chapter Twenty - two
"Mr. Pennyfield is on his way," Principal Taft said.
We were standing in the rear of the auditorium. The lights had been lowered and the seats were filled with zombie students--a feat unto itself.
The Holiday Pageant was usually the biggest event of the winter season. This year the Winter Dance would be the big event, but with Taft's supervisor set to attend, the pageant had to be special.
Taft fidgeted nervously. "How are we looking?" What he was really asking was. When Pennyfield arrives are The zombies going to eat him?
"Everything's fine, sir," I replied confidently, hoping my tone didn't betray my true feelings. "Keep him outside until the music begins. And both of you should stand by the door to get the full effect." What I was really saying was. You should stand by the door in case you have to run.
He nodded. "Yes. We don't want to miss the full effect."
A short time later, with Sybil, Baron, and Milton in place,
I lowered the house lights, turned up the stage lights, and pushed the button starting the music.
The opening strains of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller" drifted into the auditorium. The curtain drew back as I slowly upped the stage lights on an eerie setting, a cemetery at Christmas. There was plastic snow on the floor, and wreaths on the cardboard headstones. Sybil and Baron appeared on stage, Baron doing an imitation of Michael Jackson mixed with a touch of James Bond--of course. They began acting out the "Thriller" video I'd found on YouTube.
With the dance number under way, I slipped from the control room and joined Taft and Mr. Pennyfield at the rear of the auditorium. Upon seeing Pennyfield the first thing I thought of was a mouse. He was small in stature, with twitchy features, and tiny eyes that wouldn't keep still.
"There she is," Taft said proudly as I walked up. "Mr. Penny-field, meet Margot Johnson, the brains behind our little Christmas extravaganza."
I smiled and shook his hand, keeping a cautious eye on the activity onstage. Over in a corner stood Mrs. Mars. She smiled and nodded to us, but made no attempt to come over. I was surprised to see her there. Mrs. Mars didn't seem like the Holiday Pageant type.
A low moan drifted up from the sea of student onlookers.
"What's that?" asked Pennyfield, his eyes darting about.
"That's the way these kids show their appreciation," Taft said with a practiced chuckle. "Mmmmm," he mimicked. "It's the new hot thing. Don't they moan like that in all your schools?"
"Oh, yes. Yes, of course they do," Pennyfield replied, not wanting to appear out of touch. "Kids. It's so hard to keep up with them these days."
"Mmmm," I said, and smiled. Taft was playing him like a fiddle.
Onstage Baron and Sybil continued acting out the video. Now came the tough part. The monsters.
From the wings, zombies began shambling onto the stage.
"This is a rather odd song for the holidays," Pennyfield said suddenly.
Taft shot me a sideways glance. Do something!
"Well...," I said, trying to buy some time. "I consider the holidays a perfect time to honor those who came before us."
"Ahh. So, those are spirits coming to greet the holiday revelers?" asked Pennyfield.
"Yup. You got it."
Pennyfield nodded appreciatively. Taft and I both breathed sighs of relief.
I glanced at the stage and imagined Baron, Sybil, and the zombies all doing the "Thriller" choreography matching the video step for step. In truth, Sybil and Baron were doing their best to stay out of the grasp of the slow-moving zombies.
The moaning from the audience grew louder and more intense. Then, suddenly and without warning, the zombies in the audience began to rise from their seats.
"What's happening?" whispered Taft as student zombies began making their way to the stage.
"Ms. Johnson!" Penny field said, his voice rising.
"Umm, I can explain, sir," I said as every zombie in the house made for Baron and Sybil.
He held up a finger, shushing me. "No, no. I understand completely. And... it's beautiful. The entire student body honoring those who have come before." His voice cracked with emotion. "Touching."
"That's it. Gotta go," I called as the zombies began to surround my friends.
Yes. I have another school pageant to attend as well. But I'm so glad I got a chance to meet you, Ms. Johnson. This is the most inspiring Holiday Pageant ever. You have done your school proud."
Taft gave me a quick wink and hustled an emotional Pen-nyfield out. A moment later I was racing for the booth.
Onstage, Sybil and Baron were nearly surrounded. Their screams were real. They had stopped moving and were standing on top of the trapdoor to the pit, waiting for me to release it so they could drop to safety. I got to the booth and hit the button for the pit door as planned.
It didn't open.
I peered out the booth window at the stage below. A wave of nausea floated through my belly. Sybil and Baron were trapped.
The zombies shuffled toward them, extending their arms, fingers twitching with anticipation. They couldn't wait to have my friends join them among the living dead.
I wanted to run down to the stage and distract the zombies. But I knew by the time I got there it would be too late. I hit the button again and again, but nothing happened,
I slid the booth window open. "It's stuck!" I screamed down to them. "Run!"
I was wasting my voice. There was no place for them to run to.
The zombies stopped advancing, their eyes all moving to me in the safety of my little booth above the stage.
Just then Baron started jumping up and down.
Bounce--crash!
Over and over he landed hard on the stuck trapdoor. The sound brought the zombies' attention back to him and Sybil.
"Jump!" Baron called. Sybil didn't move. Her eyes rolled back into her head, and she fell to her knees. From the look of her it was game over.
Baron grabbed her hand. "Come on, we can do this, Sybil. Jump,"he urged. The soft pleading of his voice must have cut through the fear that had clogged her brain, because she suddenly got up, filled with a berserk frenetic energy. Together they jumped up.
When Sybil jumped she pitched her arms up into the air, her legs splayed wide, as if throwing every ounce of fight left in her into it. As serious as the situation was, her spastic movements were hilarious.
Crash! When they landed the trapdoor gave way with a thunderous crack. Just as the zombies reached them, Baron and Sybil fell through to the pit below, and then the door slammed shut.
The zombies onstage staggered in herky-jerky circles, trying to figure out what had become of their prey. I slumped back in my chair and heaved a huge sigh. Yet instead of waves of relief washing over me, I realized I'd been smiling, chuckling.
OK my God! Stop it! I thought. This is nothing to laugh about I told myself the chuckling was because of Sybil's spas tic movements I hoped that was true.
It was then I heard Sybil scream.