Chapter 6: The Incident with the Playground Slide
Much to Christine's surprise, Erik did check his email and replied with a few comments, but none were life-altering so Christine ignored his advice. He likely replied to prove he read the script and to demonstrate he could do the bare minimum.
Christine dreaded creating the cast list for the play. There were inevitable arguments over who got leads and other speaking roles, but Christine knew who would work hard and who would slack off. Of course, she claimed, the parts were assigned randomly so no one could complain Miss Daae was playing favorites.
Because of limited roles, most kids ended up in the ensemble, which proved to be a big enough challenge. They struggled to learn entrances and exits and they kept fidgeting on stage when they were supposed to be standing still. Even children who Christine entrusted with speaking roles had trouble learning their lines. When someone got especially stuck, she prompted them, hoping their embarrassment would encourage them to go home and practice like she constantly told them to do.
Everyone was growing restless. There was an awful lot of shoving happening in the wings which made its way onstage and caused Luke Sorelli to take a tumble into the orchestra pit. Everyone froze in fear when they heard a crash of cymbals followed by a loud thud.
"I'm alright!" the boy shouted triumphantly.
Luke was lucky to escape the incident with nothing more than a couple bruises and a skinned knee, but it was a scary experience for everyone involved.
"Erik, I think we need to give these kids a break. A long break," Christine said as she cleaned the cut on Luke's knee and placed a bandaid on it.
"Yes. I agree," Erik said breathlessly. He was still recovering from the fear of losing his little partner in crime, as Christine liked to call Luke.
But what could the two counselors do with thirty-six restless children?
"The elementary school is right down the street," Christine thought aloud. "We can let them run around on the playground for a bit. That'll tire them out."
She dashed backstage and returned in a few minutes with a length of rope.
"I thought you said we cut the hanging scene," Erik said, squinting in suspicion at the rope in Christine's hand. She rolled her eyes.
"We'll line the kids up and tell them to hold onto it. We already had one nearly fatal accident. We don't need someone running into the street and getting hit by a car."
"Everyone line up! We're going on a field trip!" Erik cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted through the theater.
The children cheered and stampeded off the stage, excited to learn where they were going. The rope was too short for all the children to hold onto, but it would have to do. They likely wouldn't even follow their counselors' instructions, but it was better than trying to herd them down the street in a giant free-for-all.
After telling Mr. Richard their plans, the group set off. Christine led the expedition, with Erik pulling up the rear. The masked man was used to people's curious stares, but today, the children were especially interested in him. They whispered and pointed at his mask. Were they making fun of him?
"Mr. Erik," one brave little soul piped up. "Are you a superhero?"
Erik frowned in confusion, but a small smile spread across his face as he pondered the suggestion.
"No," he scoffed. "I'm a super villain."
The children went dead silent as he gave his best maniacal laugh.
"I knew it…" Joey Buquet muttered.
Christine tried her hardest to suppress her laughter, but failed. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled in Erik's direction. So, he did know how to have fun every once in a while.
The children erupted into cheers when they learned the destination of their field trip. Christine unlatched the gate to the playground and the children poured in, their joyful shouts filling the schoolyard. Christine approached Erik who was standing off to the side, away from the center of the noise.
"So, you're a super villain. What's your secret power?" she teased.
"I'll never tell," Erik said smugly.
"Really? Not even a hint?"
"Nope!"
"Boo! You're no fun!" Christine pouted, but they shared a fleeting smile before turning their attention towards the kids. They didn't need any more injuries today.
"Miss Daae! Will you go down the slide with me?" A little girl named Lotte rushed up to Christine and grabbed her music teacher by the hand.
"Of course! I would love to!"
Christine was secretly thrilled to be asked. At least someone liked her better than Erik, and Christine had always liked Lotte too. The sweet girl's name reminded Christine of the Scandinavian folk tale her father used to tell her: Little Lotte and the Angel of Music. The girl Lotte was just as angelic as Christine imagined the fictional character to be.
When Erik lost his conversation partner, he noticed Gabriel Moncharmin sitting at the bottom of the slide quietly minding his own business. Maybe this kid was smart if he applied himself, but he certainly didn't have any common sense.
