CHAPTER 3

BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS CONCERT

NICK`S POV:

I was inside Misako and Sensei Garmadon`s bedroom watching one of my favorite game shows. I was dressed up in my good temple clothes. Everyone was getting ready for tonight's Christmas choir. The one thing I was missing was my tie, but it was inside the bathroom and I couldn't get in there. Cole was taking a shower and he once told me that if I went in the bathroom while he was in there, I would regret it for the rest of my life. To pass the time, I decided to watch TV and record what the people were saying with my recording radio. Kitty got it for me at my birthday two months ago. I enjoy using it because if I talked into it, I could change the sound of my voice and make it seem like I'm an adult. It's the greatest gift I've ever received.

The part of the game show came when one of the contestants won a round after answering a simple question. The host announced his score. "And your score is... three hundred points. Wonderful!" I recorded his line and saved it in my recordings. I started making the game show host's voice sound all squeaky like a chipmunk and sound deep like a very low moan. I laughed because it was funny. Making fun of people's voices is just a great thing to pass the time. The best thing about my radio is that it only works on batteries. Now I will never be bored when the power all of a sudden goes out.

Misako walked inside the bedroom with Sensei Garmadon following her. She gave me a straight face look. "Are you ready for the concert, Nick?"

"Yes," I said. I recorded my voice and made it say yes to Misako.

"Do you remember you solo lines that you have to sing?"

"Got them memorized." I recorded that as well.

"I don't think Misako needs to be told twice, Nick," Garmadon said, "Santa may need to check his list twice, but he doesn't have to say it twice."

"I don't believe in all that Santa Claus mumbo jumbo," I said.

"Well you better pretend to believe it in front of Monica."

"Monica is the same age that I am."

"She still has her own thoughts," Misako said.

"You can't take away somebody's thoughts," Garmadon said, "Especially when they believe in something." He left out of the room.

I looked at Misako. "How come we can't get one of those fake Christmas trees like other people get?"

"It's a ninja family tradition to get a real Christmas tree," Misako said, "Plus it takes forever to put up one of those fake trees."

Carol came inside the room with a basket in her hands. "Lo siento. I don't mean to intrude. I have some fresh clothes for you and Garmadon. I hope you don't mind folding them. I spent all morning doing everybody's laundry."

"I understand how you feel. I was the only person who did all the housework when I was your age," Misako said.

Well, I better get a few things finished up before we head down to the temple. I'll only be a few minutes." Carol rushed out of the room.

I continued watching television. "Why does Carol speak Spanish, anyway? She doesn't look like she's from Spain."

"That's just her heritage, darling," Misako said, "If we do happen to end up in Spaintown, she'll be the only one that knows the language."

Zeah barged inside the room. "I am terribly sorry for intruding. I have brought a fresh load of towels for you, Misako."

"Thank you, Zeah," Misako said.

"If you will give me a moment, I will be happy to get the other basket for you." She ran out of the room.

Before I could say anything else, Jen enters the room. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything. Do you have the contact book for everybody's family, Misako?"

"I think Lora has it," Misako said.

"Thanks. It'll be hard to invite anybody over without giving them a heads up." Jen ran out of the room.

"How many things have to be done around here?" I asked.

Nya ran into the room. "Don't worry about me. I just need to make sure none of the dish towels got mixed up in the towels." She searched and left the room a second later.

I was just about to say something else when my sister decided to walk inside the room. "Misako, there you are. Have you seen my bag. I can't find it."

"I've seen a lot of things around here," Misako said, "What color is it?"

"It's pink."

"Now that you mention it, I think I saw a pink backpack hanging on your doorknob a moment ago."

"I just walked out of there ten minutes ago. I guess somebody just put it there and I didn't even notice. Do you have the tickets for the concert?"

"I gave them to Sensei Wu yesterday. He said that he would keep them in hand."

"Good. I don't want any of us missing the concert." Kitty look straight at me. "You're not going like that, Nick."

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"You don't have your tie on," Kitty said, "You can't be in the concert without your tie."

"My tie is in the bathroom, but I can't go in there. Cole's taking a shower."

"Why must that be a problem?"

"Cole said that if I ever walked inside the bathroom while he was showering, I would regret it for the rest of my life."

Kitty laughed. "I'm sure Cole was just joking around. Just run in there and get your tie. If you have to close your eyes, do so."

"What if that doesn't work? He's gonna notice me going in there."

"Just walk in there as quietly as possible and if he does end up hearing you, run away before he can even see you. Trust me. It works."

"How things work out for you never seem to work out for me. I'm just gonna go for it."

"Do what you gotta do."

I ran down the hallway and made it to the bathroom door. I thought I could hear humming coming from the bathroom. I have to say that Cole will never learn how to be a singer, even if his father is known as a legendary royal blacksmith. I quietly placed my hand on the bathroom doorknob and turned it gently, making as little noise as possible. I closed my eyes as the steam from the hot shower Cole was taking hit me in the face. I felt around the door until I finally found my tie. Somehow I was stupid enough to open my eyes, but all I saw was a very blurry shadow of Cole inside the shower. He was singing a Christmas carol that sounded as though he would never make it into the singing business. I thought it would be funny if I recorded his singing on my radio. I pressed record and let it play Cole's bad singing.

What a bright time, it's the right time

To rock the night away

Jingle bell time is a swell time

To go gliding in a one-horse sleigh

Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet

Jingle around the clock

Mix and a-mingle in the jingling feet

That's the jingle bell,

That's the jingle bell,

That's the jingle bell rock

Cole must have saw that someone was spying on him because he poked his head out of the shower to see me. "What are you doing in here? Get out before I make you regret it!"

I gasped as I ran out, but I left the door halfway open. Carol walked past it as Cole began a new song.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

"Glory to the newborn King!"

Carol closed the door and walked away. I walked back to my room and began putting my tie on. Kitty walked inside my room with her eyes narrowed on me. I didn't have my eyes on her. "We're leaving in fifteen minutes. You better hurry up."

"Give me a moment," I said, "I'm almost done putting my tie on."

"I suppose my way of getting things done didn't work out for you."

"It never usually does."

"Well you better hurry or you won't make it to the concert."

"Have I ever been late before?" There were no words for Kitty to say. "Point taken. Now go away so I can finish getting ready."

Once I finished getting ready, the next fifteen minutes seemed like a bore to me. Once we were all ready to go, I climbed inside the car and we drove on our way there. I was hoping nothing would happen to ruin this night. I actually have a solo part and I don't want anyone to ruin it. I'm pretty sure Brad will considering that he's in the choir. The play may have been bad, but I'm just hoping the concert won't be worse. I have trust in the Great Sensei that it will stay standing.


I KIND OF THOUGHT THIS CHAPTER WAS A BIT HUMOROUS. I GOT THE IDEA FROM HOME ALONE. EXCEPT I USED CHRISTMAS CAROLS.

THERE WILL BE A LOT OF CAROLING IN THIS STORY. ITS THE SEASON OF CHRISTMAS. LETS ALL HAVE THE SEASON OF GIVING IN OUR HEARTS.

I HOPE YOU LIKED THIS CHAPTER.

PLEASE REVIEW.