iWhat seemed to be an older version of Dewey carried many suitcases and pushed through a great multitude of reporters, unnoticed by them all.
"Miss Shine, are you excited about the party tonight?' a mustached reporter asked in a nasal accent.
The little girl wore a Little Miss Muffett-style dress with vertical pink stripes. She had curly blonde hair adorned with pink ribbons. She appeared seven or eight.
She giggled. "Oh yes. It is going to be great! My sister Abby and I have been looking forward to this, right Abby?"
A girl in brunette braids who did not even resemble her sister nodded sullenly. No trace of emotion crossed her face.
"Sally, who or what is the party for?" the reporter inquired again.
Sally grinned. "It's a secret. I can't tell you!" She pressed a finger to her lips as a sign of secrecy.
The
man smiled. "Isn't she a darling."
A
fairly unattractive brunette woman moved Sally along gently.
"Come on, we mustn't be late."
She looked like a she-bear pushing her cub along.
Shortly afterward, a young couple walked in. The woman wore a beautiful gauzy white dress.
Cameras flashed like lightning and clicked like gunfire.
"Claire Poulet!" the reporter exclaimed. "You're a guest at the party?"
"Well, no, I'm um, uh, singing my first solo."
"Best of luck! I'm sure you'll be great."
A man in a tuxedo trailed behind the woman, clutching a tiny black box in his right hand.
All five of these people crowded into the hotel's main elevator, and the door closed.
"Next stop, Tip Top!"
The elevator started upwards.
Sally bounced excitedly. "Ms. Partridge, this is gonna be so great! I can't wait to see Mommy and--"
The old woman glared down at her. Sally fell silent.
With a great moan, the elevator lurched to a stop. The lights flickered.
Dewey toggled the stubborn lever anxiously..
Sally tugged at Ms. Partridge's coat.
"Ms. Partridge…? What's going on?"
The old woman looked about worriedly. "I-I'm not quite sure, dear."
A blinding light filled the elevator. Screams pierced the tension, and all went black./i