For your enjoyment the next chapter.
Chaos and Clogs!With the threat of being Bouquet'ed now gone, the entire ballet company really put their hearts and souls into the rehearsals for La fille mal gardée.
With the scenery completed, Annette had moved the rehearsals to the stage.
Also, since Erik was now in a really good mood, Meg decided to up the ante every time Erik was near Christine.
ooo
With the corps de ballet briefly resting in the wings. Annette was walking through the clog dance with just Thomas on stage when Meg spied Erik approaching from the direction of his office, her devious mind went into overdrive.
"I'm feeling a bit stiff." Meg announced quietly to Christine, "I think I shall do a few stretches and the splits." She added, starting a demi plié.
Christine nodded, "Sounds like a plan." She replied as she started copying her friend, unaware that her actions had been seen by a now awe struck music director who had decided to secretly observe from behind a scene flat.
ooo
Erik gave in for a brief moment to his normally well controlled desires and watched open mouthed as Christine slid down to the floor performing a perfect splits.
Squeezing his hands on the contents in his jacket pockets to maintain a little self-control, Erik failed to remember that he still had the master remote for the trap doors in his left jacket pocket...
Annette was happily choreographing when all of a sudden, the stage beneath her vanished, and so did she with a yell.
Upon Annette's yelp, Meg, Christine, and the rest of the Corps stopped what they were doing and dashed over to see the trap door closing over their Ballet Mistress.
"She's going to be pissed." Thomas remarked, having seen Annette fall and then land unceremoniously on the safety mat below, before the trap door shut.
"Mama!" Meg yelled as she and Christine joined the throng.
ooo
As Annette yelped and vanished, the spell Christine inadvertently had on Erik broke and he lifted his hands from his pockets, there in his left hand was the master remote. He opened his hand and released the button he had accidentally pressed and watched in horror as the trapdoor shut.
"Secretly wanting to learn ballet?" Nadir enquired saucily as he made his presence known.
"How long have you been spying on me?" Erik grumbled.
"Long enough to wonder if you need a mop for the drool." Nadir quipped.
"I was not drooling; I was merely overwhelmed." Erik hissed.
"Well, when Annette gets back on stage, you'll be overwhelmed alright." Nadir pointed out with a chuckle, as Erik realised, he still had the remote in his hand.
"Urm, could you put this back in the tech booth where it belongs. Please" Erik asked shoving the remote into Nadir's hand.
Alas it was too late. Annette reappeared from below stage, mussed, dusty and very angry.
Striding towards both men like an unexploded homing missile she spied the cause of her descent.
Then remembered she had an audience and as she reached Erik and Nadir, Annette reigned in her anger and turned towards the gaggle of gawping ballerinas including Meg and Christine, who were watching with nervous interest. "I need to have a few words with the music director." Annette announced crisply. "Continue to rehearse the clog dance scene, until I return. Thomas watch the flow of the scene for me." She commanded, before turning to face Erik. "Maestro, your office now." She hissed as she strode off with Erik and Nadir silently following.
ooo
"Come on everyone!" Sorelli called, "Places please." She added as the cast got into position.
ooo
As the cast started rehearsing again, up in Erik's office, Annette was just finishing a tirade directed at the two men.
"Thank heavens your office is sound proofed." Nadir whispered cautiously to Erik.
"Now can either of you explain, how I ended up down a trapdoor?" she asked with dangerous calm, staring at the item Nadir was holding.
Nadir still had the remote in his hand, he placed it carefully on Erik's desk, "Well..." Annette prompted and to her and Nadir's horror, Erik suddenly burst into tears.
"Erik lost control of himself..." the now distraught man wailed. Annette's anger vanished as she shot towards her unhappy boss and hugged him.
"It can't have been that bad." Annette responded, looking to Nadir for clarification whilst still hugging Erik.
"It wasn't." Nadir chipped in, "I saw the whole thing. All he did was catch Christine doing the splits backstage and grabbed hold of whatever was in his jacket pockets for fortitude. Which was unfortunately the trapdoor remote." He added.
Annette sighed; another talk was needed. "Erik, it is not wrong to admire someone." She pointed out. "It is better to not be sneaky whilst admiring, that can be uncomfortable for both people, when you get caught."
"But who wants to be admired by this!" Erik responded waving his hands at his face and still crying.
Annette knew she had no choice, she had to tell him. "Christine already knows you wear facial prosthetics." She informed Erik carefully.
The screech of Erik's instant mood swing was almost audible. "Who told her!" he demanded. Pulling away from Annette's hug.
"You showed her, when you put your face on wonky, the night of the passata incident." Nadir declared.
The mood swing came to a grinding halt. "What? She saw... No one said..." Erik stuttered.
"All she saw was your cheek, where you had misplaced your prosthetic chin. The girl is not stupid, she worked it out. I shut her curiosity down by simply saying you were in a house fire years ago and left it at that." Annette explained.
