Chapter Three
"Chloe, please, we didn't mean to offend you!" Sephie cried.
"Yeah!" Monalisa agreed "We just couldn't help but listen in!"
Chloe sat on her bed, her cheeks were a deep crimson red and she had her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
Sephie sighed and looked at Monalisa sadly before looking back at the butterfly.
"You really do have an amazing voice!" Monalisa said "Truly! I've heard all kinds of voices, and after what I heard you'd give Mariah Carey a serious run for her money!"
"Yeah!" Sephie agreed "Too true!"
The Butterfly still didn't look up and continued to look at her clenched hands in her lap.
Sephie bit her lip, then she had an idea and decided to sit on the bed next to Chloe.
Monalisa watched her friend then she realised what she was going to do.
"Hey, Chloe?" Sephie said but Chloe didn't answer.
"You know Chloe, if you're upset, did you want to talk about it? I'm here to listen, and so's Mona?"
Chloe again was silent, but she did raise her head a little.
Sephie felt a sense of triumph as she thought was about to gain the butterfly's trust.
"Are you upset because of us?" Sephie asked.
Chloe shook her head.
"Then what is it you're upset about?" Sephie asked as she reached over and placed a hand on Chloe's tense clasped hands.
Chloe said nothing for a moment then she looked up.
"I'm not upset," she said at last "I'm embarrassed."
"Embarrassed?" said Sephie and Monalisa together in surprise.
"Why?" Monalisa asked.
"Because you heard me singing to myself in the mirror!" Chloe replied, "I felt like a fool!"
"It's not foolish at all Chloe!" Sephie replied "We all do it! Well, I know Mike and Raph sing in the shower!"
"And Mike, even though he can carry a tune, he's not the best." Monalisa added "Raph though, he's alright but no Justin Timberlake."
"I talk to myself in the mirror sometimes!" Sephie admitted "Now that's something I'm not afraid to admit!"
"Leonardo does that too!" Monalisa agreed "And Donnie has full blown conversations with himself, well with that brain of his, I'm not surprised!" she laughed at the last part and Sephie chuckled.
A small giggle erupted from Chloe and Sephie looked at her.
"There we go!" she said, "Nice to hear a laugh from you there, as well as a smile!" she commented on the slight smile that appeared on Chloe's face.
"But in all honesty, you shouldn't be embarrassed!" Sephie said "If you love to sing, you should do it! And not just in front of the mirror! Why you could keep the residents entertained for hours!"
As she said that, Chloe's smile faded, and she looked down again.
"I can't!" she said, "I can't sing in front of people!"
"Why not?" Sephie asked.
"I'm too scared!" Chloe answered, "I can't get up on the stage and sing in front of the residents, they'll laugh at me!"
"No, they wouldn't!" Monalisa and Sephie exclaimed together.
"They wouldn't dare!" Sephie cried.
"Not in front of me they wouldn't!" Monalisa agreed "They'd taste my tessen!" so saying she flicked open one of her weapons and fanned herself with it.
Chloe clasped her hands tightly together and kept her eyes down.
"Really girls." She said, "Thanks for your sweet thoughts and your kind words, but I don't think I could do it! I'm really too shy."
The lizards looked a little saddened, but they knew they couldn't make the butterfly do something she didn't want to do, but they were glad that they had been able to make her feel better and less embarrassed.
"We'll let you have a think about it okay?" Sephie asked patting Chloe's back gently "But trust me and Mona when we say your voice is amazing!"
Chloe looked up at the lizards and smiled.
"Again, thanks girls!" she said "I'll have a think about it."
"that's the spirit!" Sephie winked "Anyway, it'll be suppertime before long, we'll see you there!"
Sephie then stood up from the bed and walked with Monalisa out of the bedroom leaving Chloe looking thoughtful after their conversation.
Later that night, after the Mutopians and their guests had gathered for supper, Tyroth along with George took to the stage and coughed to get everyone's attention.
"Attention! Attention please!" he clapped his paws, and everyone stopped eating, drinking, and socialising and looked towards the dragon.
"I wonder what's up?" Cam asked.
"Darned if I know!" Barrie replied.
Leona and Patch looked at each other in question then up at Tyroth.
"Thanks!" Tyroth called out "Now, I know many of you are excited about Christmas in a week's time!"
Everyone murmured excitedly.
"This is one major event for all of us, not just for the humans above, where we as a family and community come together as one to celebrate such a joyous occasion and we are always privileged to have our friends here with us when they can!" so saying he looked to the Hamato clan, April and Casey and smiled.
"But as well as Christmas, we also take pride in celebrating other important occasions in honour for those amongst us, who have introduced us to their cultures and traditions, such as Hannukah, Eid-al-Fitr and Diwali to name a few!"
As he said that, a few Mutopians murmured in agreement as well as looked pleased with themselves.
It was true, as all the Mutopians had come from all religions and walks of life and felt proud as well as thankful that the whole sanctuary embraced their ways of life and celebrated their religious holidays with them.
"But my main point here is," Tyroth spoke up "That every year we put on entertainment, and in the years that have gone by we've put on concerts, and plays, and I'm sure all of us will never forget the first pantomime we put on."
As he said that, laughs were heard from everyone who had been around during that time and Michelangelo and Donatello went pink.
"Yes." Tyroth chuckled "Such a funny time that was and will always be so! But this year, I have proposed that we put on a Talent Showcase!"
At once people gasped in joy and before long everyone started talking at once.
"Oh yeah!"
"Great idea Dragon!"
"Fantastic idea!"
"Top notch!"
Tyroth smiled as he looked at the residents agreeing in unison.
"I take it you're all voting, yes?" he asked to which everyone said yes in unison.
Tyroth grinned.
"Then it's settled!" he announced "So if everyone agrees for the following, the Talent Show will take place on the 23rd of December, and for those who wish to take part, put your names down along with the act you plan to do! And we'll set up a program!"
Everyone cheered and a few cries of 'Yes' were heard.
"And you only have a week to prepare!" the Dragon added "So get your skates on! That's all!" he clapped his paws then went back to join his wife and twins and Old George went back to sit with Splinter.
"Oh my! Only a week?" Leona cried.
Patch nodded.
"Well, let's get our thinking caps on!" she said.
Chloe meanwhile rubbed her chin, and a thoughtful look came to her face.
"A Talent Showcase?" she mused "And everyone's invited to take part?"
Meanwhile the Chicago Knights started to converse about what they would do.
"I think I got something!" Percy grinned.
"Oh yeah what?" Kate asked folding her arms.
"Oh no, not gonna say what!" Percy said putting his tongue out at the viper "What about you snake girl?"
Kate frowned and folded her arms.
"Well, that's for me to know, and you to find out pest!" she snapped.
The other Knights laughed at the two bickering frenemies.
Monalisa and Sephie meanwhile looked over to Chloe who was sipping some soup and talking to a female Lynx.
"Do you think we should try and convince Chloe to give it a go?" Monalisa asked the gecko "She has such an amazing talent!"
Sephie shrugged.
"Well, we can't force her if she doesn't want to." She said, "The choice is hers at the end of the day, but inclined to agree, a talent like that shouldn't be wasted."
"We can always suggest?" Monalisa offered "Of course we won't force her, but we can give her the choice, and if she wants to do it, then great, but if not, we shall support her."
Sephie nodded in agreement.
"Guess we'll have to wait and see." She spoke.
So Sephie and Monalisa have spoken to Chloe about her singing, and the Butterfly admits she's shy about singing in public, yet will that change now that Tyroth has announced the Talent Showcase?
I wonder what acts people will come up with? Well again that's for me to know and you to find out!