It was the Thursday before winter break. Every year, the Reginald Dwight Academy closes the session with its annual winter play. This year's production was "The Wizard of Oz." Bennie was cast at the Wizard himself while Candy, Kiki, and Alice were dressed as the Lullaby League. "I can't wait to hear my adoring fans applaud for me," said Alice.

"Alice," growled Kiki, "you're one of the dancers in the Lullaby League. You're not the star."

"Why do we have to join the production of 'The Wizard of Oz'," asked Alice.

"Because it's a Christmas tradition," answered Candy. "We always do this before going home for Christmas."

"Honestly," Alice corrected "I celebrate Channukah."

"That's great, Alice," Candy smiled.

"Tiny dancers," growled Alice as she walked off to practice her dancing. "I didn't sign up with you as a loser assistant."

"I remember being in last year's production of 'The Nutcracker'," Kiki recalled. "I was one of the angels and one of the polichinelles during Mother Ginger's scene."

"Lucky," growled Daniel. "I get to play the doorman for the Emerald City."

As Mr. Clement was checking on the set, Principal and Vice Principal Cherry came in looking glum. "Is there something wrong with one of the actors?" asked Mr. Clement. "I must have perfect attendance for my show."

"It's Emery," Vice Principal Cherry explained. "She just came down with a bad flu."

"This can't be good," Mr. Clement replied as he started to panic pointlessly, much to the joy of Dakota, Dana, and Dawson, who play as the Scarecrow, Tin Girl, and Lion, respectively.

"What are we going to do?" asked Vice Principal Cherry. "The show is tomorrow and we have no one else to take Emery's place."

Principal Cherry looked up and saw Ronnie painting a pose of Nikita, who was playing Glenda the Good Witch. "Yes, we do," Principal Cherry replied as she walked up to Ronnie. "Cadet Ronnie, we need your help."

"Me," Ronnie replied. "You don't understand. I'm just a painter for the set, plus I help out pick the costumes for the actor to wear."

"We know," Principal Cherry replied. "But Emery just came down with a bad flu and we need you to take her place."

"Are you sure?" Ronnie asked nervously. "I don't know anything about acting."

"But you saw 'The Wizard of Oz' hundreds of times," Nikita replied. "You got to do this."

Without a choice, Ronnie decided to do it. Principal Cherry knew that Ronnie needed a little help with some acting, and in one day. So, she decided to turn to her two other kids. "Cadet Bennie, Cadet Candy," she said, "I need you two to teach Ronnie about acting. The show is tomorrow and there isn't much time."

"Got it, Aunt Regina," both Bennie and Candy said.

Daniel and Kiki decided to help too because they always helped those in need. "This reminds me of the time I let my Cousin Lyla tell her boyfriend how she felt after his ex-girlfriend left him at the altar for a hunky surfer."

XxoxX

In the hallways, Ronnie was drawing "Wizard of Oz" drawings in her little sketchbook. Her sketchbook was an 8x10 tablet with a rainbow on it. "Hey, Ron," greeted Bennie.

"Bennie, Candy," Ronnie nervously said. "I was going working on some sketches."

"When are you gonna calm down?" asked Benny. "When are you going to land?"

"Look," Ronnie replied, "I know this is a big event for the RDA, but my acting is a little off."

Candy started to smile, and Kiki smiled too. "I know what this means," Kiki said.

"Yup," Candy replied. "Imagination time."

Candy, Kiki, and Daniel high-fived. "Let's imagine that we're in Munchkin Land," Candy suggested. "The first-ever scene in color during 'The Wizard of Oz'."

XxoxX

Everything turned into an Elton John variant of Munchkin Land. Everyone came out wearing Elton John apparel and started welcoming our heroes, including Aunt Davina, who is in the form of the Good Witch. "Welcome to Oz, Evretin Nice," Davina replied.

Ronnie replied, "Stay calm."

Bennie replied, "Just make good eye contact and don't look at the audience. That means the munchkins."

Ronnie said, "Pleased to meet you."

"Nice job," Candy commented.

Suddenly, Alice came in as the Wicked Witch of the West. Ronnie was horrified. "Don't be scared" Candy replied. "Just stay calm."

Ronnie a deep breath and said, "What do you want?"

"The ruby slippers, of course," Alice the Wicked Witch answered.

Before she had a chance to steal them, Davina the Good Witch used her magic to make them appear on Ronnie. "Now all you gotta do is follow the Yellow Brick Road."

