The Tiger Lily

Scene Four

~*~*~*~

The Song of Hope Series:
"The Tiger Lily"

Scene Four:
"The Last Night"

~.~.~.~

The performance hall was alive with cheer. Almost a thousand people from the city and beyond had shown up to witness the last show of Alvin and The Chipmunks and The Chipettes. A mix of modern and pop music rang energetically from speakers throughout the building, from the auditorium to the showrooms.

David was busy selling merchandise from autographed soundtracks to key-chains in the cartoon shapes of different chipmunks or chipettes. There were even outfits available, inspired by the miniature designs put together for the girls, or the signature shirts and hoodies of the boys. In another room, there were The Chipmunks and The Chipettes themselves, signing autographs for an overwhelming crowd of longtime fans.

"If this keeps up, I'm going to be tired out by the time the show starts," Jeanette joked, scrawling her signature on a wall poster with a glittering purple marker.

Simon waved at a young man as he walked away with an autographed baseball cap.

"I swear," the chipmunk muttered, "If one more person asks me to sign his forehead, I'm shoving this marker up his nose."

Alvin laughed and blew a kiss at a group of high school girls, who crooned and giggled as they strode away.

"Oh don't worry, Si," Alvin joked, elbowing his brother's ribs, "You just attract a very particular audience, that's all."

"And what audience would that be, Alvin?"

"Nerdy middle-aged men!"

Alvin ducked as Simon swung his marker at him.

"I'd like to see you perform with a big mustache drawn all over your face!" Simon threatened.

"Who're you kidding?" Alvin quipped, "Chicks dig body hair, bro!"

"Alvin," Theodore said flatly, "We're nothing but body hair."

"Oh right."

"Alvin, Alvin!" a group of excited young girls shouted as they ran up to the autograph booth, almost knocking all five chipmunks over.

"Yes, miladies?" Alvin said, crossing his arms and giving them his typical wide grin. He was taken aback as he realized all three had their hair dyed totally pink, pulled back in a single ponytail.

"We were just wondering," one of the girls continued, "Where's Brittany at? We've been dying to meet her!"

Alvin's grin faded. "You mean you haven't seen her around yet?"

"No! We were hoping she'd be over here with you guys."

Alvin looked at Simon, but his middle brother could only shrug. Theodore glanced worriedly from beside Eleanor.

"Well, uh, sorry girls, but..." Alvin started.

"Oh no! She isn't sick or something on the big night, is she?" one of the girls asked.

"No, no, she's fine, she's just...you know, getting ready," Alvin offered, "Girl stuff I guess."

"Aw, well okay," the girl replied, disappointed, "Come on, let's go find a seat..."

"I'm getting a little worried," Jeanette whispered to Alvin over the noise of the crowd as she smiled and signed the cover of a soundtrack, "She wouldn't tell me what was wrong. Are you sure everything went okay this morning?"

"Yes! At least, I think it did," Alvin replied, "She didn't seem upset or anything. Maybe just confused?"

"You've been on and off again all this time," Jeanette added, "Maybe she's just getting her thoughts together, that's all."