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“You’re late.” Max’s tone is sharp. It grates on me, but then it always does.

He looks over all of us with a barely suppressed sneer.

“Can not one of you tell the time?” he says as if we’re all halfwits.

It doesn’t matter that I was going through a dance routine with the rest of the team, and that Laney slipped and we had to strap her ankle so she’ll be able to work tonight.

I don’t bother telling him that; I’ve tried before but he doesn’t listen.

He just wants yes men and sycophants, which his college kids are more than happy to provide.

Max steps forward, moving his bulk into my space, and I try not to let the disgust show on my face as he leans in close.

“Just keep your noses clean and do the job I pay you for. And next time, make sure you turn up in uniform.” A speck of spittle lands on my cheek. He turns and lumbers away, his dismissal evident. I wipe my face with a grimace.

“What’s the matter, peasant boy? Not used to being told what to do by your betters? ”

I don’t need to look up to know who the speaker is. Robbie Gould, a smartarse loudmouth who thinks he’s above the rest of us just because he goes to some posh university.

“You’d better watch out, Max won’t put up with such tardy behaviour.”

I walk over to him and he rises from his seat. He’s tall but not quite as tall as me.

“Is that a threat, college boy?” I growl.

“It doesn’t need to be, does it?” He smirks at me, but I notice the half step he takes back. “I reckon you can fuck it all up by yourself.”

“You just put the food on the tables and leave the fancy stuff to me,” I reply, tired of him and the rest of Max’s favourites.

I push past him and leave, pleased to see the rest of the entertainment team follow me and give Robbie and his friends the same glare.

He’s been on my case all summer, like he gets some sort of kick out of goading me.

I don’t normally rise to his taunts, but today I don’t feel like taking his shit any longer.

I walk back to the staff quarters and my cabin in a foul mood.

The trouble is, I really need this job. This is my fourth season dancing at Poplins, and it’s good to know I have employment for at least six months of the year.

There’s talk of extending the season to almost all year round, which would be welcome.

There aren’t many opportunities for a dancer right now and I have no idea how to do anything else.

I wasn’t one for exams and left school as soon as I could at fifteen.

I eye the blue blazer hanging up on the back of the door.

It defines me as part of the entertainment staff, which is better than the yellow of the waiters and the green of the porters I suppose.

But I don’t wear it while we rehearse, which we’d been doing just before the meeting.

If I’d returned to change, I’d have been even later.

We get one blazer and one pair of trousers only, and if we need more or damage them, it’s taken out of our wages. So I only have the one set, and I look after them, which means not wearing them to rehearse in.

I put on a record and rest for a while. We aren’t needed until after dinner, and it takes a couple of hours to feed the thousands of campers. Those who finish early will be entertained by the orchestra in the ballroom, then I’ll lead the evening dance with Penny.

I’m about to start getting ready when there’s a knock on the door, and I open it to see Penny standing on the covered porch with tears streaming down her face.

I stand aside and let her in, leading her over to the one chair I have. Penny and I have been dancing together for years; it was she who got me the job at Poplins just a few years after I left school. She’s usually so strong, so it’s a surprise to see her upset.

“What is it?” I ask, concerned, and she quietly tells me her news.

“I’ll do what I can to help, you know that,” I tell her as I give her a hug. We’ve always looked out for each other. She nods against my chest and pulls away, her tears now dried.

“I need to go and make sure I don’t look like a puffy-eyed panda,” she says with a brave smile that holds a lot of sadness.

I pace my small cabin for a long time after she’s left. I don’t have any answers for her, but I meant what I said about helping her. She’s the closest I have to a sister and she’s always looked out for me, so of course I’ll stick by her .

“Shit!” I notice how late it is and have to wash and dress in my uniform in record time.

Despite my exchange earlier with Robbie, if I’m late to the actual performances, Max will have a fit.

I rush across the ground and make it to the ballroom just in time.

I’m pleased to see Penny is already there and looking a lot brighter.

As I take her hand to lead her onto the dance floor, I give it a squeeze. We’ll figure it out somehow.