Page 104 of Christmas off Script
‘No,’ Libby interrupted firmly. ‘We’re not havinganyfireworks. We’ll have a bit of dry ice just before Dervla waves her wand, then Finn will flash the lights as Ella twirls. That should be effective enough without creating any fire hazards.’
‘Shall I give it a go on stage now?’ Ella asked.
‘Yes, that would be great. Why don’t you go from the scene where you come back in from the garden with the pumpkin?’
Ella nodded and went to the back of the stage and up the stairs, Chewy following. The flats were constructed from canvas stretched over wooden frames, and Finn had started securing them to stands with casters so they could be easily moved around. Pulling open the centre of one of them that had been painted to look like a door, Ella entered the set for the kitchen at Hardup Hall, Chewy by her side.
‘You’ve made a new friend!’ Dervla said. ‘And look at your dress. It’s gorgeous!’
Ella gave her a twirl. ‘It’s turned out so well!’
‘Hang on!’ boomed a voice from the ballroom door. ‘I’ve got Priscilla!’
Arthur was entering the room, his backside first, and pulling behind him—
‘Oh, my god!’ Libby cried. ‘Is that real?’
An enormous pumpkin sat in a wheelbarrow.
‘Certainly is!’ he replied proudly. ‘I’ve been growing her for months! Priscilla edged out Percy, Phoebe and Pedro in the size competition.’
‘But how on earth is Ella going to carry it?’ Libby asked. ‘It must weigh a ton!’
‘Aha! I knew you’d ask that! I’ve already carved out the centre, so it’s not that heavy. Look!’ Reaching into the wheelbarrow, he lifted it with a grunt. ‘See! Easy!’
Next to Ella, Chewy’s ears pricked up, and he growled.
‘Chewy! Shush!’ Steve called out.
‘Okay,’ Libby said. ‘Ella, are you happy to give it a go?’
‘Sure!’
Arthur wheeled the barrow to the front of the stage, and Ella stepped forward to meet him.
Chewy barked loudly.
‘What is it?’ Ella asked him as Steve yelled at him to shush again. Then she looked at the pumpkin and her stomach dropped.
Arthur caught her eye. ‘Don’t show Libby yet,’ he whispered. ‘I want to—’
‘Don’t show mewhat?’ Libby asked, striding forward. ‘Arthur, what—oh my god, you havegotto be joking!’
He’d hollowed out the pumpkin from a hole in the side, then put a cage door across the opening. Inside were four white mice.
‘Well, you won’t let me use the dogsora horse,’ he said belligerently. ‘I really don’t see what the problem is.’
Libby put a hand to her forehead. ‘For one thing, it’s cruel—’
‘No, it’s not. They’re perfectly happy. And they’ve got a much bigger cage when they’re not in Priscilla.’
‘It’s scary for them–’
‘How do you know? Oh, come on, Libby. Please? Just let me try this one little idea.’
Libby let out a heavy sigh. ‘Only if Ella is happy to give it a go.’
Ella nodded, even though she wanted to run in the opposite direction. The only thing she hated more than mice were spiders and snakes.
