Chapter 11 – A Wonderful Show
Since the Anonymous Letter Affair, as it was addressed, things for the show went as smooth as can be. There were only five days left, four days, three days, two days…..
“And it’s THE DAY!” shouted all the fourth graders as they raced down the stairs, singing and hopping in a most undignified manner.
Bianca, Felicia and Harriet were so excited they could not eat down a bite of their breakfast. They longed for that moment that they could step on stage with hundreds of girls and mistresses and parents clapping hands in admiration of them. They were proud, but not in a haughty manner. They were glad and showed themselves as happy, but did not act prideful.
At four-thirty it was tea. All the parents and girls were assembled, helping themselves to chocolate cakes and vanilla soufflés whenever they could.
At five all the fourth graders slipped quietly to get changed. Carina, who was good at art, and the only one who took make-up class, was to help them put on make-up. Bianca made a beautiful costume for everyone, and, for the girls who sang the song in choral music, she made two different colors, clearly distinguishing the two parts.
Everybody was ready by five-thirty. At six, the girls, the mistresses, and the parents came in. Celine’s heart beat fast. She had written the play. What if it were a terrible flop? Felicia was much steadier. By the way the girls had clapped and cheered at it, she assumed others would have the same opinions.
A bell rang behind the stage. The show had begun!
Alexis and Evelyn brought down the house. With the comedy lines that they hollered at each other, and their brilliance at acting, it was hard not to shout with laughter.
Then Bianca’s dance was so good that the clapping held up the show for about three minutes! Her dancing was graceful, her movements flexible and beautiful to watch. Then the two white swans made the whole school sit up. Their gymnastics were so impressive! They did complicated moves on the vault horses, and Alice was actually able to stand upside down with Esther standing on her feet!
Andrea and Baixue’s juggling was magnificent. They managed to do cartwheels, juggling at the same time, sometimes with both feet, or one foot and a hand. It simply looked impossible.
Carlotta’s conjuring was probably better than the London Stage’s! She actually prepared a trick that was a balloon that could hold her in the air! First she inflated herself and looked frightful. Then she ran a few steps, jumped up, and was able to soar over the audience. They stared in awe.
Then all the other side shows made the audience smile. They were gentle and sweet, and did not have that impressive feeling like the play did, but a feeling that made people feel like they were at home.
After the play ended, Esther, the first producer, invited Miss Caty to address a few words to the school.
“I believe you are all aware that the Fifth will go up to the other section next term and every grade a grade up, except for a few particular girls. In the Fifth I must define a girl as head girl, and two others as vice head girls. After lengthy discussion with Esther, the present head of the fourth, we have chosen Harriet Johns and Felicia Milestone to be our vice head girls! Harriet and Felicia, come up and receive the badge of diamond honor!”
Harriet and Felicia came up, blushing pink.
“And, as our head girl, we will have Bianca Helicon!”
Bianca stepped up, red as a beetroot.
“Please receive the badge of platinum honor! For our games captain, we will have Esther!”
Esther came up, steady, calm and dignified as usual, and like Harriet and Felicia, received the badge of diamond honor. The heads of other grades were read out, and they received the badge of gold honor.
* * * * *
Chapter 12 – End of Term
The term had gone by too quickly. It was soon the last day. The girls exchanged addresses, and, within a minute, had already lost them. Miss Emma was always lenient, but today she seemed particularly so. Miss Kellie and Miss Tina were excited to sit back and have some rest, but their only interest at that moment was to have the girls go safely back for the holidays.
“Be careful for Firecrackers during the hols!” cried Andrea to the astonished Miss Emma. She giggled, remembering The Trick.
The Brigham-Jones family’s house would soon be packed with girls. Esther was to go with Alice. Bianca and Baixue were to stay with Evelyn. Celine would stay with Alexis.
Bianca, Baixue and Evelyn walked down the stairs. Suddenly, Bianca stopped.
“Good gracious!” she exclaimed. “I’ve forgotten my pajamas!” She disappeared in the mob of girls. Soon she came back down.
“I wonder what kind of head girl you will make, always forgetting things!” said Evelyn, wickedly. Bianca looked at Evelyn’s trunk. She winked at Baixue, and the two exchanged glances. Then they said together, “Where’s your tennis racket?”
“Oops!” cried Evelyn, flying up the stairs.
Harriet was to go and stay with Felicia. They liked one another very much now. Carlotta would stay with Andrea, and Alicia with Elsie.
There was a huge hooting from the drive.
“That’s Mother’s car!” shouted Alice. “My goodness! Mother must have recovered marvelously. She’s actually driving! Come on! Let’s go!”
So the seven girls that were to go to the Brigham-Jones family for the holidays ran at top speed, and Alexis knocked over Miss Kellie!
“Alexis! For goodness’s sake watch where you’re going!”
But Alexis was gone. She was already in the big black car of her mother’s. Suddenly two faces appeared at the window in front of the startled girls. It was Harriet and Felicia.
“Don’t you dare forget to write!” cried Harriet.
“Harriet!” scolded Bianca, gently. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
The two girls laughed, and stalked off.
“I really don’t know what in the world will happen when we have to work together next term!” shouted Felicia. Then the two stuck out their tongues at each other.
The nearby Miss Caty shook her scholarly head as she smiled at the girls. Whatever will become of them! She thought. How nice it will be to see those tiresome girls again!
The girls all sat in their cars, waiting for the gates to open.
“Bye, Miss Cat! Have good holidays! Bye, Miss Cat!” hollered the girls. Miss Caty made no reply except just yelled goodbye back to them.
“Gosh! How dare they!” said Baixue and the three Brigham-Jones girls together.
“It’s the only time we do it, when the term ends,” replied Bianca.
The four girls leaned out of the window.
“Bye Miss Cat! Bye, McJone’s Foundry School!”
Bye! We will see you again soon too!
* * * * *
A Final Word
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Elena Vermeer
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