Music Class
It was two days before the performance. The students decided to meet up to practise together. They decided to use the Music Room, and Logan was forced to supervise again.
"Don't worry, Logan," Rogue said. "We've gotten way better!"
"I won't knock anyone out again with my violin! Really!" Kitty said.
"I hope you're not lying," Logan said, frowning.
Everybody got into position and prepared their instruments.
"Okay, I admit. You've improved," Logan said.
The students whooped and cheered.
They were in the kitchen again. This time seated around the counter as though they were in a meeting. Bobby was once again eating ice cream but this time was sharing it with Rogue; John was eating a large bag of Dorritos extra-spicy nachos; Jubilee was chewing gum; Kitty and Piotr were drinking hot chocolate.
"So tell us," John said, "who are our audience? Where are we performing?"
"I'm under orders not to reveal too much," Logan replied.
"Can't you reveal a little bit?" Kitty asked.
"Pleeeeeeeese?" Jubilee added.
Both girls made sad eyes.
Logan sighed. "Okay, okay. I'll tell ya," he said. The students leaned closer to listen. "One thing for sure is that you're families are part of the audience."
Bobby snorted. "My family would be part of the audience? Not a chance. They aren't gonna come after the last time I visited." He gave John a brief glare.
"I only burnt a rosebush," John muttered, burying his face into the bag of nachos.
"And revealed to them that I was a mutant!" Bobby snapped. "And gave them the wrong idea!"
"Maybe they'll change that idea when they see our performance," Rogue said, trying to calm Bobby down. "Right, Logan?"
"We'll see about that," Logan replied, lighting a cigarette.
"Is there anything else you can tell us?" Kitty asked Logan. "Y'know, where we'll be performing?"
"It'll be somewhere around the mansion, I'll tell you that," Logan answered, blowing out smoke.
"Anything else?" Jubilee pressed.
"It'll be at night," Logan replied.
"Will—" Kitty wanted to ask but was cut off.
"No more questions!" Logan said. The girls pouted but didn't press any further.
They just had to wait.
It was Saturday, the last day of the week. It was also night time.
Bobby, John, Rogue, Kitty, Piotr, and Jubilee left the X-Mansion with their instruments. To Bobby's surprise, his family was there. They were sitting on a stone bench and seem to be avoiding eye contact with Bobby. He still went over to talk to them. Kitty's parents were different; they rushed over to hug Kitty, stating how excited they were to see Kitty perform. Piotr saw his sister Illyana leading his parents to him. John, Jubilee, and Rogue watched from one side.
Jubilee's parents were killed accidentally by hitmen, John accidentally killed his parents, and Rogue had left hers.
Then, Logan arrived with Charles and Erik. Logan motioned for them to follow. As they walked, Bobby tried to talk to his little brother, Ronny.
"So, how's school?" he asked.
"It's fine," Ronny replied shortly, then added, "Because there aren't any freaks there."
"Ronny!" Mrs. Drake hissed.
"You know it's true!" Ronny replied. "Why are we even here in the first place?!"
"To watch your bro perform, duh," John replied.
"Who's talkin' to you?" Ronny snapped. "Rosebush burner!"
"Shut up, you lil' twerp!" John growled.
"John, can you please don't threaten my brother?" Bobby said.
"Who's your brother?" Ronny snorted. He pushed Bobby away and walked closer to his parents.
"You're brother's a brat. That's all I can say," John whispered to Bobby angrily.
Bobby sighed. "I know, but he'll understand one day."
Then, there was the sound of people screaming and shouting angrily. It was getting louder every step they took. They understood when they reached the school back entrance. There was a mob of anti-mutant protesters trying to get into the school, but the gates were very reinforced, so their efforts were futile. Some of the protesters were even unloading weapons.
They saw Jean standing at the gate, watching the protesters with bemusement. Then, she turned around and saw the students. "Hi," she greeted. "Ready to perform?"
"This is our 'audience'?" Piotr asked.
"Yeah," Jean replied. "Apparently Mr. Lehnsherr came up with the idea to taunt these protesters."
"How did you know that they'll be here?" Kitty asked.
"We have ways," Jean said.
"You're all gonna die!" one protester shouted lifting up a bazooka.
Jean calmly told the students, "Get into position."
As the students took out their instruments, the humans were backing away. Before the students began to play, Charles stopped them.
"No, I'll be playing first. You will play the after the chorus and sing the chorus too," Charles said. He took out his piano accordion. He started the song but Erik sang first.
"On the farm, every Friday," he sang.
Then Charles sang the next line, "On the farm, it's rabbit pie day."
After that they sang together, "So, every Friday that ever comes along, I get up early and sing this little song~"
The students knew it was their cue and sang at perfect pitch and timing.
"Run rabbit – run rabbit – Run! Run! Run!
Run rabbit – run rabbit – Run! Run! Run!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Goes the farmer's gun.
Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run run run run~"
The protesters were baffled that the mutants were singing rather than fleeing. The students leaned closer and smiled mockingly as they sang.
"Run rabbit – run rabbit – Run! Run! Run!
Run rabbit – run rabbit – Run! Run! Run!
Don't give the farmer his fun! Fun! Fun!
He'll get by
Without his rabbit pie
So run rabbit – run rabbit – Run! Run! Run!"
"Just kill them!" another protester shouted and they began shooting bombs. Jean had put up a telekinetic shield to block them. They exploded like fireworks, thus making the mood rather light.
The students played their instruments. Piotr's trumpet took the lead as the others played in the background. Then, Bobby's clarinet took over. Finally, Kitty's violin played elegantly while Bobby, John, Rogue, and Jubilee played softly. After that, Charles took over as they began singing, except now all of them were singing, even the humans were singing.
"Run rabbit – run rabbit – Run! Run! Run!
Run rabbit – run rabbit – Run! Run! Run!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Goes the farmer's gun.
Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run run run run~
Run rabbit – run rabbit – Run! Run! Run!
Run rabbit – run rabbit – Run! Run! Run!
Don't give the farmer his fun! Fun! Fun!
He'll get by
Without his rabbit pie
So run rabbit – Run! Run! Run!"
And with that, they were finished. The performers took a bow, although they weren't applauded. The protesters have run out of bombs to throw.
"So," John began, "whatcha gonna do?"
"You… You…" a third protester sputtered.
"We'll be back!" a fourth shouted, and the protesters ran away.
"And when you do, we'll have another song for ya!" Jubilee shouted back. The students laughed.
Piotr turned around to Charles. "This was a very fun punishment."
Charles smiled. "We initially thought of asking children, but we were worried that they'd be frightened by this crowd."
"This was your idea of a punishment?" Ronny asked.
"You should've seen the looks of their faces when they were told that they had to perform for an audience. Especially Bobby, he-" Logan said but was knocked out by a touch of Rogue's hand.
"Ignore him!" Bobby said as he and John tried to drag him away. "We'll be going now. Bye, mom! Bye dad! Bye Ronny!"
Piotr and Illyana have their parents a hug before they left. Piotr helped to carry Logan. Kitty was still saying goodbye before Jubilee called her.
The students didn't mind performing for them again. It was fun, after all. There was no denying that.