Chapter Four
An Idea
When the turtles, Mona, Tyroth and Sephie got home, they instantly threw off their outdoor clothes and Michelangelo instantly went into the kitchen to prepare everyone some food and drinks. Tyroth scooped Sephie into his arms and instantly started using his magic to warm her making Raphael look a little sick.
"You okay Raphael?" Mona's voice broke into the turtles thoughts "Something wrong hun?"
"Nothing..." said Raphael softly "Just wish I could warm you in the cold, but...ya know, being cold bloodied..." he was shut off as Mona placed a finger on his lips to quieten him.
"Its okay sweetheart..." said Mona with a smile "You don't have to do that to show you love me..." she stroked the red scarf he had wrapped around her neck earlier "Giving me your scarf was good enough to show you care..."
Raphael smiled and kissed Mona's forehead.
"Thanks babe..." he said softly "Are you feeling alright now?"
Mona smiled softly and nodded.
"I'll be fine hun..." she said "I just felt the feeling you know..."
"I understand..." said Raphael "Come on, let's go upstairs and get you out of those clothes."
"Okay." said Mona, she then gasped and giggled as Raphael scooped her up bridal style and carried her to her room.
Donatello rolled his eyes as he watched the love birds walk off to their room then ran to the kitchen to make help Michelangelo.
"I'm gonna take a leaf out of Raphael's book." said Tyroth with a cheeky smile as he carried Sephie to the spare room.
Leonardo shook his head.
"Don't be too long though..." he said "We got hot chocolate and snacks coming."
"We'll be right there fearless!" Raphael called from upstairs.
After a few minutes, the gang were in the TV area, Sephie and Mona were out of their combat gear and were in silk pyjamas, Mona's were black and pink whilst Sephie's were red.
Michaelangelo had made everyone hot chocolate and also put some snacks on some plates including mince pies, cookies as well as some buns that smelt of saffron and dotted with raisins.
In front of the TV were stacks of DVDs all Christmas films that Michaelangelo had found.
Out of the list of DVDs were 'It's a Wonderful life', 'Home Alone', 'Home Alone 2, Lost in New York' 'A Christmas Carol' starring Patrick Stewart, 'Muppet Christmas Carol', 'The Nightmare Before Christmas', 'The Santa Claus', 'Love Actually', 'Gremlins' and 'Elf'.
"We're never going to get through all those in one night!" said Leonardo picking up a couple of DVDs.
"I always loved 'It's a Wonderful Life'" said Donatello "So heart-warming."
"'A Christmas Carol' was one of my favourites..." said Mona "I read the book and watched the films 'Muppet Christmas Carol' and 'A Christmas Carol' starring Patrick Stewart were my favourite."
"I love that novel too!" said Sephie "Charles Dickens, such a talented writer!"
"Agreed!" said Leonardo with a nod.
Mona looked at the DVDs.
"My brothers and I were always choosing what films to watch at Christmas, and every other time of the year we'd hide the DVDs at the back of the cupboard and never watched them other than Christmastime. It was if they were sacred and watching them any other time of the year didn't seem right."
"That's a good way of putting it!" said Michaelangelo "I could never watch a Christmas movie in the middle of summer, never seems right."
"Yeah." said Tyroth.
"What I never understood..." said Raphael "Is what happens in Australia...from what I learnt they celebrated Christmas in summer!"
"In summer!" said Michaelangelo.
"That's true that..." said Donatello "They celebrate during the summer holidays as their calendar months are different...They sometimes have BBQs on the beach on Christmas Day and Santa has his sled pulled by kangaroos or he rides on water skis!"
"I can't imagine Christmas in the summer..." said Mona "In Wisconsin...it's always cold and snowing! They can have the coldest winters in America!"
"Chicago's pretty cold too!" said Sephie.
"Yeah! And I've experienced some harsh weather in my lifetime!" said Tyroth "Well, I did live almost a hundred miles from the Arctic circle for ten years..."
As Tyroth spoke, Michelangelo picked up one of the saffron and raisin buns and took a bite.
"Mmm, yummy!" he said "These are great buns Tyroth!"
"A Swedish recipe!" said Tyroth proudly "We call them St Lucia Buns...or 'Lussekatter' in the Swedish tongue."
"St Lucia buns?" asked Raphael as he picked one up and took a bite "mmm, tasty!"
"They're quite a popular treat especially around St Lucia's day in Sweden." said Tyroth "Mostly eaten at Breakfast!"
"I remember hearing a myth that the buns are supposed to represent the eyes of the Martyr St Lucia." said Donatello "After they were gouged out!"
Everyone, except Tyroth and Sephie went pale with sickness.
"Donny!" Mona said "I don't think we needed to know that!"
"It's true!" said Donatello "I've done a lot of reading!"
"I didn't read too much into it myself..." said Tyroth "I just enjoy the holiday and treats!"
"Thanks a lot brainiac!" said Raphael, his chewing was less enthusiastic "Just the thing we wanted to hear!"
"But there is another story to the bun though!" said Donatello.
