Chapter 2: Rita's Big Night
One day at Lionheart Elementary School, Rita was in class reading out of her reading book, when Mrs. Claws got their attention. "Listen up, kids I've decided that this is a good time to do a school play." Said Mrs. Claws.
That made the kids chatter with excitement, but Rita got nervous. Mrs. Claws said they'd talk about details tomorrow, and they were dismissed. "A school play, it sounds like fun." Said Millie. "I don't know guys, standing up there on stage, with all those eyes looking at us." Said Rita.
"Relax, Rita it's just a play." Said Harold. Back at home, she went to Nick's condo, and he got her some milk and cookies for an after school snack. "So how was school, Rita?" He asked. "It was okay." Said Rita, as she took a bite out of her cookie.
"Something wrong, Sweet Cheeks?" Asked Nick. "No, nothing." Said Rita. But Nick wasn't so sure. The next day, Mrs. Claws told the kids about the play. "We'll be doing the play is Hansel and Gretal. A tale of a brother and sister who live with their father and stepmother in a cottage in the woods. But the stepmother doesn't like her step-kids, so she takes the kids out into the woods and leaves them alone. But they follow a trail of stones back home. The stepmother tries again, but the two leave breadcrumbs, but birds each them, and they get lost. They then come across a gingerbread house and they eat it, but it belongs to a witch, and she captures them. But the outsmart the witch and find their way home." she explained.
The students thought Hansel and Gretal sounded like a great play. "Now to start, we'll just read the book about the play." And with that, the kids got out their reading books, and started reading. When school was over, Rita went to Judy's apartment.
"Anything new happen at school?" asked Judy. "Nothing really except we're going to do a school play of Hansel and Gretal." said Rita. "A play, that sounds great." said Judy. "Yeah, but I don't want to be in it." said Rita.
"Why?" asked Judy. "I just...don't." said Rita, and she went to her room. Nick and Judy got together and discussed what was wrong with Rita. "She did seem a little down yesterday." said Nick. "And she said they're doing a play at school, but she doesn't want to be in it." said Judy.
"I think it's time we get to the bottom of this." said Nick. That night they had dinner at Judy's condo together. "Rita, what's bothering you?" asked Judy. "Nothing." Rita answered. "Sweet Cheeks, we know something bugging you, so what's the deal?" asked Nick.
Rita still wouldn't answer. "You can tell us anything, you know that." said Judy. "Okay, my class is doing a play of Hansel and Gretal, but I don't want to be in it." she said. "Why?" asked Nick. "Because...because I get stage fright."
"You get stage fright?" asked Judy. "I can't help it, whenever I'm on stage I get nervous, I forget what to say, butterflies get in my stomach, I just can't do it." said Rita. "Rita, there's no shame in getting stage fright, it happens to everyone." said Nick.
"Yes, and we'd love to see you in the play." said Judy. Rita smiled, she was glad to have Nick and Judy's encouragement.
The next day at school, Mrs. Claws gave out the parts. "What'd you get Millie?" asked Harold. "I'm playing one of the kids go gets turned into gingerbread. How about you Bobby?" she said. "I'm Hansel. What part did you get, Harold?" said Bobby.
"I'm playing the father, what's yours Rita?" asked Harold. "I'm...Gretal." said Rita. She'd been given one of the leading roles. At home, Rita told Nick and Judy. "You're going to be Gretel, that's great." said Judy.
"No, it's not, I could probably handle being just a gingerbread kids, but one of the main characters?" asked Rita, as she slumped into the couch. "Don't worry, we'll help you." said Nick. "Yeah, you can practice your lines in front of us." Judy.
"Thanks." said Rita. "But you are going to be there opening night right?" "Of course, we will." said Nick. Over the next few days, Rita learned her lines, practiced in front of Nick and Judy. The friends practiced together, and along with his lines Bobby learned Rita's lines too, just in case she got nervous and forgot them.
Judy had made Rita a village dress costume, and she'd finally got her lines down. When the day of the play came, Rita was still a little nervous, not about the play but about Nick and Judy being there. "I'm staying after school to get ready for the play, and it starts at 5:00." said Rita.
"We know, Rita we'll be there." said Judy. "And you better get downstairs to the bus, we'll see you at the play, and don't forget your costume." said Nick, giving Rita her dress. "Thanks, bye." said Rita, leaving the condo.
At school things went on normally, and when school ended, the class went to the auditorium did a dress rehearsal, and just waited. "So how you feeling, Rita?" asked Millie. "I feel fine so far, as long as Nick and Judy will be in the audience." Rita answered.
At the police station, Nick and Judy were just leaving. "We better get a move on if we're going to stop at home and get out of our uniforms, and we want to get good seats for the play." said Judy. "I got the keys." said Nick.
They left the station stopped at their condos, changed into their day clothes, and took off for the school in Nick's car. But as they were driving to the school, they came across a traffic jam, caused by road work.
"Oh no, we're going to be late for the show." said Judy. "Well, maybe it'll go fast." said Nick. But they inched along and the time went by. At the school, seats were filling up, but when Rita peaked out from the curtains, she saw that Nick and Judy still weren't there.
"What's up, Rita?" asked Bobby. "Nick and Judy still aren't here." said Rita. "I'm sure they're on their way." said Millie. "Okay, kids five minutes till showtime." said Mrs. Claws. "Guys, I can't go out there without Nick and Judy watching." said Rita.
"Don't panic, Rita." said Harold. "Everything all right, kids?" asked Mrs. Claws. "My parents aren't here yet, can we have a few more minutes, please, Mrs. Claws." said Rita. Mrs. Claws thought about it, and said, "10 minutes till showtime."
Back on the road, Nick and Judy realized that they weren't gonna make it in time. "Nick, we have to be there for Rita." said Judy. "I know, but this jam isn't moving." said Nick. "I have an idea, we're not that far from the station, get over." said Judy.
"What's you planning, Carrots?" asked Nick. "I'll explain on the way." said Judy. When the ten minutes were up, Mrs. Claws went out and started the play. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to our play. May I now present, Hansel and Gretel." she said, getting off the stage.
Everyone clapped, and the curtain went up, and one of the kids who was the narrator started talking. "Once upon a time, there lived a brother and sister named Hansel and Gretel who lived in a cottage in the woods with their father and step-mother.
The kids who were doing those parts came out on stage, and Rita looked out into the audience, and saw Nick and Judy in the front row. Judy gave her two thumbs up, and Nick gave her an "atta girl" sign. Rita smiled, and said her lines.
The play went on perfectly. Bobby and Rita went out into the woods, leaving bread crumbs. They then got lost, and found the gingerbread house, the witch with her gingerbread kids captured them. Bobby pushed the witch into the oven, which broke the spell, turning the gingerbread kids back into real kids.
Back home, their father is glad that they're okay, and reveals that their stepmother left, and it was just the three of them again. When it was over the audience clapped, and the kids bowed. When it was all over, the kids got off stage and met with their families.
"You were great, Rita." said Nick. "Awesome performance." said Judy. "Thanks, I thought you guys weren't gonna make it." said Rita. "Believe me we thought so too, let's get home." said Nick. So they all drove home, in the police cruiser.
That's chapter 2, plz review and comment
