Oh Yes You Can!

Part 6

SIX:

After a second try at a dress rehearsal where Mr Mulch had shouted at the entire class-including Hiccup-and run an uncharacteristically bad-tempered run through, the class were finally gathered on the big day of the one and only performance of "Berk High's Cinderella'. To everyone's dismay, the whole of the school was invited so in preference to classes, the whole of all four years of Berk High were seated in the Hall along with the parents of the performers all waiting eagerly.

"Okay-is everybody ready?" Hiccup asked. He had his annoted script, tissues, laces, duck tape and a box of powder in his pocket and was twitchy and nervous, trying to ensure that everything would go smoothly. Astrid was already ready, in her ragged light blue dress, her ballgown hanging from the rail in the wings. Snotlout was fussing, his huge pink wig and overstuffed chest jostling everyone as he went by. His multiple costume changes were all hanging on a rail by Astrid's gown, precisely laid out so he could change in moments. The twins were giggling, casting worrying glances at Hiccup and then laughing and Cami stomped by in a cloud of tulle, her hair improbably tamed and coiled in an elegant knot on top of her head. A wand was clamped in her hand as she sought out Heather, grinning as she saw her girlfriend looking poised in a long sleeved white shirt, deep blue thigh length waistcoat and grey breeches with black knee length boots, her long raven hair pulled back into a tight folded club at the nape of her neck and tied with a silver bow.

"You look amazing, babe," she smiled and Heather blushed.

"I make a pretty awesome boy," she smirked but Cami slapped her rump and she yelped.

"You'd need a bit of sock stuffing if you were serious," the blonde chuckled and stomped to her position behind the curtains as the narrator. The cast all pulled back to their positions, with Eret and Thuggory sneering at Hiccup and making comments at Astrid. Hiccup shushed them and they shared a glance and slank off to the back of backstage, for they weren't on for a few minutes. The sounds of the music blared through the speakers and the audience quietened as Queen's "It's a kind of magic" played and then faded and the curtains pulled back. Cami stood in the middle of the stage and twiddled with her wand. She looked up, saw the audience and grinned.

"Oh hey!" she said.

"I'm the Fairy Godmother. My name is Fay.

I'm here to start the tale of woe-

that not so very long ago

a young girl lost her her beloved Dad

it really was very sad.

His new wife, her step mother,

had her own children, two other

step-sisters, cruel and mean

times for Cinders became very lean,

they stole her home and all her she had

everything she had left by Dad.

Instead she slaves among the dirt

doing all the menial work

so among the ashes for now she stays

until she can one day find a way

to change her fortune and win the day...

In other words, to get away.

So now the précis is out the way

Let us present our humble play..."

Waving her wand, the curtain behind her raised to reveal the kitchen set and Gustav, sitting at the table, looking around warily in case the twins had boobytrapped the set as a scattering of applause sounded from the impressed parents. Pulling himself together, he began his speech and waved at the audience.