Terry Terry

Chapter 32"Grease is the word..."

♪♪I solve my problems and I see the light
We gotta plug and think, we gotta feed it right
There ain't no danger we can go to far
We start believing now that we can be who we are

Grease is the word...♪♪

The sun was rising on this new day, which was going to be memorable for all the students in Saint Paul College. The May Festival was the biggest event of the year. They start getting ready for it from the first day of school in September. All the kids born in May were going to be the stars that day. Parents, family members and friends were invited.

The theme was the sixties. The play was going to be "Grease". Everybody was excited. The actors for the play were in the auditorium. But someone was missing.

The teacher in charge of the play asked:

- Have you seen Regis Ward? She asked.

- No, said the students.

- Maybe he's still in his room, with jitters..., said someone.

Candy was in a corner, not speaking to anybody. The girls responsible for the hair and make up were going to straighten Candy's wavy hair for the "Good Sandy" look.

The teacher was still worried. They were missing the main actor. Sister Margaret arrived with a long face...

- Sister Margaret? Said the teacher Miss Campbell, is anything wrong?

- I'm afraid so, said Sister Margaret Regis...

- Where is he? Asked Miss Campbell.

- He's in the hospital with a broken leg...

- A broken what? Said the teacher, oh my God!

- Apparently, Master Regis wanted to visit his beloved last night by climbing trees and balconies...

- So we don't have a Danny? Said the teacher.

- I'm afraid so..., said Sister Margaret.

The reverend mother arrived in the auditorium.

- The play is canceled, she said.

- WHAT?? NO!!! Said the students! We've worked so hard! We can't just cancel the play!

Everybody started talking at the same time. Patrick was backstage. He was in charge of the decoration and the special effect with some other students. Candy was looking at the scene. Then she walked to Patrick.

- Hey Patrick, she said.

- Lady Candy...

- The show is going to be cancel unless you help us..., she said.

- What's going on?

- Regis Ward broke his leg last night while he was going to see his beloved...

- Oh my God! But he's playing Danny!

- That's where you come in...

- Me? I can't be Danny! I'm not an actor!

- None of us are...

- But you have to be predisposed, or at least like it...

- Calm down Patrick, said Candy smiling I wasn't talking about you...

- Oh... thank God! Who did you have in mind?

- Terry told me he played Danny Zuko in third grade...

- Third grade? That's kind of a while ago...

- Well he's the only chance we have today....

- So what do you want me to do?

- I'm just letting you know, that's all! Said Candy leaving.

Patrick looked at Candy go. He knew Terry and her had had a fight at the zoo. They were not speaking to each other, she told him about Terry, so he could do something about it... Well it was now up to him and Terry to save the day. Patrick approached the reverend mother and the others.

- Good morning Reverend Mother, said Patrick.

- Good morning Mr. O'Brien, said the reverend mother.

- I think everything is not lost yet, said Patrick.

- How, do you know someone who can play Danny? Said Sister Margaret.

- Kind of... I'm not sure if ...

- Who is it? Interrupted the reverend mother.

- Well, Terry, Terrence White Andrew, mentioned that he played Danny Zuko in third grade...

- Third grade? Said the Reverend Mother.

- Well for now, he's the best shot we have, said Miss Campbell.

- Mr. O'Brien, go get Mr. Andrew and bring him here...

- Right away, reverend mother.

Patrick ran out of the auditorium to go get Terry in his room.

oOoOoOoOoOo

Terry had spent a very bad night, dreaming about Antonia and Candy. He was in a very bad mood when he woke up. He had a headache. Someone was knocking on his door making his headache worst. He went to open the door.

- Good morning Terry, said Patrick smiling.

- That's a matter of opinion! Said Terry cranky, what do you want?

- You're in a good mood! Said Patrick.

- What do you want!? I have a headache...

- Can I come in at least?

Terry walked away from his door to let Patrick in.

- Are you ok Terry?

- I'm going to be fine...what do you want?

- Well the school kind of need you...

- Me? Why me?

- Regis Ward, the actor who was supposed to play Danny Zuko, broke his leg last night...

- Great! We won't have a play then... pity I was looking forward to seeing Candy on stage...

- But there's a way for you to see her on stage, up close and personal, if you want...

- Up close and personal? What the hell are you thinking about...?

- Well I have it under good authority that you've played Danny Zuko in the past, you know the part...

- What?

- So we need you to step in and be Danny Zuko for the play today...

- What are you? Crazy? No way in hell!

- Come on Terry! You can save the day...

- I don't want to save the day!

- Terry!

- How do you know I played Danny Zuko? Nobody knows that! Not even Jones!

- Who did you tell...?

- I haven't told anyone... wait... Candy!

- Bingo!

- Great! Who else did she tell?

- Just me...