"Is it gross?" asked Raphael with a groan.
"No!" said Donatello "I also read the buns were supposed to keep the devil at bay? Apparently the Devil disguised himself as a cat and hurt children, so the children were given a bright bun to keep him away..."
"I see..." said Mona "That's interesting..."
"So anyway..." said Leonardo deciding to change the subject "What we gonna watch first?"
"Beats me..." said Raphael "We got so many to choose from..."
Michaelangelo shifted a little on the sofa as he tried to look at the DVDs, as he did, the bottom of his shell hit the remote control and turned the TV on.
It came on so suddenly that everybody jumped.
"Mikey!" said Raphael crossly "Give us a heart attack for Christmas why don't you?"
"Sorry..." said Michaelangelo as he picked up the remote control to turn the volume down, as he did, Mona looked at the TV and saw that it was a celebrity performance of the Pantomime 'Cinderella'.
"Wow..." said Michaelangelo as he also looked "Is that a Pantomime?"
"It is!" said Mona "My parents used to take me and my brothers every year to see one."
The other turtles and Tyroth and Sephie looked at the TV as they saw two men dressed in drag walk onto the stage and start saying horrid things to Cinderella as the audience booed them.
"Wow!" said Donatello "That looks like fun!"
"I've been to Pantomimes before." said Sephie "I was always shouting 'It's behind you!' or 'Oh No it's not!"
Mona laughed.
"I used to remember some of my friends saying Pantomimes were babyish," she said "But I don't think so...half the time when we went, my parents seemed to love it more than me and my brothers..."
As the turtles, Mona, Sephie and Tyroth wacthed more of the TV pantomime, they became more and more intrigued.
"Why should pantos be just for kids?" said Michaelangelo "I'm loving this! I just wish we could see one for real! But of course...you know...the way we are...they'd run away screaming...turn us away..."
"Or mistake us for the cast?" asked Sephie in a jokey way.
"Oh yeah! That too!" said Michaelangelo.
"Hey!" said Donatello "I just had an idea!"
"What is it?" everyone asked in unison looking towards the brainy turtle.
"It may sound crazy, but since you're all talking about pantomimes and all, we could...I don't know, put one on ourselves for everyone in Mutopia?"
Everyone stared at the brainy turtle for along time.
"Us?" asked Raphael "Put on a show?"
"Why not?" asked Donatello "We can put on 'Cinderella'! It would be a cool treat for everyone there, especially the young ones! And we'd have a lot of fun too! I have to admit I've always liked the idea of being an actor!"
"I used to enjoy the stage too!" said Mona "I was always auditioning for the school plays and my mother used to read me Shakespeare's plays."
"I remember you telling us." said Leonardo.
"I like Donatello's idea!" said Sephie "Sounds like a great idea!"
"Yeah!" said Tyroth "I think everyone will love it there! Sometimes in Mutopia we put on shows in the Canteen area, sometimes we have comedy nights, karaoke, open mike nights, maybe even the odd band playing, I think a pantomime would be a great idea!"
"We know a couple of people who are carpenters and decorators who can do props and scenery!" said Sephie "As well as some who can do costumes!"
"I'm up for it!" said Mona "It'll be fun!" she looked towards the turtles "What about you lot?"
Michelangelo was grinning and nodding showing he wanted to do it, yet Raphael and Leonardo looked a little unsure.
"Come on you two!" said Michaelangelo "It'll be fun!"
"Yeah!" said Sephie "It'll be the best Christmas ever!"
Raphael and Leonardo looked at each other as they thought about it.
"I think it's a good idea Fearless!" said Raphael "From what we saw on the TV, it looks like a laugh!"
Leonardo looked at his younger brother then at the TV then he smiled.
"I suppose you're right." he said "Okay let's do it!"
"Hooray!" everyone cheered.
"Now all we have to do is talk to Splinter and see what he says!" said Donatello "And also if April and Casey want to help out too? I mean they'll be joining us too in Mutopia!"
"Yeah!" said Michaelangelo "We can ask when they arrive."
"And we'll also need to talk about whose playing whom?" said Leonardo "And whose gonna be unlucky enough to play the Ugly sisters!"
"Not me!" said Raphael "You're not getting me into some big itchy dress!"
"Why not?" asked Tyroth "You're look great!"
Raphael just glared at the Dragon whilst Michaelangelo started laughing.
"I think you're more suited to the role of Buttons, Dandini or Prince Charming than an Ugly Sister!" said Mona trying to calm her hot headed lover down.
"Guys!" said Sephie "Why don't we just settle down and choose a movie, then we can talk to Splinter about it and decide who gets what part then?"
The others looked at each other then nodded.
"Agreed" they said.
"Okay." said Sephie "Then let's get this Christmas Movie night started!" to which everyone cheered and agreed.
So the gang are safe and warm again in the lair, and after watching a Pantomime on the TV they've decided to do their own Pantomime of 'Cinderella' in Mutopia!
I wonder what parts everyone's going to get? Or better yet, whose going to get the short straw to be the Ugly Sisters? Find out in the next chapter!