dream...

CONCLUSION:
Mostly a... you are a WINTER person, happiest snuggled up in the warm sipping hot chocolate, taking a brisk walk through the crisp snow or building a snowman with friends! You're warm, loving and caring with a great sense of fun!
Mostly b... you are a SPRING person, full of energy and enthusiasm! You're always on the go and love spending time outside - you're sporty, but have a real love of nature also. Friends describe you as adventurous, brave, happy and loyal.
Mostly c... you are a SUMMER person, a real sun-worshipper who loves luxury, style and new experiences. You are outgoing, confident and always the life and soul of any friendship group... you know what you want and others respect you for it!
Mostly d... you are an AUTUMN person, gentle, romantic and a bit of a dreamer! You sometimes seem shy, but that's because you live a lot in your imagination, and friends value your kindness, creativity and quirky approach to life!

Cathy says:
Ooh, fascinating! Were you mostly a, b, c or d? Or a mixture? I was mostly AUTUMN... and it's definitely partly true! COMMENT BELOW to let me know how accurate YOUR results are!

CATHY: JACKIE MAG DAYS...

Cathy Cassidy tells all about her days working on the legendary teen mag JACKIE, which helped to shape her writing career...

Cathy says:
My first real job after leaving art college with a degree in illustration was as editorial assistant on the legendary teen mag JACKIE. It was just about the job of my dreams! To start with I was the office junior and had to answer the phone, fetch the coffee and chocolate and do the photocopying, but I was thrown in at the deep end too and had to come up with lots of ideas for features and then write them up! I quickly learnt to think on my feet and then write up the ideas I'd put forward - brilliant training for meeting those deadlines later on as an author!

My desk just happened to be next to that of the Deputy Ed who was overworked and also acting as Fiction Editor; he would hand me piles of manuscripts and ask me to comment on them. This was quite surreal, as I had spent most of my teens sending short stories to JACKIE mag hoping they might buy one (in the end it was different mag that bought and published my first story when I was sixteen!). Anyhow, my judgement must have been good, because we bought the stories I loved, and rejected (nicely!) the ones I didn't, and a few weeks later I was given the job of Fiction Editor. This taught me so much about what teens might want to read, and I learnt important lessons about hooking the reader into the story and making sure they wanted to read on! One highlight was serialising the book version of one of my fave 80s teen flicks, PRETTY IN PINK, for the magazine. So cool!

Working at JACKIE wasn't just about stories, though. Famous pop stars of the day wandered in and out of the office and I got to go out of the office to organise and style fashion and beauty shoots, working with models and photographers... so cool! I worked alongside some awesome people, many of whom went on to do amazing things - as authors, journalists, scientists, radio DJs, businessmen and a whole lot more. They were also the loveliest work colleagues ever! After just over two years at JACKIE mag, I moved on to another magazine job and then into art teaching. I missed JACKIE lost and know it was a vital part of my learning to be an author, and a magical part of my career. I soon made the move to being a freelance journalist and illustrator and worked for JACKIE and its sister mags as a freelance for many years to come, until it closed and was replaced by the younger teen mag SHOUT. I worked for SHOUT too... but that's another story! ;o)

Did YOU know about Cathy's teen magazine background? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

MARINA: SOMEONE STOLE FROM ME

It's problem page time on DREAMCATCHER again and reader Marina has a friendship problem that could prove tricky to solve... can SKYE TANBERRY offer some answers?

Marina says:
I had a sleepover last week with four of my closest friends. Three of them I have known since I was in primary, and one, let's call her Jade, just joined our school before Christmas but quickly became a part of our friendship group. After the sleepover, I noticed a silver charm bracelet was missing from my dressing table - my gran gave it to me and it is very special to me. I looked everywhere for it but it has vanished. I hate to say it, but one of my friends must have taken it and I can't help suspecting Jade, just because I don't really know her as well as the others I suppose, but I hate this feeling of mistrust and I feel betrayed. I am scared to say anything because this could pull our friendship group apart, but I cannot keep pretending to my mum that I've mislaid the bracelet. Help!

