This chapter has the lyrics to the Christmas song "Little Drummer Boy" and

"Haunted" by Poe.

CHAPTER 7: The Little Drummer Boy

A few months had gone by since the night of the very successful concert, in which the young band had performed what was soon to be their most famous song. Fortunately, after their success, they decided to stick together as a band. In due time, they became inseparable. They even decided to pick a leader and by an anonymous vote, Dr. Teeth was chosen, which at first made him ask why, and it was because ever since the band was formed, he had been keeping everything in order, and when there was a fight erupting, he always broke it up before there was anymore chaos. It was easily seen, so they became what muppet fans know as "Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem", a title the members of the band grew used to and loved.

After months had gone by, December was finally here. The holiday break was here, but it was not time the Electric Mayhem's to start. The play at their school was underway. Throughout all of November, every student at Jim Henson Elementary had to audition, the band also. Unwillingly, the all auditioned, showing their talents, or anything that could be used to the director's advantage. On December 1st, the cast list was posted. Some were chorus members, others were crew members, but guess what the band were cast as. There was a big crowd in front of the cast list. Only Janice was able to get in quick enough. She found hers and her friends' roles. When she finally reached her way out of the crowd, she met up with her friends.

"Well?" asked Zoot.

"You and Dr. Teeth are one of the four sheppards, Animal's gonna play the little drummer boy at the very end of the play (no surprise), and guess who you and I are gonna play, Floyd," she explained as she looked at her friends, then at Floyd. Floyd shrugged.

"I give up, what's our role?" he asked, sounding like he did not care.

"…Mary and Joseph!"

Floyd went wide eyed.

"You mean…" he said. Janice nodded.

"Yep, for one night…we're gonna be married!"

Then, she wrapped her arms around and hugged a very surprised Floyd Pepper.

Immediately, rehearsals were underway. Floyd and Janice were at auditions almost all the time, with two exceptions of having two rehearsals where the either sheppards, or Animal, the little drummer boy.

Before anyone knew it, it was already December 22.

It was 6:45 PM, and in fifteen minutes, the play would begin. Everyone was really nervous. Floyd, Zoot, Dr. Teeth, and two other kids were in sheppard clothes, Janice was holding a baby doll she was going to use for the manger scene, and Animal had brought his own drum to use as his prop. In no time at all, it was 7:00 PM. The play had begun. There was Gabriel and Mary, then the traveling to Bethlehem, then the inn scene where the inn keeper says no to Mary (Janice) and Joseph (Floyd). They are led to the manger scene.

As this scene is continuing, Zoot and Dr. Teeth's scene was up. Sitting on stage, Gabriel came to them.

"Lo, the savior has come!" said one of the two other sheppards. They follow the angels and the star and then they were their in the manger scene. Janice had placed her doll in the manger as almost the entire cast members appeared on stage.

Then, Animal's scene was up. He was nervous, but Gypsy's voice in his head said to calm down and try to control himself. He did what he was told.

The story teller on down stage right told about Animal's scene and the chorus around the stage started to sing.

"And so, the little drummer boy, saw the baby, and started to play for the young king," the storyteller said.

Animal appeared on stage and began to play his drum, and the chorus started to sing.

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum,
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum,
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum.
Me and my drum.

Making sure no one heard him; Animal whispered "Me…and my drum." Floyd and Janice were the only ones who heard him. Floyd smiled at him, so did Janice.

The play ended right after Animal's big scene.

The Christmas play was another success.

Two days later, it was Christmas Eve. Janice's family went to Missouri for Christmas, Zoot left with his family to New York City for Christmas, which meant that Dr. Teeth, Floyd and Animal were the only band members still home. All three of the families came together at Floyd's house for a Christmas Party. The kids hung out outside, throwing snowballs, making snow angels, and looking at the stars. As they played outside, Animal started to wonder off into the forest. He walked through the trees, fought through the bushes and avoided the other animals. As he went deeper and deeper into the forest, it started to get darker and darker.

Come here.
Pretty please,
Can you tell me where I am?
You won't you say something
I need to get my bearings
I'm lost
and the shadows keep on changing.