Erik thought for a moment. However, Annette could see where his brain was going. "No, she is not just being nice in case she loses her home and nice clothes." She stated hoping to derail Erik's negative thoughts. "All she has worried about is how you are. Was your hand getting better. Was Ayesha okay. Christine has not once missed her fancy room or the beautiful wardrobe of clothes. All she has missed was you. Even after she knew about your face." Annette told him.
"You had better believe it. First the note about hugs from Mr Pig and this!" Nadir added, as he pulled his phone from his pocket. "Christine since she has been at Annette's has sent me quite a few texts asking if you are okay." He continued as he pulled up the large text conversation between him and Christine, to show both Annette and Erik. "All sent late at night, so she didn't worry Meg." He finished.
Erik read the texts and suddenly looked like he had been struck by lightning. "Christine really cares about me?" he asked in awe.
ooo
Meanwhile down on stage, the company had just finished another near perfect run through of the clog dance scene.
"Thank you, George." Thomas acknowledged their rehearsal Pianist. "Take five everyone, well done." Thomas called out as the cast dispersed to grab a drink and snack each.
Meg handed Thomas his water bottle and he took a long drink. Christine At Meg's insistence approached him as he put the top back on.
"Hi Thomas, I know that Widow Simone's part is danced in the ballet by yourself, but would you teach me to dance her clog dance, please, I've always wanted to learn it." She asked.
Thomas grinned, "Absolutely, just remember, it is quite risky, you can easily turn or break your ankle." He warned, "Always be careful with the slide, as you can whizz right off the stage if you don't control it." He added.
Meg wandered over with a pair of clogs for Christine, "These should fit you just fine." She commented as Christine took the clogs from her friend.
The rest of the company got comfortable ready to watch. "Take it easy Christine, Annette will kill us if you get injured!" Sorelli called as Thomas instructed Christine how to wear the clogs.
ooo
Back in the office Erik was a triple brandy down and feeling much better after further talking with Annette and Nadir, he had just one concern.
"How do I go about approaching Christine?" he asked himself, shook his head, "Nope, if she wants to be more than friends, she will have to let me know." He declared to himself as Nadir and Annette looked at each other.
"Meg?" Nadir whispered.
"Our only hope!" Annette whispered back.
"You think I should ask your daughter to ask Christine for me?" Erik blurted out his tone horrified, having heard his friends whispering to each other.
"No!" Annette replied quickly, "I think I should have a word with Meg to encourage Christine to show how she feels for you, you respond favourably, then Christine will tell you how she feels, and you take it from there!" she explained.
Erik grinned like a Cheshire cat for a brief moment, "You think that will work?" he asked as Annette nodded. Then for the second time in less than a week, Erik grabbed his ballet mistress and kissed her, "Thank you, thank you!" Erik said happily.
"Hey! That's my job!" Nadir complained bitterly as Erik set Annette back on her feet, swung around and with a wicked glint in his eye, promptly gave his best friend a matching kiss.
Setting the now coughing and spluttering Iranian back on his feet, Erik grinned again. "I did not realise that you thought it was your job to be kissed by me!" Erik said cheekily as Annette sniggered.
"Ptooey!" Nadir spat wiping his lips with his sleeve, "I meant it is my job to kiss Annette, not yours!" he complained, Erik just laughed.
"I agree it is Nadir's job to kiss me." Annette acknowledged, "But it is my job to ensure the company are ready for the performances and that means I have to get back to work." She pointed out.
It was with all three friends in a much lighter mood, they left the office and headed back to the stage.
ooo
Whilst Erik had a small meltdown, Christine had impressed not only Thomas but the rest of the company with how fast she had picked up the clog dance; especially as she only had a few mishaps. The latest was clouting one of the scene shifters with a loose flying clog.
"Make sure the straps are secure and next time try not to kick so hard." Thomas managed to instruct between laughs, as a rather stunned member of the backstage crew handed Christine her errant clog and then went to see the opera house first aider. Meg nearly wet herself as she then helped a very embarrassed Christine, secure her clog back on her foot.
Waiting until everyone else had stopped laughing, Thomas encouraged his new student to actually perform the clog dance as Widow Simone.
"George, when you are ready!" Thomas called into the orchestra pit, scanning everywhere to locate their pianist. "George? Where are you?" he called when the sound of someone entering the pit caught his ears.
Whilst everyone on stage were laughing at the clog incident, George had taken the time to locate a bicycle helmet to wear, having decided that as well paid as he was it was not enough to risk being hit with uncontrolled flying wooden clogs.
The entire company roared as George and his helmet sat down ready to play. Even Christine had to admit it was funny, especially as Meg was now curled up on the floor crying with laughter.
After the latest bout of laughing settled down, Thomas had everyone take their places, then he made Christine take his place; citing that it allowed him to see the flow of the rest of the scene since he could now watch it unfold.
ooo
As Annette arrived back stage, she was happy to hear the sounds of rehearsing going on, she stood quietly by the exit to the green room for a moment listening. Thomas's steps were slightly out of synch with the music, but otherwise everything else sounded good. She was still listening when Erik and Nadir caught up with her.