Skye says:
First of all, stop trying to cover this up - you need some adult help to unravel this. Tell your mum what has happened and together search the room and eliminate once and for all any chance that it has been mislaid. If it turns up, great... crisis averted! If not, I suggest your mum contacts the mums of the other girls involved and perhaps the school also, until the missing bracelet is found. This does not have to be a matter of accusing people... more that the bracelet went missing when these girls were present and it needs to be found. I understand why your suspicions fall on Jade, as you don't know her well, but it is also possible that one of your older friends has done this... or that someone has tried to plant the bracelet on one of the group to cause trouble. Let the school and the adults investigate and try not to jump to conclusions. Hopefully, the bracelet will be found and you may then have to adjust your friendships accordingly - it is tough to trust and stay close to someone who steals from a friend. If you decide to step back from your friendship with the culprit, do it gently and without anger... in many ways, this action is a lashing out by a troubled person, and may not have been meant to hurt you as much as it did. It's also possible that the bracelet won't be found, and that is harder... trust has been damaged and that will affect the whole friendship group. Try not to let this incident stop you from trusting people... friendships are built on trust. For now, talk to your family and get some help to solve the mystery - and good luck.

Cathy says:
A very difficult problem... and as Skye says, one that may not have a neat ending. Do YOU agree with Skye's advice? What extra suggestions would you add? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

SOUMIA: I JUST WANT TO WRITE...

Reader Soumia describes her path to discovering her goal in life - and her career dream!

Soumia says:
I remember once in primary school when the teacher asked us what we wanted to do in the future and why. Some kids seemed to know exactly what they wanted and answered without even thinking about it, but when it was my turn I didn't know what to say. I tried to think of something, but nothing came, and the teacher looked at me and said, 'You know that a person with no goal will never succeed.' That's when I started trying to figure out my goal in life!

A few years later, in middle school, we began to study a new subject, English. I live in Algeria and Arabic is my first language, so English was something very new. It was my favourite at once and I always had excellent grades, so I began to wonder if English could be my goal. That didn't make sense, as English is just a language... so I used to say I'd be an English teacher. The problem is that teaching really isn't my calling, so I was back to the quest, and because I am quite good at French also I wondered about translating as a career. I just wasn't sure though, and I often wondered if I would ever find my real goal in life.

Then I just grabbed a piece of paper and a pen as I have always done, and began to work things out on paper. I love to write - sometimes I express my feelings through poetry, sometimes I just sit down and write stories and that's the only thing that helps me get rid of the stress and anxiety. I suddenly realised that that piece of paper had been there right since the start... even on that day when the teacher was asking us what our goal was, mine was right in front of me waiting to be noticed. I used to write paragraphs and I remember very well when that same teacher used my paragraph as an example for my classmates to hear.

Now, if anyone asks me what I want to be, I look them in the eyes and say 'A writer,' as simply as that. Writing is something I love to do, something I can see myself doing, and nobody can change my mind about it. I know that I want to write, whether it's novels, poems or something else... I just know I want to convey my thoughts by writing. Why not make the world a better place by sharing love and peace through written words?

Cathy says:
Love this... I too knew from an early age that I wanted to write, even though I wasn't sure I would actually be allowed to do it as a career! What is YOUR dream career? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

CC READERS AROUND THE WORLD...

CC books are translated into 28 different languages and enjoyed by readers all around the world... want to meet a few?

Prerana says:
I live in NEPAL and I am fourteen years old. My uncle used to live next door to us, but he had to move and when he moved he wanted to give me a gift as a farewell. He went to the book shop and asked for a good book for a teenage girl, and they suggested Cathy Cassidy's book SCARLETT. So I was given it as a gift and I read and loved the story very much. I became a crazy fan of Cathy Cassidy! I have now started reading more of the books though they are not always easy to find here! I love the characters. I am now finding out more about Cathy from the Facebook page and website and I plan to read many more books!

Rianne says:
I live in MALTA, which is an island in the Mediterranean. I love Cathy's books - they are so addicting! The first Cathy Cassidy book I read was SUMMER'S DREAM - I loved it so much and it is still my favourite! I really identified with Summer as I love music and have similar dreams to hers, but obviously with music not dance. I got the book from the school library where we have a whole shelf full of Cathy's books. I borrow CC books from the public library too, and I have started ordering the books online so I can have them to keep as well. Coco Caramel has just arrived, I cannot wait to start reading it! I could come up with many great adjectives to describe the books, but the best one I think is 'incredible'. My dream is that when I grow up, I will write books just like Cathy's!