By now, Floyd and Dr. Teeth had already noticed that he was missing, so they started to look around the neighborhood. Suddenly, he felt a deep sharp pain in his leg. He screamed to the top of his lungs. When Dr. Teeth and Floyd heard it, they ran into the woods and started looking for him. After about fifteen minutes of searching, they found Animal on the ground holding his leg in pain. Floyd and Dr. Teeth helped Animal up, but because his leg was hurt, he did not feel like walking, so Floyd did something no one had ever seen him do. He placed Animal's small body in his arms and he carried him as they went home. Animal was still in major pain, so much pain, he kept on squirming, hitting, and yelling at Floyd, who was trying his best to help him. When they came into the house, the adults looked and asked what was going, but all they heard was Animal's painful screams. Floyd carried his friend into his room and placed him on his bed, but he would not stop squirming. As Animal fought with Floyd, he could not help but picture Janice, Floyd, Zoot, and Dr. Teeth in his mind, and trying to figure out what must he do next.

And I'm haunted,
by the lives that I have loved,
and actions I have hated.
I'm haunted.
By the lives that wove the web
inside my haunted head.

He kept on hitting him, yelling at him, and Floyd could not take it anymore. He finally tried to stop it.

"STOP IT!! STOP IT RIGHT NOW!! DOWN, BACK, SIT!! HOLD IT!!" yelled Floyd.

Animal would not stop.

He would not stop until finally...

"STOP THAT YELLING!!" screamed Floyd. Animal finally stopped, tears running down his face. Floyd took Animal's hand.

Don't cry.
There's always a way.
Here in November in this house of leaves
we'll pray.
Please, I know it's hard to believe
to see a perfect forest
through so many splintered trees.
You and me, and these shadows keep on changing.

"Man, you leave me no choice," he said. He let go of Animal's hand, and went to a small box lying in a corner. He opened to the box and pulled out a spiked chain.

"I never wanted to do this, but you're just getting way too violent, man. I gotta do it for your safety and everybody else's safety," said Floyd. Animal was shocked.

And I'm haunted,
by the lives that I have loved,
and actions I have hated.
I'm haunted.
By the promises I've made, and others I have broken
my haunted head…
By the lives that wove the web
inside my haunted head
inside my haunted head.

He pulled the chain open and wrapped it around Animal's neck. The spiky collared chain felt kind of uncomfortable. Animal started biting on the chain and then the collar, but it was made out of metal.

"It's a good thing we kept this chained leash after our old dog, Rover, ran away," muttered Floyd. He was mad, frustrated, every word that defines "angry". He was glaring at Animal, while he was looking terrified. Animal backed away, wondering why this was happening.

"Until you learn to behave, you're gonna have to wear this. With this chain, I'll be making sure you don't get into trouble. This is for your own good!" said an infuriated Floyd.

Animal could not believe that a fun loving, good person like Floyd Pepper was being harsh.

Then, Floyd noticed Animal's scared look on his face. He sat on his bed with Animal and wrapped his arms around him and hugged him tightly. The drummer could not believe it. Floyd had just been mad at him, but now he was hugging him. He figured that Floyd must really care.

I'll always love you.
I'll always need you.
I'll always want you.
And I will always miss you.

Come here.
No I won't say please!
One more look at the ghost
before I'm gonna make it leave.
Come here.
I've got the pieces here.
Time to gather up the splinters,
build a casket for my tears.

Animal closed his eyes and felt his friend's strong, but soft embrace.

I'm haunted.
(By the lives that I have loved)
I'm haunted.
(By the promises I've made)
I'm haunted
by the hallways in this tiny room.
The echoes there of me and you,
the voices that are carrying this tune.

Floyd broke away from Animal and touched his shoulder.

"Sorry I was so hard on you. I guess I'm just so concerned because a few months ago when we had that criminal disaster, you acting strange and that really stood out to me, man, but I've seen you do what you do best before, and you're good at it. That's why my friends and I wanna help you. We know that your drumming can get outta hand. You understand?" explained Floyd.

"Wha?" asked Animal. Floyd stared at Animal then tried to repeat what he said in the best way possible.

"Animal, we like you. Wanna help you," he said in Animal's tone. His friend understood ad nodded.

"Great! So…wanna go back down to the party?" asked Floyd.

"Yeah! Yeah!" cried Animal.

The two friends went back down stairs, with Floyd carrying his chain…as he would always do in the years to come.