"Is it me or is someone a little off beat?" Erik whispered.
Nodding, Annette answered him. "Thomas is not quite keeping pace, yet earlier he was spot on."
Erik nodded back, knowing that he was best staying out of the dancing. So, he decided to relocate to one side and watch. Nadir came up and stood behind him as both men looked out onto the stage, to see not Thomas in the role of Widow Simone, but Christine, with Thomas watching from the other side.
Coming to the part of the dance she had most struggled with Christine, clogged to the music as she made her way behind the other clog dancers ready for the trip and slide across the stage. Her trip was on the mark, when Annette appeared from stage left.
Having just started the slide, Christine spotted Annette staring at her, promptly forgot to control the slide and shot straight across the stage out of control, as the music ceased, and the rest of the company stopped dancing and watched curiously...
At times like this, Erik was glad he had quick insight, as he realised Christine was careening across the stage directly towards him. Stepping smartly to one side, he watched with interest as Nadir was not so quick to realise the rapidly approaching danger.
The ballet company as one, burst in to gales of laughter, Christine and her runaway clogs piled straight into the head of security and knocked him flat on his backside. Erik was the first on scene. After he helped his student back on her feet and receiving a hug from his student for his efforts, he dashed off leaving Meg checking her for injuries, and Christine apologising profusely to Nadir, when a voice called from floor level.
"Would anyone care to help me up?" Nadir requested.
Suddenly a gaggle of ballerinas surrounded the stricken man and helped him off the floor, before fussing over him.
"Ladies, the head of security is a big boy he can look after himself." Annette yelled glowering at her sweetheart, who was in her opinion, enjoying the fussing a little too much. Nadir realised he was in hot water and thanked his rescuers as they finished fussing, all under Annette's unimpressed glare.
Meg held her laughter long enough to read the situation, and suggested an early lunch for the company, Annette agreed; as she was about to dismiss everyone, she noticed a peculiar sight in the orchestra pit.
"George." Annette called to their pianist, "Why are you wearing a bicycle helmet?"
ooo
After everyone except for Meg and Christine were dismissed for a long lunch; with orders to get their laughter under control when they returned. Annette looked at Nadir As he apologised for enjoying the fussing too much whilst still rubbing his backside. Annette forgave him then sighed and turned to her daughter. "Okay whose bright idea, was it?" she asked.
Smiling sweetly Meg explained that with Annette's instructions for Thomas to watch the flow of the scene, and Christine wanting to learn Widow Simone's clog dance, the company came up with the idea that Thomas teach Christine the clog dance, she took his place for a run through and then Thomas could stand back and watch the scene.
Annette nodded, she had to admit it was an ingenious idea although very unorthodox, and Meg might have gotten away with it, had she not burst out laughing as she explained about the low flying clog.
With Meg now getting her ears bent by her mother, about flying clogs are not funny they're dangerous. Christine apologised again to Nadir, who happily accepted Christine's apologies whilst still rubbing his posterior.
"It was just an accident." he told her, "I'm fine. Though, that stage floor is rather hard." He added, when as if by magic Erik reappeared grinning and clutching something wrinkled up that was made of white and pink plastic with brown printed bits on it. Christine and Annette, both went silent and grinned when they realised what Erik had in his hand. Meg slapped her hand over her mouth before she started laughing again.
"You think you're so funny you bastard." Nadir hissed as Erik took a deep breath and blew up the swim ring, before handing it smugly to his friend.
"We can't have the head of security unable to do his job because of a work place injury, can we?" Erik asked rhetorically, his voice innocently sweet.
Although he was unimpressed, Nadir grabbed the ring, knowing that he was indeed going to need it. "I hate you at times." He complained.
"I won't hold it against you." Erik replied cheerfully.
"Mama, what about Grandpa's old haemorrhoid ring?" Meg asked helpfully.
Seeing the discomfort on her partner's face, Annette nodded, "That sounds like a good idea, Meg. I shall bring it in tomorrow." She agreed.
ooo
With Annette extracting a promise from Christine to stay away from the clogs. The rest of the day went well for everyone, except for the head of security. Nadir's sore backside, his new cushion, and its cause; resulted in much mickey taking in the security office. Alas it was only the start of Nadir's woes.
ooo
Erik was in a glowing mood, first the hope that Meg was going to help him with Christine, then Nadir getting run over by uncontrolled clogs, which allowed him to enjoy helping Christine; and the hug she gave him topped off the day. His ebullient mood gave free reign to his imagination and a wicked idea sprang to mind.
Once everyone but himself, Christine and Nadir had left, Erik went round and collected all the caution wet floor signs he could find, and loaded them into his car, before saying good night and departing for home, leaving a sore Nadir to drop Christine back.