Manon says:
I am fourteen and I live in France, and I've been a big fan of Cathy Cassidy books since I was ten. I discovered the first one thanks to a friend and I adored it straight away. I then began to collect the series LES FILLES AUX CHOCOLAT and look forward to the publication of every new book. I even have the French special editions and the casket edition and two of the graphic novels. Last year there was a book festival at Gradignan, just 15km from my home, and after it was finished I learned that Cathy had been there signing books. I had not known this and I was so disappointed! I love all of the sisters in the series, but I am attached particularly to Cherry for her sweetness and her kindness. Sometimes I even dream of going to meet the characters because I feel I know them so well! I am happy to speak out for the French people who read and love Cathy Cassidy's books. I hope she will go on writing and I wish her lots of luck!

Cathy says:
I love getting emails, FB messages and letters from readers all around the world... it amazes me that people are reading and loving the books all around the world! Are YOU a CC reader who lives outside the UK? If you'd like to be featured on DREAMCATCHER, just email via the 'email Cathy' link over on www.cathycassidy.com - and do COMMENT BELOW to have your say on this feature!

MELTING HONEY: A CHOCOLATE BOX FANFIC BY KATIE

Reader Katie loves the Chocolate Box Girls series... and knows the characters so well she enjoys writing fanfic stories about the sisters. Read her awesome wintry tale...

Suddenly, the spoon hits the ceiling. 'Clearly, we've got a bit of cabin fever,' Mum says as the row escalates, louder and faster than she can keep up with. She scurries to the side of the kitchen, hauls out the spare table, bench and camping chairs and stumbles down the snowy steps into the front garden. Whipping our dinner plates out from under us, she puts them on the outside table and steps back to admire her work. She adds lighting and blankets, then calls to us.

'This is where you'll be eating until you learn to sort yourselves out,' she says. My sisters rush out; within moments they are laughing and clutching each other to stay upright in the icy snow, as if they've never argued in their lives. I hang back. I wish I hadn't started the trouble. Sometimes, I just can't keep my mouth shut, and my sisters are paying the price while I skulk on the stairs, watching Mum and Paddy finish their meal. After a while, Paddy head through to the living room to bank up the fire while Mum stacks the dishwasher, and I decide to show my face.

'Sorry I caused all that,' I say.

'Oh, Honey!' Mum whirls round, accidentally flicking chocolate off a spatula she's holding. I put a finger to my nose, wipe off the chocolate splash and lick my finger. 'Mmm... honeycomb!' I exclaim, and the sombre atmosphere lifts a little as both Mum and I start to laugh.

'Seriously, Honey, I'll accept your apology if you promise not to wind your sisters up again,' Mum says. I roll my eyes. It's not a promise I can keep.

'But, Mum!' I argue. 'I'm a teenager! Teenagers don't make promises... and you know I can't help being moody sometimes!'

'Is that so?' Mum says. 'OK. I'll forgive you if you just... promise to love your sisters.' Her smile closes the negotiation, and I wonder if this is how she does the chocolate business deals too. My  mum is sweet - but very persuasive! Me, I'm more like a citrus dessert... sweet until proven otherwise! My icy frown cracks and I begin to smile.

'I will promise to love my sisters,' I concede. 'But maybe not Ch...'

'Including and especially Cherry,' Mum says.

'I promise to love all of my sisters, including my stepsister Cherry,' I sigh, and Mum laughs, looking out across the snowy Tanglewood lawn beyond the kitchen window.

'Now, go join the punishment,' she says. I go, crunching through the snow, to the sight of my sisters doing wild 'punishment laps' across the lawn, and Fred inspecting a very lopsided snowman. Despite the cold, my heart is warm. I really can feel it melting.

Cathy says:
Awww! I love this, Katie! A perfect Chocolate Box fanfic for a cold British winter's day! Could YOU write a CC fanfic? Keep an eye on the CC Facebook fanpage for more writing challenges... the best could appear on DREAMCATCHER! Remember to COMMENT BELOW to tell Katie what you think of the story!