- Good...

- But I told the reverend mother and Miss Campbell.

- Patrick! Without talking to me first? How could you put me on the spot like that again?

- It was an emergency... Come on... Knowing the reverend mother, she might cancel the whole festival altogether!

- Good, because I'm not in the mood to party anyway...

- Terry... come on think about Candy, she's the main actress... She wants to be Sandy ... do it for her.

Terry remained silent. Candy... she probably wanted to act, like her mother, but since she was angry at her, she would never admit it. Not playing is going to hurt her, but she will not show it... and if he doesn't help...when he could...

- But it was a million years ago...

- You remember... you can read the script, watch the movie... you played Danny, and I'm sure the brainiac you are remembers... For Candy...come on Terry...

- This is not fair! If I refuse... for no apparent reason...

- Terry come on....The reverend mother wants to see you... for Candy.

- For Candy, said Terry, let's go...

Terry took a couple of Tylenol for his head ache with water and he walked with Patrick against his will to the auditorium. They found the reverend mother, Sister Margaret and Miss Campbell.

- Good morning reverend mother, sister Margaret, Miss Campbell.

- Good morning, Mr. Andrew, said the reverend mother, I understand you know the role of Danny Zuko...

- I've played Danny Zuko in third grade, reverend mother, that was years ago..., said Terry..

- Well you're the best chance we've got to do the play today....

- There's no understudy? Said Terry.

- This is not a theatre Mr. Andrew; we did not anticipate Mr. Ward getting injured...

- Maybe you should've had...

- Maybe we should've had, but now we need your help, can we count on you?

Terry looked around, all the students had worked so hard for this day, his eyes crossed Candy's... For Candy, he couldn't let Candy down... for Candy.

- I'm not sure I can remember everything..., said Terry.

- You know more than most of us..., said Miss Campbell, so can we count on you?

Terry looked at Candy again. Everybody was waiting, and everybody saw how he looked at Candy...

- Yes, he said with a weary tone, you can count on me...I will play Danny Zuko...

- Thank you Mr. Andrew, said the reverend mother.

- Yes, Thank you , said Sister Margaret.

- Thank you Terry, said Miss Campbell.

The students had a sigh of relief.

- Well it helps to have the lead actress sleeping with him, mumbled Penelope, who was playing Rizzo

She looked at Candy with mean eyes. This last one left to go backstage. Louise was with Penelope and Eliza.

- I think they had a fight, said Eliza, Lady is a tramp seems upset.

- Really? Said Penelope smiling.

- Come on, said Louise, he's playing Danny...they're going to make up on stage...

- Says who? Said Penelope.

- You're not going to..., started Eliza.

- Yes, I will..., said Penelope.

- Good luck, said Louise laughing.

- I was supposed to play Sandy! That tram just got the part because of her father's donations! Said Penelope, I'm going to get my revenge...

Eliza shook her head. She thought about how she tried to seduce Terry, she even used reverse psychology, and it still didn't work... She will regret being mean to Terry the first day they met, until the day she dies.

Then everything happened very fast, Terry had to try on clothes, get his hair greased, his picture taken digitally and enlarge on the computer as a poster for the play... He was watching the movie and reading the part... Candy was getting reading, they were straightening her hair, doing her make up, they made her look innocent.

Terry and Candy hadn't spoken to each other. Patrick was with Terry.

- Did you talk to her?

- We haven't talked since the zoo incident...and things are kind crazy right now, I have to concentrate on the role I haven't played since 3rd grade!

There was a knock on the door. Penelope came in. She had a bottle of Yoo-hoo chocolate drink in her hand.

- Hi Terry! Said Penelope.

- Hi, said Terry.

- I wanted to personally thank you for saving the play... I brought you something to drink..., she said with a sensual voice giving him the bottle.

- Yoo-Hoo? Where did you find Yoo-Hoo here?

- My father gets a special shipmen of the things he likes from abroad we can't find here.

- Cool, said Terry smiling.

- Are you ok? Is everything fine?

- I'm going to be fine, said Terry, I have to... Everybody is counting on me...

- No pressure, said Penelope, what's the worst that could happen? Lady Candy doesn't get to shine on stage as Sandy...all right! I'll see you on stage.

She left the room. Patrick was smiling.

- Is it just me, or Lady Penelope just made a pass at you again?

- Patrick, I have to concentrate on my role, right now, I have no time for games with English ladies...

- Yoo-Hoo? Said Patrick.

- I love that drink, said Terry.

- Accepting present from Candy's rival... not a good move...

- You can have the drink! Can I concentrate on the role? I'll worry about the ladies after...

- Thanks! Well playing Danny with Candy you can get back together like they do...

- Can we not talk about this? Said Terry nervous...

- But...

- Patrick! Please...

- All right!