"Hey, stupid. Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Erik asked.
Christine rolled her eyes when she overheard Erik's comment. Super villain indeed! The man had some peculiar ways of managing kids, but they always listened to him no matter what.
"You can go first," Lotte offered to her music teacher.
"Thank you!"
Christine climbed the ladder and positioned herself at the top of the brightly colored plastic slide, a definite upgrade from the old metal slide of Christine's elementary school experience. That one became so scalding in the sunlight, it was unusable on hot days. Maybe this slide wasn't the same one she'd grown up with, but it brought back memories of her childhood nonetheless. Christine closed her eyes and giggled as the coiled slide spun her around.
The end of the slide caught her by surprise. Her ballet flat came loose when she tried to stand up, and Lotte came tumbling down the slide before Christine had a chance to move. Christine let out a squeal as she lost her footing. Erik caught her in his arms, but not before they both fell awkwardly to the ground.
"Sorry, Miss Daae," said Lotte shyly as she stared down at her two counselors.
The rest of the playground broke into a chorus of jeers, but Christine didn't notice any of the shouting and giggles. She was too busy being mortified as she sat in Erik's arms. The sunlight caught Erik's eyes and brought out their true amber hue. He reached his hand toward her face and brushed it against her hair before tossing something over her shoulder.
"Just a few wood chips," Erik mumbled. He chuckled before helping her to her feet. "And that kids is why you don't loiter in front of the slide...or the swings either." He rushed off to prevent the absentminded Gabriel from being kicked in the face.
Every time Christine made eye contact with Erik on the other side of the playground, a hot blush spread over her cheeks and crept over the back of her neck. She wanted to apologize for the incident with the playground slide, but she was too embarrassed to face him. As they rounded up the children to bring them back to the theater, she finally mustered up every ounce of her courage.
"Erik," she began.
He looked over at the sound of his name, but before Christine could speak, they were interrupted by a child.
"Miss Daae! Luke isn't lining up!" Carla Guidicelli complained.
Erik smiled down at the girl, but Christine clenched her jaw at the disruption.
"Well, you're not lining up either!" Erik countered.
"Yes, I am!" Carla insisted.
"No, you're not. You're snitching on your friend."
"He's not my friend…"
"That's enough!" Christine stopped the brewing argument. She told the tattling child to get back in line while she walked over to Luke, who was sitting at the top of the slide.
"Luke, can you come down please?" Christine put on her sweet teacher voice as she called up to the boy, but Luke stubbornly shook his head in refusal. "I'm not going to ask again. Please come down."
Still the boy made no move.
"HEY, KID!" Erik's loud voice shouted from across the schoolyard. "Joey Buquet's taking your spot in line! You better come protect what's yours!"
Luke looked at Erik in confusion, but a smile spread across his face. Christine barely had time to react before he came down the slide, but she refused to end up on the ground again. She chased after Luke as he ran to the line and took his spot beside a giggling Joey Buquet.
"Erik! You're going to cause a mutiny!" Christine screamed.
"Hey, if it works, it works," he replied with a shrug.
Christine scowled at Erik. He was pleased his unorthodox childcare methods worked, while she had once again failed.
After the last child left for the day, Christine made another attempt to apologize to Erik for the incident with the playground slide. They'd already said their stiff goodbyes to each other, but it was now or never. She wasn't going to bring it up tomorrow.
"Erik, wait!"
Christine ran up the aisle of the theater to catch him. He turned to face her and she bumped straight into his chest, an echo of the earlier incident. She'd never been klutzy before, where was this clumsiness coming from?
"Yes, Christine?"
He'd taken a step back from her, and Christine's confidence vanished the moment their eyes met. This was a terrible idea.
"Oh...I just wanted to say sorry for knocking you over on the playground...and for bumping into you right now, I guess."
"Eh, it's fine."
Erik shrugged and left the theater without another word, but Christine stood dumbfounded as he disappeared into the lobby. She'd been worrying all day, too humiliated to look him in the eye, and he wasn't the least bit bothered by what happened. And now she'd just made a fool of herself again. Why'd she even bother to apologize? It had only made an already embarrassing situation more awkward.