SCHOOL LIBRARIES - THE HEART OF THE SCHOOL!

Did you know that there is no law or rule to make sure that schools have a library? Reader Ribh argues that school libraries should be the heart of EVERY school... 

Ribh says:
Literacy is so important in our world and it is especially important for the future generation - that is why having school libraries is so vital! Libraries provide free access to all. They are a place for pupils to go to research and learn which is so important in a school. Libraries are free to all, which means that everyone has an equal shot at life - everyone has the chance to use the library resources (which include magazines, newspapers, careers information, board games, crafts, access to information databases and computers.)

Some pupils don't get the chance to use these types of resources out of hours... perhaps they are busy, not comfortable going to a public library or perhaps there is no public library nearby for them to use. Pupils may not be able to afford to buy the kind of resources a library has. Whatever the reasons, in the school library everyone is equal. A school library closes the gap between rich and poor, making it easier for pupils to be whatever they want to be when they grow up, no matter what their social background may be. Surely the UK should be encouraging this, not stopping it!

I personally believe that libraries should be encouraged and I believe that the school library is the heart of a school. Without them, schools would not be the same. Libraries promote reading and encourage pupils to reach for their dreams, perhaps even to be writers and illustrators themselves! Libraries are a place where pupils feel comfortable and accepted, a place where pupils think a lot about their futures. They are also a space where pupils who like some quiet time to relax and not worry about school stress! School libraries, to me, are the best places in the school. If they go, a school loses its heart, its atmosphere and love. That is why school libraries are so important!

Top pic: Ribh pictured with Cathy at a book signing in 2015.

Cathy says:
I agree with Ribh... and I know that my readers care very much about libraries, too. Does YOUR school have a library? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

FREYA: CHOOSING OPTIONS… HELP!

It's problem time again on DREAMCATCHER, and reader Freya has a dilemma for Summer Tanberry to tackle… will you agree with her advice?

Freya says:
I'm in Year Nine and we have to choose our options soon. I'm dreading it because I have no clue what to pick… I don't enjoy many subjects at school and I have no idea what I want to do as a career, so I feel I have nothing to aim for. I am also scared that fail my GCSE exams when the time comes… I don't do well in tests. Suddenly school is feeling very scary.

Summer says:
I agree that Year Nine can seem like a very daunting year… the pressure to choose wisely for those options is quite heavy. You are not the only one who feels unsure of her future, and even those of us who have a particular career in mind often change our minds or have to alter our plans. The best plan is to choose the subjects you like best and do well at; or perhaps the subjects you dislike the least! Remember that some subjects are compulsory anyway, so maths, science and English are likely to be unavoidable! When you've picked a few subjects you might like, talk to the teachers and ask for advice and feedback before you make your final decision. Remember that practical subjects like art, music, food technology and drama are options too! As for exams, please stop worrying - course work still counts for a lot of your mark, and you will get lost of practice at learning how to revise, prepare and handle exams sensibly. The more you panic, the less you will cope, so take a deep breath and resolve to study hard and do the best you can. That's all anyone can ask!

Cathy says:
Good advice from Summer… and I agree, staying calm about it all is the only way to go! Do YOU have any advice for Freya? Have YOU chosen options already, or decided what you'll study when the time comes? COMMENT BELOW to have your say! If you have a problem for one of the sisters to answer, email your question via the 'email Cathy' link on www.cathycassidy.com and mark your email DREAMCATCHER PROBLEM...

ALANA: WHY I LOVE THE CHOCOLATE BOX GIRLS...

Reader Alana recently wrote me a fabulous letter about how much she loved my CHOCOLATE BOX GIRLS series... I thought I'd share!

Alana says:
I first discovered Cathy's books at my school's book fair - a few friends were talking about CHERRY CRUSH and how much they loved the series. I decided to buy it and as soon as I began to read, fell instantly in love with the story. Cherry is a passionate, interesting character and I related to her on so many levels. I loved her wild imagination and her struggle to fit in - I could see it all unfolding so clearly in my mind.

