Voice of Agnes Berry

Voice of Agnes Berry No. 9

There's been an odd turn of events recently. Yesterday, Joey announced the finalization of the forest ball, which he's given the off-the-cob title Dance of the Little Devil. So we all gathered to watch the screening, and there were so many of us who wanted to see it, we couldn't fit in the theatre! They had to set up a projector in the lobby. Good thing we did, because, oh, it's definitely our best picture yet! It's fun, it's lively, it's emotive, and it's quite smart-looking, too. We all cheered to see it on the screen, even Sammy. It felt nice to see everyone so happy for once. And Joey, oh, he was beaming! So, after the showing, he let us all go home early. We thought it was just because he was in a good mood.

But after our nice evening off, we all filed back to work this morning, and right away we knew something was off: no Joey. That's right, Mister Joey Drew was nowhere to be found. We worked and waited for hours, and he never showed, and well, as of now, he has yet to show his face today. Apparently, his gracious gift of an evening was no gracious gift--it was a full-blown command. I was talking in passing this morning to our in-mechanic, Wally Franks, and he says that when he tried to stay behind to sort out the squeaky hinges on doors that were driving him whacko, Joey didn't let him stay. That's right, Joey forced him to leave. That's all Wally told me.

Don't get me wrong, a break from that insanity is not one that I take for granted. But Joey not being here... it just doesn't feel right. He's never sick, that man. In fact, I can't imagine the studios without him. I keep thinking I hear his footsteps in the creaks of the floors, or his voice in those squeaky doors. Joey and this place, they go hand-in-hand--you can't have one without the other. Joey Drew Studios with no Joey Drew? It just isn't natural.