Chapter 9: Help!
This morning, I was hoping that last night's conversation with Ian was just a bad dream. Unfortunately, it was real. My back was still slightly sore from how he'd picked us all up. My sisters were still sleeping when I woke up, the little angels. I looked at my surroundings. Metal bars were all around. We were in a hamster cage. There were shavings that made my feet itch and little hamster toys all around.
There were no ways out, nothing to do but sit there. The latch on the door was padlocked. If I knew the combination I would free us and we'd be out the door in a heartbeat. I guess that is just wishful thinking, too. I decided there was one thing to do. Curl up in a ball and dream.
There was a stir across the room and Ian's annoying snoring finally ceased. I opened and eye so that Ian didn't see me and pretended to sleep. He walked over to the cage and bent over to look at us.
"Oh, look, my little money-makers are asleep!" he said with terrible morning breath.
I cringed and held my breath. Eleanor rolled over and yawned. She took one look at Ian and screamed bloody murder.
"Gaaaaaaaaahhhhh! MONSTER!" She shouted kicking up shavings and backing up against the hamster wheel.
Eleanor tripped on her shoes and was flat on her back in the wheel. She sat up and looked at Ian. She was frightened terribly. I walked over to calm her down. She was breathing hard and hugged me tight.
"Well, at least I know you like me…" Ian grumbled and he went to the kitchen for coffee.
I looked at Eleanor with worry and she looked at me with the same expression. We didn't want to let the school down. We were forced to. But then, who would perform? We could always ask the Chipmunks to. I wondered if Ian would let us go to school today. He'd probably have to. All of a sudden he picked up the cage and carried us.
"Okay, girls, get ready for school!" Ian said and he set us loose in the windowless bathroom.
Brittany was thrown out on the floor and finally opened an eye. She yawned and the then looked around with panic.
"Ah! How'd I get here?!" She asked.
"Oh, don't worry we're just being forced to get ready for school." I said and helped Eleanor onto the sink.
I scratched with my claws up the wood cabinet and into the sink bowl. Eleanor turned on the water and began to shower. I turned around to give her privacy and looked at Brittany down below. She asked for the brush and I threw it down to her. She carefully brushed through tangled locks of hair. I just sat and thought up escape plans. What could we do?
Soon it was nine o' clock, time for school to start, and we were thrown out of the strange car Ian drove. I brushed myself off and helped my sisters up from the concrete sidewalk. We scurried up the stairs to class, avoiding the stomping feet of other late students. I went to Mr. Dullenborring's math class, eager to see Simon, but not so eager to see my 'favorite' jockette.
I made my way across the threshold and claimed my seat in the front row. There was that girl again, hissing in my ear and flicking the back of my head. I just sat there, ignoring her until she left me alone. I guess ignoring a bully does work. I felt a whole lot better once she'd quit. I was actually having a good day. Too bad I still had the thought of being forced to sing by Ian.
Once we were 'home' from school we were put inside the bathroom and told to get ready for the show. I just sat with Eleanor on the edge of the sink with our two silver dresses at our sides. Brittany sang happily in the sink water and washed. She'd already done so this morning before school, but you know how Brittany can be. I decided to get dressed in the spangled uniform and looked in the mirror. I smiled at my reflection. It wasn't me, but it was supposed to be.
My sisters soon joined me at the mirror with their new apparel on. I hopped down from the sink and towards the bathroom door.
"I'll tell Ian we're ready…" I said not looking forward to losing my freedom again.
I could tell my sisters weren't thrilled with the idea either. I knocked on the door and yelled to Ian. He shoved us into an even smaller cage and carried to Ian's equipment bag. We were carried out front and waited for a limo for about a half hour. Ian tapped his foot impatiently and glanced at his watch. When the long car finally came he began to argue with the driver.
"He's distracted! Quick, grab the phone!" Brittany yelled in a whisper.
I reached for it a handed it to Brittany who dialed a number. How she got the Chipmunks' guardians' number I'll never know. Someone picked up and we were overjoyed.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot I pocket-dialed 1-800-lowlife!" Alvin's voice came through the phone, clear as a bell.
"Um, Alvin?" Brittany said nervously.
"Brittany?" Alvin asked, shocked.
"Yeah, we won't be performing tonight. I should've listened to you about Ian." Brittany explained.
"Don't tell me…"
"Yep, he locked us in a cage." Brittany finished his sentence.
"Brittany…!" Alvin started but was interrupted by a muffled voice in the background. "You got it." He said to the voice, and then finished, "Brittany, I'm coming to get you! Simon, tell Jeanette how to pick the lock!"
"Roger that!" Simon said.
I almost melted on the spot when I heard his voice, but this wasn't the time. I gathered myself and grabbed the lock. I told Simon I was ready, talking about the numbers. He was worried about us, I could tell by the sound of his voice.
"Now the third number is the most notorious for being hardest to crack. I'm assuming it's a prime number but we can't assume…"
"Simon," I interrupted his rambling, "The first two numbers were one! I-I'm going to have to go with one!"
I maneuvered the numbers with my brown paws until the combo said '1, 1, 1.' The lock opened and we were about to escape when Ian began to tread in our direction. I threw the phone down into the bag and put my glasses back on.
"Are you ready to be stars?" Ian asked.
"Oh, you bet we are!" Brittany said convincingly.
He carried us to the limo and placed us in the seat next to him. Before we were in the car, we saw Alvin racing to the rescue on a red motorcycle. I could hear Brittany whisper softly to herself, "My hero…" I smiled slightly in spite of the current situation. Maybe Brittany didn't hate Alvin as much as she'd portrayed.