Because I am a twin also, I loved the next book, MARSHMALLOW SKYE. I understood why she felt second best. Being a twin is hard work - you do often feel like you have to conform to others' standards and be more like your twin because everyone is always comparing you to her. Skye is so unique and original, I'd never want her to be anything but her amazing self and she made me realise that I don't need to be anything but my own self either. I loved seeing her grow and discover who she really wanted to be.

I was deeply moved by SUMMER'S DREAM - Summer wanted her dream so badly. Watching her crumble under the pressure was horrible. It was like watching a glass of water fall to the ground in slow motion and and there was nothing you could do to stop it. I love how Cathy's book can tackle very serious topics and yet retain a light and hopeful tone... a friend of mine had an eating disorder, and this book helped me to understand a little more about how she might be feeling. I also loved the character Alfie - he was so sweet and so funny and I loved that he did so many cute little things for Summer.

It was great to switch viewpoints and see the sisters from the youngest sister's viewpoint in the book COCO CARAMEL. She is sassy and has her priorities right - any mistakes she makes happen only because she is trying to help others. She can see what is wrong with the world around her and is willing to make a stand. She loves her family but knows they have their faults and is not afraid to point them out. Coco is proof that you can make a difference in the world, no matter how small you are or how much power you may or may not have.

SWEET HONEY... well, I don't even know where to begin with Honey. Out of all of the sisters, she is the most fascinating and interesting. I really wanted to see where the story would take her, and I finally got to see her thoughts and feelings and understand why she acted the way she did. I loved watching her character develop and change, and see her coming to understand her mum, her dad, Cherry and Paddy far more clearly as the book progressed. She changed dramatically in her outlook and it was great to see her in a new light. It took me back to when I first read CHERRY CRUSH and discussed it with my friends... we hated Honey. This book changed that, and I saw that everyone has a reason for their actions and that although people can do bad things when they are angry, it is not always their fault. I don't think anyone can blame Honey for what she did, and I am glad she learnt from it!

The last book, FORTUNE COOKIE, was a great wrap-up to the series. We met a totally new character, Jake, the sisters' secret half-brother, and saw the end of the story from a totally fresh viewpoint again. Honey and Cherry finally made their peace and everything came to a beautiful ending - I won't spoil the story by explaining just how! I have just loved the series, it has taught me so much. Cathy's books are quick and easy to read and bring up serious issues that are very relevant to teens today. The stories have inspired me to think of my own and I hope to follow in Cathy's footsteps and be a writer one day. I'd love to inspire others the way Cathy Cassidy has inspired me!

Cathy says:
Thank you Alana... letters like yours make all the hard work worthwhile! Do YOU love a particular CC book or series? Maybe you'd like to write about it for DREAMCATCHER! Email me via the 'email Cathy' link over on cathycassidy.com to let me know! Or just COMMENT BELOW to have your say...

BRING ON THE DANCING GIRLS!

Readers tell us what it takes to study dance... a brilliant insight into life as a dancer!

Sydney says:
I live and breathe dance. I do every genre going, eleven classes a week. One night I do a class, come home for tea and then go back for more classes. My mum says she's like a taxi! I stretch every day, practice all the time and the hard work pays off as I have taken mu ISTD Grade 1 and 2 Modern, Grade 1 Ballet and Primary Tap, and achieved distinctions in them all. It started when I saw some ballet on TV when I was just two, and apparently I told my mum that was what I wanted to be. I'm nine now and my passion is as strong as ever! It is very full-on but I don't see it as hard work, just fun!

Molly Anne says:
Dance takes up the whole of my weekend. Sometimes my ankles and thighs ache, or I get bruises, but I don't care, I love it. I do Ballet, Tap, Modern and Limbering. I would rather dance than anything else at all, I just love it. I do competitions and exams and I do a set of stretches every morning even if I am not dancing that day.

Holly says:
Dance means everything to me, it's my world. It gives me an escape from reality while I practice and learn new steps and routines. I do Ballroom, and I spend two hours a week learning and practicing my own routines and another hour on top of that teaching the younger kids to dance. To do really well in competitions you really need to practice several hours a week, two or three hours a day perhaps. But winning really is worth all the time and effort that you put in! Dance is one of the toughest yet most rewarding sports in existence, and that's why I love it!