As they were walking amongst the Yellow Brick Road, Candy, Bennie, Kiki, and Daniel taught Ronnie the basics of dancing. From saying lines loud and clear to making the audience show her face, having a broad chest when it comes to bravery scenes.

After they ruined Alice's clothes and returned the broom to Wizard Regina, they found a hot air balloon behind them. Before they could join, Daniel got a little scared about going into the balloons due to his tiny fear of heights, but Candy and the others ran after him. Aunt Regina accidentally got the balloon to go off after she did a facepalm.

But all hope wasn't lost. Davina the Good Witch came in to save them. "We're going back to our plough hunting the hot back toad," Candy said to Good Witch Davina. "What do you think you'll do then? I bet that'll you'll remember your home."

They nodded their heads and shouted, "There's no place like home!"

XxoxX

Back in the real world, they realized that they were in the school's laundry room. The janitor was busy handling the costumes for "The Wizard of Oz." As he got them out, he saw that they all shrunk in the wash. "This can't be good," the janitor said. "I must've used too much detergent again."

"Oh, boy," Ronnie replied. "Looks like we lost track, and I think I got the whole acting thing covered. I should have listened to my old women about paying attention."

"No, Ronnie" Candy replied. "You did great."

"We knew you could do it, sis," Bennie said, "but now what are we going to do with the costumes for 'The Wizard of Oz'."

The janitor found a broken light and replaced it. When the light lit up, Candy got an idea. "I think I know how we can save 'The Wizard of Oz'."

XxoxX

The next day at the production of "The Wizard of Oz," Principal Cherry, Vice Principal Cherry, and Mr. Clement were coming in when they saw that everyone was dressed in an Elton John variant of "The Wizard of Oz," much to Principal Cherry's dismay. "What in howling old owl is going on?" she asked.

"Aunt Regina," Candy said while coming up in a sparkly Lullaby League girl, "since the original clothes shrunk in the wash, we decided to add an Elton John twist to this."

"It's perfect," Mr. Clement smiled. "I had a huge crush on him in high school, but he married that Canadian David Furnish."

"Don't be jealous," Aunt Davina replied. "The show starts in 20 minutes."

"You're right," agreed Mr. Clement. "The show must go on. Now where is the Dorothy understudy?"

"Right here!" shouted Ronnie, coming out in a sparkly blue dress, a rainbow-feathered boa, and a basket with a gold silk bow. "How do I look?"

"Marvelous," Mr. Clement replied. "My show has been saved."

"Believe me, Aunt Regina," Ronnie said to her. "Elton John apparel makes anything cool."

Scene after scene, Ronnie did the best she could to make the show of "The Wizard of Oz" a success. "Oh, I've finally decided my future lies," Ronnie smiled, "beyond the yellow brick road."

Mr. Clement knew that some of the lines Ronnie said wasn't part of the script, but was happy that she was making the show a success.

After the production, Vice Principal Cherry came in with wonderful news, "Alrighty, folks!" shouted Aunt Davina. "It's time for the Secret Santa exchange!"

Bennie and Dawson were each other's Secret Santa. Bennie gave Dawson a hacky sack while Dawson gave Bennie new guitar strings.

Ronnie and Dana were each other's Secret Santa. Ronnie gave Dana a painting of Nikita as Glenda while Dana gave Ronnie a new sketchbook with the ruby slippers on them.

Dakota and Nikita were each other's Secret Santa. Dakota gave Nikita a new winter coat and Nikita gave Dakota German scarf.

Alice and Presley were each other's Secret Santa. Presley gave Alice a poetry book about jewels while Presley gave her some socks. Alice was hoping that Presley would be disappointed, but instead, she was delighted, because calluses weren't funny.

And Candy, Kiki, and Daniel were each other's Secret Santa. Candy shook her gifts from Kiki and Daniel and saw that they got her a pair of ruby slippers, just like in "The Wizard of Oz." "We knew you love using your imagination," Candy said. "So Daniel, Mrs. Kinji, my mom, and I pitched in and got you some ruby slippers."

Candy then gave Kiki and Daniel opened their tiny boxes, to find a bracelet with three big beads. "Are these friendship bracelets?"

"They are," Candy replied. "We've bonded so much over the past three months, I figure we could use a token of our friendship. I made them myself."

Kiki and Daniel were delighted by the gift. After Candy, Kiki, and Daniel placed on the bracelets, they gave each other high fives with them.

The End.