Caitlin says:
I love dance. In competitions I don't always get through, and I sometimes get upset if I know I've done my best. My dance teacher always tells me there will be other competitions, and that's what I try to remember. Your best may not always be noticed, but there are always new chances to dance your best.

Chloe says:
Tuesday is a very hectic day for me. I wake at 6.15 to get ready for school, and when the school day is over my uncle picks me up at 3.45 to drive to the next town for my dance classes. I get changed - my uniform is tights and a purple leotard - and my first class is tap, so I need my tap shoes as well. After an hour of tap class I have a Modern class, so it's just a change of shoes and onwards! Finally, I have an hour of drama class. My friend's mum gives me a lift home. I have ballet classes too, on a different night, and exams in Ballet, Tap and Modern in March. On stage dance looks so graceful and pretty, but when you're in the audience you don't see the blisters, the aches and pains and the itchy costumes! It all takes a lot of hard work, but I love it!

Alexandra says:
I do two Ballet classes a week plus a Tap class and a Modern class. I'm on advanced level Ballet, intermediate Tap and Grade 6 Modern. It''s very tiring and sometimes I wish I was at home instead, but it's worth it - I am so lucky to be given these opportunities. There have been times I've auditioned for shows and not got in but I don't mind - I love dancing and wouldn't give it up for the world. I injured my ankle and couldn't dance for ages but I kept going to class to practice the arm movements and memorize the dances. I thought I might not dance again but my ankle is almost 100% again and I'm so happy to be back! In December I auditioned for a dance festival at my school and got in - so right now I'm busy training for that. I love dance - it's a huge part of my life!

THE SHOES IN THE SAND...

Reader Gemma has written a stunning fan-fiction about Summer Tanberry... a must-read to brighten up your January!

It has been so long since I have properly danced. I've had a few lessons at the dance studio, but I haven't been able to lose myself in the music... until now.

It's the school holidays, and we're staying at a beach far away from Tanglewood. But just like at Tanglewood, we wander up and down the beach as we please. That's what I'm doing now. A pair of pointe shoes, discoloured from the ocean, are buried in the sand. I walk over to have a look. I try not to think about it, but... imagine if these are the ones I threw into the ocean last year when I got home from hospital? I pick them up, tip the sand out of them. It couldn't hurt to try them on...

I walk up to the wharf and slip the shoes on. The sand is uneven, not good for pointe work. Even though the wet sand that covers my feet feels gross, I like the familiarity of how these shoes feel. I walk around a little, trying to get a feel of them, then decide to raise up en pointe. I fall over almost immediately. Before I got ill, I trained every day. My ankles, legs and toes were strong, capable of bearing my whole body weight... but it has been a long time since I've danced en pointe, and I am weak.

I try again; years of work can't just disappear. I fall again. And again, and again. I sit down on the wooden wharf in defeat. I see a familiar figure running across the sand. 'Summer!' my twin sister calls. 'Are you all right?'

'No!' I sob. 'I found these pointe shoes, and I can't use them!'

'Yes you can,' she says firmly, jumping up onto the wharf. 'Stand, Summer. Just normally.' I get up onto my feet, and Skye holds out her arms.

'Hold onto me and go en pointe,' she says softly.

I wobble, but I don't fall this time. Skye is keeping me balanced. We walk a bit. My toes cry out in pain, but I ignore it. I try a basic pirouette. I fall out of the pose too soon, but still, I did it. Skye and I leave the shoes under the wharf and go back to the hotel we're staying at.

I return the next day, without Skye, and this time I've bought a CD player. I put in my copy of The Firebird CD, choosing one of the slower songs. I put on the shoes and then I'm dancing. Not as well as I used to, but still, I'm dancing. I am leaping and turning and twirling across the wharf.

I remember now why I loved ballet so much. I don't think I ever really forgot.

(I have no credit for the pic but if anyone knows the photographer please let me know, I will happily credit)

Cathy says:
I LOVE this fantastic fanfic story, inspired by the evocative picture above. Awesome work, Gemma! Did YOU enjoy the story? COMMENT BELOW to have your say... and if you love writing, watch out for my picture story challenges on the Cathy Cassidy Facebook fanpage... the very best responses may be featured on DREAMCATCHER!